Chelmsford YMCA Day Nursery

Inspection of Chelmsford YMCA Day Nursery Victoria Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1NZ

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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

Children arrive happy and separate with ease from their parents. Gentle and caring staff create a warm environment. They welcome children with smiles and cuddles. Children form strong attachments with the staff, which supports their emotional well-being. They follow the setting's routines with confidence. For example, toddlers and pre-school children have their meals together to help those children who are transitioning between rooms.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff and leaders provide opportunities for children to choose what they would like to access and explore next. However, leaders have not ensured that all staff have sufficient knowledge of the curriculum to enable all children to reach their full potential. Some activities help children to learn. For example, children enjoy exploring the play dough using various cutting tools and spices. They mould the dough with confidence to build on their fine motor skills, while identifying the different scents. Other activities, such as circle time, are not captivating and meaningful and children become less engaged and choose to leave the area.

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The provision requires improvement

Babies enjoy exploring the pretend food, closely observing key features. Nurturing staff clearly name the items to support babies' understanding and language skills. Staff also prompt babies to work out how to operate toys with lids to develop their problem-solving skills. As a result, babies are content and concentrate well.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are in the process of embedding a new curriculum. They have good understanding of what they want children to learn. However, they do not successfully help all staff to understand how to put this into practice. Children are not consistently benefiting from experiences and learning opportunities to help them make good progress. n Staff complete regular observations and assessments to track children's progress. They also complete next steps in children's learning and share these with the parents. However, staff do not implement the learning intentions of the curriculum well enough, particularly for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Furthermore, relevant information about children with SEND is not always shared with all staff. Additional funding is not always used effectively. As a result, staff are often not able to meet the needs of children with SEND. n Children enjoy exploring the stimulating garden. They create their own

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need to do better?

structures using large beams, cooperating with their peers. Children then concentrate well to balance on the beams to further develop their gross motor skills and coordination. Children also have a great time exploring the mud kitchen, using real vegetables and utensils to engage in their play. Staff do not

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need to do better?

11 July 2024 always interact with children to ensure they are fully stimulated and benefit from learning opportunities. n Children enjoy exploring books with staff and singing and dancing to their favourite songs. They laugh and giggle with excitement as they confidently move around the room. Children also engage well in a play dough activity. As staff sing and deliver clear instructions, children listen intently and pat and roll the dough to further develop their fine motor skills. Staff introduce new words, such as 'squishy' and 'sticky', but they do not ensure all children understand and learn these new words. n Staff receive regular supervision meetings. They also complete relevant training to keep their knowledge current. Staff understand their responsibilities to ensure children's safety and welfare. Leaders identify that there are still weaknesses in the quality of teaching and are working through strategies to improve this. They

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need to do better?

offer a diverse and inclusive practice and ensure all children are valued during their time at this setting. Leaders and staff also support children who speak English as an additional language by using visual prompts and sign language. n Partnerships with parents are effective. They are positive about the experiences their children have at this setting. Parents mention that communication is effective and praise the nurturing staff.

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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

implement a curriculum that ensures staff help children with SEND to make good progress, respond to their emerging needs and guide their development through warm, positive and meaningful interactions 18/08/2024

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Due date

ensure staff have appropriate training, skills and knowledge to plan and deliver a rich and varied curriculum, to improve the experiences of children in the setting and the overall quality of teaching. 18/08/2024

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should:

n develop opportunities for staff to engage children more in their learning across the curriculum and to encourage their active participation and involvement.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 203765 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10344407 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 91 Name of registered person YMCA Essex (Trading) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01245 355677 Date of previous inspection 27 September 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Chelmsford YMCA Day Nursery registered in 1993. It employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery operates from 7.30am until 6pm, five days a week, all year round. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting 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 setting. n The inspector and manager completed a learning walk together. They discussed how the curriculum is organised and what they want children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and education, both outdoors and indoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n Children spoke with the inspector about the activities they were doing. n Some parents met with the inspector, who took into account their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and area manager. She looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of 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

11 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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