Little Folks Day Nursery

Inspection of Little Folks Day Nursery Edward Parry Centre, Coventry Street, Kidderminster DY10 2BP

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

There has been a decline in quality since the last inspection. Staff do not have a good enough understanding of how to ensure the environment is clean and free from risks. This impacts on children's health, safety and well-being. Although children have an assigned key person, this is not effective. Staff do not fully know children's individual needs to ensure they are supporting them in their care and learning as well as they could.

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The provision is inadequate

Overall, children are not receiving consistently good levels of teaching and support in their learning. Although the manager and staff explain what they want children to learn, this is not implemented in practice. The curriculum is not ambitious or challenging for all children. At times, interactions between staff and children are poor. Staff spend most of their time supervising children rather than engaging them in purposeful learning. Consequently, children do not develop a positive attitude towards their learning and, as a result, they are not able to make the best possible progress.

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The provision is inadequate

Despite these weaknesses, staff greet children warmly upon arrival. Children seek out staff when they are feeling tired for a cuddle before settling down for a rest. Children select their favourite stories to read and sit with staff to listen to these. Children copy the sounds of the animals from the book. This helps to develop their speech.

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need to do better?

n Risk assessments are not robust enough. Staff fail to identify hazards in the environment that pose a risk to children. Toilet areas and potties are not always cleaned after use. On the initial tour of the premises, the fire exits and routes were blocked with equipment. This puts children at risk in the event of a fire. However, during the inspection, the directors did take some action to rectify this. n Leaders do not ensure that all staff, including the manager, have thorough inductions when they start at the nursery. Not all staff are confident in knowing how to implement policies and procedures to enable them to carry out their roles and responsibilities. n Staff supervision meetings are ineffective. Leaders have not done enough to support staff to continue to improve their teaching practice. Staff do not support children's learning and development well or provide high-quality interactions for

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need to do better?

all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). As a result, children do not remain engaged in their play and learning. n Leaders have failed to minimise disruption with the recent change in staffing. Children are assigned to a key person. However, there has not been effective communication between more established and newer members of staff to

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need to do better?

1 May 2024 ensure they are fully aware of children's care and developmental needs. This means they are unable to successfully tailor environments and activities to support children's individual needs. n The curriculum is not ambitious or challenging enough. At times, activities lack stimulation and, as a result, children's behaviour can become disruptive. For example, staff stand beside activities supervising children as they explore the dinosaurs. However, there is a lack of purposeful engagement and children quickly become bored and wander off to climb on window ledges in the room. n Children enjoy playing out in the garden. They ride on the bikes together and play games as they run up and down the slope. Children balance on planks and crates to develop their physical skills. Staff guide and support them to do this successfully. Children take pride and smile as they jump off the crate. Staff provide them with praise when they have completed their task.

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need to do better?

n Staff liaise with parents to discuss any dietary or allergy requirements, and share information with parents about their child's day. Parents comment their children are happy and enjoy their time at the nursery. n Children follow self-care routines. They wash their hands before mealtimes and sit together to eat their lunch. Children talk to staff about their day and what they like about the food they are eating. Staff follow appropriate allergy management procedures to ensure children eat the right foods.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

implement effective arrangements for inductions, to ensure all staff know the expectations of their role and how policies and procedures are implemented 23/05/2024

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Due date

put effective supervisions in place to help coach and mentor staff, to raise the quality of teaching 23/05/2024

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Due date

1 May 2024 improve staff's understanding of risk assessments to ensure all environments are safe and hygienic 23/05/2024

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Due date

ensure there is an effective key-person system in place, so that staff have the information they need to tailor care and support that reflects each child's individual needs, including children with SEND. 23/05/2024

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Due date

implement a curriculum that is ambitious, challenging and stimulating, to effectively engage children in their learning and help them to build on what they already know and can do. 26/06/2024

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY539961 Local authority Worcestershire Inspection number 10345019 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 85 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person R & J Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01562861000 Date of previous inspection 20 June 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Little Folks Day Nursery registered in 2016 and is based in Kidderminster. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds early years teacher status, four hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3, and one is unqualified. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm. 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 joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the directors 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. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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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