Smart Start Childcare

Inspection of Smart Start Child Care Poachers Pocket, Cole Hall Lane, Birmingham, West Midlands B34 6HE

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children thoroughly enjoy the time they spend at this nursery because staff are kind, caring and respond well to their individual needs. Children arrive at the start of the day and happily separate from their parents ready to make their choice where they would like to play in the well-resourced environment. There is a strong focus on promoting children's communication and language skills. Staff make good use of stories, songs and general conversation and discussions throughout the day. This helps children to become confident communicators. Good partnerships with other professionals help children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to make the progress they are capable of. All children develop the skills they need to help prepare them for their eventual move to school.

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The provision is good

Staff provide frequent opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. Babies are encouraged to feed themselves with a spoon at mealtimes. Older children enjoy the time they spend in the outdoor areas where they confidently climb, balance, and negotiate space on wheeled toys. Children behave well. They readily share and take turns in their play. Staff praise children for their kind actions towards others. This helps to promote children's emotional well-being.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff plan a broad and balanced curriculum that is tailored to meet the needs of the individual children. They provide children with a good balance of adult-led and child-initiated play experiences. Children happily engage in activities and experiences on offer. However, during some group times shyer, quieter children do not always get enough encouragement and support to join in, to help them make the best possible progress. n Leaders ensure effective settling-in procedures are followed to help new children quickly become familiar with their new surroundings. Staff gather important information from parents to be able to understand what children already know and can do. They use this information, along with their own observations and assessments, to effectively plan for children's learning needs. n Staff act as good role models. They praise children for their good behaviours and give gentle age-appropriate reminders to help children learn the rules of the

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need to do better?

nursery. Children use good manners during mealtimes remembering to say 'please' and 'thank you'. They make good friendships and play harmoniously with their peers. Children respond well to staff's requests, such as helping to tidy away the toys before moving onto the next activity. However staff do not always encourage children to develop their independence further, as they often complete some tasks for children that they may be capable of doing for themselves. n The support children with SEND receive is good. Leaders and staff understand

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need to do better?

23 October 2024 the importance of working with external agencies. Timely referrals are made to ensure children get the help they need. This means that any gaps in children's learning are swiftly closed. n Parents speak positively about the nursery and staff. They value the help, advice, and guidance they receive to enable them to continue to support their children's learning at home. Parents express that they feel well informed about their children's time at the nursery. They say they would recommend the nursery to others. n Leaders are committed to ensuring all staff are supported in their roles. Staff benefit from regular supervisions and ongoing training. Effective induction training helps new staff to become familiar with their roles and responsibilities. Staff express how happy they are working at the nursery. n The provider notified Ofsted of a recent incident involving a child being given food they were allergic to. The provider took appropriate action following this

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need to do better?

event, including reviewing the allergy policy and procedures to help prevent a recurrence. Children's requirements are displayed in the kitchen and in areas where children eat their meals. Children's requirements are also displayed on named place mats to clearly show their allergies, intolerances, or preferences. All staff have received additional training to ensure they are confident with the procedures to follow to ensure children's individual dietary needs are met.

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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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should:

n support shyer, quieter children to join in during group activities to help them make the best possible progress in their learning n provide more opportunities for children to do things for themselves to develop their independence further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2497735 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10366773 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 95 Number of children on roll 126 Name of registered person Smart Start Child Care Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 582 1400 Date of previous inspection 21 October 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Smart Start Child Care registered in 2018 and is situated in Birmingham. It opens from Monday to Friday, all year round except bank holidays. Sessions are from 7am until 7pm. It employs 28 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 6, one holds level 5, 11 hold level 3 and six hold level 2. The nursery provides funded early education for children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector completed a learning walk with the manager to understand how the nursery operates and how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation.

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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

23 October 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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