Footprints Day Nursery

Inspection of Akidz 18 Reedsfield Road, Ashford, Middlesex TW15 2HE

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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

The nursery is going through a significant period of change. The management team has a vision for the nursery. However, the nursery has faced significant challenges in recruiting new staff. The quality of education that children receive is not yet consistent across the nursery. Interactions between the staff and children are variable. Staff identify children's interests and generally provide activities that will interest them. For example, older children enjoy playing with the cars and trains and attempting to write their names. However, not all children benefit from a meaningful and effectively planned curriculum that keeps their engagement and takes their development further. Staff do not always consider the sequence in which children need to learn and plan activities to support children's individual needs and learning. This results in some children losing interest and wandering around with less purpose to their play.

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The provision requires improvement

Nonetheless, overall, children are settled and happy in the nursery. Children have started to develop bonds with the staff and settle quickly into their care on arrival. This shows that they feel safe and secure in their care. The staff are caring and kind towards children. Older children spontaneously go to wash their hands when it is time to eat and manage their personal needs independently. Children enjoy being physically active outside. For example, they practise climbing steps to the slide and move around, navigating space. Staff complete daily checks before going outside to identify and remove any risks and ensure children's safety.

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need to do better?

n The management team acknowledges there are improvements to be made in the nursery. The nursery is currently building a new staff team, and they are keen to build a nursery that is supporting children to achieve the best outcomes. However, this is not yet embedded, and consequently, children are not yet being consistently provided with the opportunities to make the best progress. Management have identified that staff need support and training to successfully fulfil their roles. While they have begun to put strategies in place and employ a new staff team, there has not yet been enough time for this to have the desired impact. n The new management team have a vision for a broad curriculum but plans for this are still in its infancy. Not all staff have a good enough understanding about what children need to learn next and how to plan for this effectively. As a result, although children make some progress in their learning, they do not make the

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need to do better?

progress of which they are capable. Some focused activities are planned and provided for the children; however, children quickly lose focus. They flit around the room, and their behaviour deteriorates. This is due to some weaknesses in new staff not being fully aware of children's individual learning needs. This is

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need to do better?

21 November 2024 because of the recent changes to the staff team. As a result, staff do not plan activities that consistently motivate children to engage and learn. Therefore, teaching is not yet sharply focused on closing the gaps in children's knowledge, and the overall quality of teaching throughout the nursery is too variable. n Staff support children's independence and physical development. They help engage babies and toddlers in music and movement activities. Older children practise smaller physical movements when they use pencils to make marks on paper and practise threading skills. Children build relationships with their peers and enjoy playing together. For example, children giggle with excitement as staff sing the 'Hokey Cokey', and they decide which is their right and left foot. Older children work together to assemble train tracks, taking turns using the track. This helps to develop children's social skills and their ability to get along with

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need to do better?

others. n The management team and staff foster positive relationships with parents. They maintain a regular two-way exchange of information. Staff talk with parents when they drop off and collect their children. Information about children's daily routine and activities are also uploaded onto an online application. This helps to ensure that parents are included and informed about their child's day and their learning and achievements.

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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 an ambitious and sequenced curriculum to help children build on what they already know and can do and to ensure they develop the skills they need for future learning. 06/01/2025

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should:

n continue to build on the arrangements in place for the supervision, monitoring and training of staff to provide staff with the knowledge and skills they need to successfully fulfil their roles.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY343597 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 10289528 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 36 Number of children on roll 10 Name of registered person A-Kidz Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01784 257747 Date of previous inspection 28 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Akidz registered in 2007. It is situated in a residential area in Ashford, in Middlesex, Surrey. The nursery is open each weekday, from 7.45am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery provides funded early education to children aged two, three and four years. There are four members of staff employed, including the manager. Of these, three staff, including the manager, hold early years qualifications at level 3 or above.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and manager completed a walk around the nursery and discussed their plans and reasoning for the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of the curriculum during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and considered their views. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. They reviewed relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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Inspection activities

21 November 2024 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

21 November 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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