St Michaels Nursery

Inspection of St Michaels Nursery Windmill Community Centre, Messenger Road, SMETHWICK, West Midlands B66 3DX

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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 Good

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The provision requires improvement

There are inconsistencies in the quality of teaching and learning that children receive. Although planning is in place, this is not implemented consistently to ensure all children make the best progress they are capable of from their individual starting points. There are times when staff are too focused on daily routines and interrupt children's play to move them on to another activity or to tidy away. Some hygiene routines are not implemented well enough to fully support children's good health.

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The provision requires improvement

That said, relationships between staff and children are strong. Staff know the children well and all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are obviously happy and settled in their care. They go to staff for cuddles and reassurance and babies in particular snuggle into staff as they look at pictures in a book or sing familiar rhymes. Staff teach children the importance of being kind to their friends.

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The provision requires improvement

Older children are confident to communicate. They happily talk to staff and visitors about starting school and the name of their new teachers. Staff share information with schools that children will move on to so that transitions are smooth and children settle quickly at the next stage of their learning journey. Staff work with outside professionals to ensure that children with SEND receive the right support at the right time.

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need to do better?

n The manager is experienced and has a good understanding of what children need to learn at each stage of their development. She has a clear vision for the future of the nursery and has already implemented changes in the short time she has been in post. However, some staff appear reluctant to make the necessary changes to improve their practice. As a result, the quality of teaching is not consistently good across all areas of the nursery. n Although the manager has introduced new planning systems, some staff are still unsure of the intent of activities and how to extend them to ensure children's learning is specifically tailored to their individual needs. Some activities provided do not stimulate children's interests and children wander around or disengage. In addition, at times some staff's interactions with children, especially in the pre- school room, are not as good as they should be. Staff appear too intent on

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need to do better?

rigidly implementing routines, such as sitting at a table doing paperwork, sweeping the floor or tidying away activities, rather than talking to the children and supporting their ongoing learning. This results in some children having limited choices in their play. n Staff benefit from supervisions and staff meetings where they discuss their

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need to do better?

15 July 2024 practice and areas the manager has identified for them to improve. However, they do not have professional development opportunities or ongoing training to enable them to carry out their roles and responsibilities and raise the quality of teaching across the nursery to good. n The manager ensures staff are knowledgeable about safeguarding children as she asks them questions and has introduced quizzes to test their knowledge. As a result, all staff have a good understanding of the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child in their care or a member of staff. n Hygiene practices are not always as robust as they should be. Some staff wipe children's noses but do not wash or sanitise their hands afterwards. This does not help to promote children's good health. n Staff share information with parents about what their child has been doing while at nursery. Parents say that they are happy with the care their children receive

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need to do better?

and the information that staff share with them. They say that their children ask to come to nursery and are happy to attend. n Children do enjoy messy play. They concentrate as they glue and stick paper and material onto bottle tops. Even the youngest children make marks with large chalks and some older children can form recognisable letters. Babies explore different animal shaped puzzles and staff encourage them to repeat the sounds that the animals make. Children join in singing familiar songs with great gusto. n All children are encouraged to develop their independence. Babies are beginning to feed themselves and older children access the toilet independently in readiness for school. Children's physical skills are supported as they learn to roll balls to each other and crawl through a tunnel.

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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

provide the manager with the support that they need to make the necessary changes that will raise the quality to a consistently good level 20/09/2024

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Due date

15 July 2024 provide staff with professional development opportunities to ensure that all children receive high-quality teaching and learning experiences that will enhance their learning. 20/09/2024

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should:

n support staff to implement more stringent hygiene procedures to ensure that children's good health is supported at all times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY537040 Local authority Sandwell Inspection number 10356607 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 42 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Watson, Albert Nathanial

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 558 3446 Date of previous inspection 16 September 2022

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Information about this early years setting

St Michaels Nursery registered in 2016. The nursery employs seven members of staff, five of whom hold relevant qualifications at level 3, one at level 2 and one is an apprentice. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. A before- and after-school club operates from 7.30am until 8.45am and 3pm until 6pm during term time and a holiday club operates in the school holidays between 10am and 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 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 The inspector talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their

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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

15 July 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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