Tree Tots Nursery Kirkham

Inspection of Tree Tots Nursery Kirkham Field View, Freckleton Road, Kirkham, Preston PR4 3RB

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Staff create a calm, welcoming environment, which helps children to feel safe and secure. Children enter confidently and play happily. They develop secure attachments to staff and approach them for cuddles when needed. Children develop some useful skills as they play, which prepare them for future learning. Staff increasingly help children to behave well and engage in learning. Children count and use mathematical language well. For example, at the water tray, a child compares the size of fish and talks about one having a long nose. Staff put learning plans in place to ensure children with special educational needs and/or disabilities have appropriate support to make steady progress.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff provide learning opportunities for babies and children that they may not get at home. For example, children enjoy lots of walks and trips out on public transport in the local area. Visits to different libraries help to raise their interest in literacy. In local parks, children experience nature and practise physical skills, such as climbing on equipment. Children see and talk to the people who live and work in their local community. They learn about oral health on visits to the dentist surgery. They visit the local allotment and talk about the healthy foods being grown. They take equipment, such as toys and dough, to a local care home and talk to the residents as they play games together. This helps children to develop an understanding of diversity beyond their immediate family.

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need to do better?

n The roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers are not clearly defined. This weakness in the structure hinders the ability of leaders and managers to meet the statutory requirements consistently. n The complaints procedure is not followed consistently. Some complainants are not notified of the outcome of their complaint within the required 28 days. The written record of any complaints and their outcome is not kept up to date. n Information about children's care needs, dietary requirements, preferences and allergies are obtained from parents before children start. However, recently a child with an allergy accessed food that they were not allowed. The provider met their responsibility to notify Ofsted of this significant event and the action taken to prevent a reoccurrence. An improved procedure is in place for the serving of food for children with allergies and staff are being retrained on food allergy

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need to do better?

awareness. n Managers recognise that challenges around the recruitment of staff have resulted in variable staff practice. Understandably the manager prioritises children's safety and when required covers for staff in the rooms to ensure correct ratios are maintained. However, this limits her availability and ability to monitor staff practice and focus on supporting their continuous improvement.

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need to do better?

17 May 2024 n Staff use a range of useful ways to inform parents about the nursery, the curriculum and their child's care and learning. These include electronic systems, newsletters and exchanging information with parents as children are collected. However, the systems are not followed consistently so some parents are better informed about their child's progress than others. n Training for staff mainly focuses on their safeguarding knowledge. However, following training on emotional regulation, staff created a calm area in the room. Children make increasing use of the chair, weighted blanket and sensory toys when they are feeling upset. Staff encourage children to talk about how they feel, and children are beginning to learn to regulate their own emotions. n Since the last inspection, the management team has placed a stronger focus on developing children's communication and language skills. The manager has been

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need to do better?

trained to assess children's level of speech. Staff share useful information, such as the effects of dummies on children's language development, with parents. Staff encourage children to listen carefully and identify different sounds, such as birds in the trees. Children make sounds, such as clicking and tapping, using their body parts. Staff use photos well to help children to recall and talk about home and nursery events. n Staff make good use of books to promote literacy and to engage children in other learning. For example, linked to traditional tales, toddlers feel oats and use spoons to pretend to feed the three bears. This helps them to develop the finger skills needed for later writing while enjoying the sensory experience of oats. Older children grow beans and use their imagination to talk about what could be at the top of the beanstalk. n The manager recognises the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on

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need to do better?

mental health. A mental health officer is identified to provide a listening ear for staff. Every month, staff and children enjoy a wellbeing day. They wear comfortable clothes and enjoy experiences, including head and feet massages.

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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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Due date

17 May 2024 improve the arrangements for the supervision of staff and provide opportunities for them to improve their personal effectiveness 14/06/2024

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Due date

investigate written complaints, notify the complainant of the outcome within 28 days and keep a written record of any complaints and their outcome. 14/06/2024

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should:

n build on the information sharing with parents so all are well informed and can understand their child's progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY360154 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10298985 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 90 Number of children on roll 64 Name of registered person Tree Tots Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01772 673600 Date of previous inspection 23 May 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Tree Tots Nursery Kirkham registered in 2007. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, eight at level 3, one at level 4 and one at level 6. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm, all year. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. n Two joint observations were carried out by the inspector and the manager. n The inspector held discussions with staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n A meeting was held with the leadership and management team. n The inspector looked at a sample of the nursery's documents including evidence about staff suitability and training.

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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

17 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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