Flying Start Nurseries

Inspection of Flying Start Nurseries 35 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8AE

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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 settle well. They develop warm relationships with staff and make friends. Staff caring for babies meet their care routines consistently. They help them to develop their physical skills safely and support children's toilet training. Toddlers enjoy themed yoga in which they learn to move in different ways, such as balancing. Older children join in 'wake and shake' sessions in the morning to prepare them for learning.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff help children to learn about keeping safe, such as through road safety activities and using tools safely. However, at times, they do not use the risk assessments effectively to identify and address all potential risks to children. For example, staff do not ensure the sensory materials that babies explore are suitable for their developmental stage, and do not ensure all areas of the garden are kept clean. These risks are minimised as staff supervise the children. Children enjoy nutritious meals and snacks freshly prepared on site, and staff teach them good handwashing routines to help support their health.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff plan a balanced curriculum to support children's learning and with activities linked to their interests and topics to broaden their experiences. For example, children go on outings locally to learn about their community, listen to music from around the world and learn about different forms of transport. However, there are inconsistencies in the quality of staff's interactions with children. Not all staff are clear about what children need to learn next and they do not all use the activities well to help children to learn more.

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need to do better?

n Staff monitor and assess children's progress to identify their next steps for learning. Some more-skilled staff ask questions to encourage children to think and provide challenges. For example, they help older children to explore why objects float or sink and encourage younger children to count and learn about colour. This helps to build on children's learning. n Staff provide a balance of free-play time and planned activities to support children's interests and areas of learning. However, the quality of staff's interactions is variable. Not all staff have high expectations of what children can achieve, and they do not all use the activities to encourage children to learn more when they find challenges easy. They do not adapt activities to involve children well, for example when children who sit for a long time after finishing meals become bored or lose interest in activities. n Children use their senses and imaginations in play. Babies explore objects and

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need to do better?

build with blocks. Toddlers use tools to shape mint-scented dough and to make designs with shapes. Older children use large objects, such as tyres, to build

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need to do better?

19 August 2024 with. Staff help children to create designs in closely supervised woodwork sessions using real tools safely. This encourages children's creativity and broadens their experiences. n Children behave well. Staff are positive role models who help them to learn the nursery ethos to be kind and caring. Children from a young age help to tidy up, and older children encourage and include others kindly. They tell staff, when praised for their actions, that 'sharing is caring'. n Staff help to prepare children for starting school. From a young age, children learn to be independent, learn how to change their shoes and help to tidy up. Older children serve themselves at meals. Staff teach children new words regularly to build their vocabulary. They encourage children to express their feelings, and they provide activities to build their confidence, such using the 'affirmations' cards together. n The management team follows effective vetting procedures to ensure all staff

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need to do better?

are suitable to work with children and supports staff's well-being. Staff complete key training. This helps to ensure staff have a good understanding of the nursery safeguarding policy and procedures and the risks to children of abuse. n Staff quickly identify when a child is at risk of falling behind. They work effectively with parents and external professionals to support any additional needs. This helps to ensure this group of children make the progress they are capable of. n The newly established management team has a realistic oversight of the provision. The team has plans in place to make improvements. Staff supervision is being implemented and staff receive ongoing coaching. However, this is not yet sufficiently established to address the weaknesses in staff's interactions and delivery of the curriculum effectively.

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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

ensure staff use risk assessments effectively to identify and remove all potential risks to children 26/08/2024

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Due date

19 August 2024 develop staff supervision and coaching to improve the quality of staff's interactions and delivery of the curriculum. 30/09/2024

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should:

n develop the organisation of activities and mealtimes to engage all children well.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY344676 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10360836 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 55 Number of children on roll 102 Name of registered person Elestar Services Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01747 852666 Date of previous inspection 16 July 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Flying Start Nurseries registered in 2006. The group operates from Shaftesbury, Dorset. It opens each weekday, from 8am to 6pm, all year round. The group receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. The group employs 26 staff to work with children, 13 of whom hold appropriate qualifications at levels 2 to 5.

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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 managers 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 managers joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they intend children to learn. n The inspector observed activities and the quality of staff's interactions with the children. She discussed the effectiveness of an activity with the lead manager. n The inspector sampled the documentation and discussed the managers' knowledge of the requirements of the early years foundation stage. n The inspector took account of parents' views.

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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

19 August 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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