Blue Elephant Nursery

Inspection of Blue Elephant Nursery 636 Warwick Road, Tyseley, Birmingham B11 2HJ

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is good

Staff successfully support all children to gain a secure foundation in their learning. They offer children a warm welcome and nurturing relationships which support children's emotional security. Children arrive happy, confidently separate from their parents and show they are ready to learn. Leaders have developed a sensory room to enable children who are feeling emotional to settle in a quieter space before moving into the main room. Staff supervise children well throughout the day and complete thorough checks so children can play safely.

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The provision is good

The manager's curriculum places a strong emphasis on providing children with sensory experiences to support their language development and understanding of the world. Staff organise the daily routines to help pre-school children to practise the skills in readiness for school, such as concentrating for longer periods of time and gaining more independence.

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The provision is good

Staff help children to understand the rules and the reasons these are in place. For example, they gently reinforce the expectation that children sit down at mealtimes and help children to understand that this is to keep them safe. Staff make excellent use of the daily routines to help children to learn about making healthy food and drink choices. They support parents to provide children with nutritious lunch boxes and provide them with guidance about safe food preparation to reduce the risk of choking.

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need to do better?

n Strong leadership and effective self-evaluation has ensured continuous improvement at the nursery. Leaders have a clear vision and are committed to developing their practices to benefit children even further. They have made successful improvements to the outdoor area to provide children with exciting and challenging learning experiences. Leaders frequently liaise with the local authority to review the service they provide and keep well informed about new local initiatives. n Leaders provide staff with purposeful supervision. They set staff targets which they regularly review and provide them with coaching and training to achieve these. Recent training has focused on improving how staff use books with children to support their early language skills. n An effective key person system is in place and overall, staff make good use of their observations and assessment to inform planning and teaching. When

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need to do better?

children have a new key person, staff exchange information and spend time carefully reviewing children's achievements. This helps them to gain a comprehensive understanding of the children and their families. n Leaders and staff value the partnership working with children's parents. Parents

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need to do better?

1 May 2024 say they trust staff and appreciate the personal approach provided. Leaders organise a range of useful events to engage parents in their child's learning and provide guidance so they can support children's continued learning at home. Staff provide parents with regular updates about their child's progress. n Leaders monitor children's progress closely and implement targeted support when children are not meeting their development milestones. This includes making timely referrals so that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive support from outside professionals. n The manager has identified the learning priorities for children at different stages of development as part of their curriculum. This is ambitious and prepares children well for school. However, staff have not planned the pre-school learning environment as well as possible to ensure that children are challenged fully,

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need to do better?

especially when they are playing without adult intervention. This said, pre-school children are well-motivated to play with their friends and are engaged. n The manager prioritises children's language development within the curriculum. Staff closely monitor children's language progress and provide purposefully planned communication and language sessions to help children who need further support. This includes adapting to the requirements of each child so they can make their needs and wishes known. n The manager and staff are skilled in helping children to manage their feelings and behaviour in an age-related way. They help the younger children to understand and label a range of emotions and provide older children with strategies they can use to control their feelings. This includes practising a variety of breathing techniques. n Promoting healthy lifestyles has been a current focus at the nursery. The

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need to do better?

manager and staff help children to understand where their food comes from and how it benefits their bodies. Children know that dairy products help their bones to grow strong. Staff teach children about the importance of good oral hygiene routines and limiting sugary food and drinks. Pre-school children know they should brush their teeth twice a day.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n plan the pre-school indoor learning environment to reflect the ambitious curriculum and extend the learning challenge for children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY498983 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10335334 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 31 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Blue Elephant Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 679 5226 Date of previous inspection 12 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Blue Elephant Nursery registered in 2016. The provider employs eight members of childcare staff, seven of whom hold appropriate qualifications at level 3. The manager holds qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are between 8.30am to 3pm. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children interacted with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual/registered individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

1 May 2024 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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