Beechwood Childcare Limited

Inspection of Beechwood Childcare Limited Mill Lodge Nursery, Mill Lodge Junior & Infant School, Aqueduct Road, Shirley, SOLIHULL, West Midlands B90 1BT

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is inadequate

Breaches to the safeguarding and welfare requirements have a significant impact on the safety and well-being of babies.

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The provision is inadequate

Leadership and management of the nursery are poor. They do not ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills they need in order to fulfil all aspects of their role. Consequently, the nursery's procedures are not fully understood or followed by staff to promote children's safety and welfare. For example, staff's understanding of safe sleep practices is weak, which puts babies at risk of harm.

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The provision is inadequate

The experiences that children have at this nursery differ considerably depending on their age. Staff do not consistently deliver a broad and challenging curriculum for all children, or understand what skills they need to learn next. For instance, staff working with babies do not ensure they benefit from regular and quality interactions. As a result, babies do not engage in meaningful play and spend prolonged periods of time on their own. That said, toddlers and pre-school children receive some positive interactions from staff. They are eager to join in with activities that build on their interests and experiences, such as yoga sessions. They demonstrate they are independent learners and are keen to have a go. However, staff do not always know how to adapt activities effectively for younger children to extend their learning further. As a result, some children are disengaged in their learning and do not focus for long during activities. Nevertheless, staff are

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The provision is inadequate

generally positive role models for children's behaviour. Children are settled and familiar with the nursery routine. They respond well to staff and follow simple instructions.

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need to do better?

n Weaknesses in leadership and management have an impact on all areas of the nursery. While staff have regular supervision meetings, these processes are not successful in swiftly identifying and addressing poor practice and teaching skills. The feedback that staff receive does not support them to raise the quality of provision and education due to the gaps in knowledge of leadership and management. n Leaders and staff understand the signs and symptoms of abuse and how to report any concerns. However, leaders do not have a secure knowledge and understanding of all statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage. Staff are not familiar with or confident in the latest government safety guidance in relation to safe sleep practices. Not all babies are placed in an appropriate bed or cot, which has a significant impact on their safety. Staff allow some babies to sleep in a baby bouncer, which means they cannot lie flat. This can impact on

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need to do better?

their breathing and physical development.

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need to do better?

15 August 2024 n The inconsistency of staff's understanding and teaching skills, particularly those working with babies, means that the curriculum lacks focus and purpose. Staff join in with children's play, but do not recognise how to successfully adapt their teaching to extend children's learning further. That said, staff working with toddlers and pre-school children use some effective strategies to support their communication and language development. Toddlers and pre-school children enjoy listening to familiar stories. They repeat key vocabulary and respond to questions that support their critical thinking. n Not all staff are confident to recognise and understand how children learn. Staff working with babies do not understand how to support their development and progress. They fail to plan and deliver a range of experiences that build on their interests and meet their individual needs. Babies are not motivated to play and

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need to do better?

learn. They frequently wander around their environment aimlessly and do not benefit from positive or meaningful interactions. Because of this, babies do not develop the skills they need to prepare them for the next stage in their learning. n Staff have access to a range of professional development opportunities and complete mandatory training as part of their induction. However, this knowledge is not always retained, particularly in relation to the safeguarding and welfare requirements. This means that not all staff have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities in relation to safe sleeping practices, which has a significant impact on children's safety. n The nursery is inclusive and supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff generally work well with parents and external agencies to ensure that children with SEND receive the support they need. n The nursery provides healthy, balanced and nutritious meals. Children

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need to do better?

thoroughly enjoy the food that is prepared and served to them. Staff manage allergies and dietary requirements well. n Overall, parents comment positively on the friendly and supportive staff team. They report that their children enjoy their time at the nursery.

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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

15 August 2024 ensure arrangements for sleeping children are in line with the latest government safety guidance 22/08/2024

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Due date

ensure all staff have the knowledge and skills required to fulfil all aspects of their role 12/09/2024

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Due date

implement a well-sequenced curriculum to support children's learning across all areas of the early years foundation stage 12/09/2024

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Due date

ensure there are effective systems in place to swiftly identify and tackle poor practice and weaknesses in teaching, to raise the quality of education across the nursery 12/09/2024

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Due date

strengthen staff's understanding of the curriculum and how babies learn, so they have access to high-quality care, interactions and learning opportunities to support their progress. 12/09/2024

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Setting details

Unique reference number 250013 Local authority Solihull Inspection number 10358212 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 39 Number of children on roll 49 Name of registered person Beechwood Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 430 3521 Date of previous inspection 20 December 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Beechwood Childcare Limited registered in 1997 and is located in Solihull. It employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold approved early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round, closing for bank holidays and a 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 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of 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 observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The inspector talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector took account of parent's views and opinions of the nursery. n The manager and inspector spoke about the leadership and management of 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

15 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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