Appletree Corner Daycare & Pre-School

Inspection of Appletree Corner Daycare & Pre-School Caraway Drive, Witham St. Hughs, LINCOLN LN6 9XG

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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

p.1

The provision requires improvement

Children are supported to have a sense of belonging in the nursery. For example, staff obtain and display photos of children's family members. Younger children look at these with staff and point to familiar people. Children are supported to understand when routines of the day change, helping them to feel secure in the staff's care. For instance, staff show children a cup when it is snack time. This gives children a visual prompt to support their understanding of what is happening. However, staff do not support younger children's learning well enough to ensure that they make the best possible progress in their development. For example, staff focus on encouraging younger children to count before they are able to say words clearly. Additionally, staff do not consistently follow the nursery's procedures prior to administering all non-prescribed medication.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Staff introduce new words for older children to learn, such as the names of dinosaurs, to help build on their vocabulary. Older children take part in activities to be calm and stretch the muscles in their bodies. For example, children copy staff when they complete yoga poses, such as stretching out their arms when standing on tip toes and reaching their arms above their heads. Children listen and follow staff's instructions to move their bodies, showing positive behaviour.

p.2

need to do better?

n The provider does not ensure that staff consistently follow procedures for administering non-prescribed medication. For instance, staff do not always obtain written consent from parents before administering specific medicines. n Overall, the staff know the children well. Older children's development is assessed, and their next steps in learning are used to inform a curriculum that builds on what children already know and can do. However, younger children's progress is not accurately assessed. Consequently, gaps in their learning are not always identified or supported. For example, staff do not plan activities or tailor their support to individual children's learning needs. Therefore, younger children do not build on their existing knowledge and skills as effectively as older children. n Staff support children to be independent. Younger children are asked to wiggle their bodies to shrug their coats off their shoulders by themselves. Older children

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need to do better?

use small jugs to pour their drinks at snack time. Staff encourage the children to take their empty cups and plates to the sink when they have finished eating. n Children understand the rules and boundaries staff implement to promote positive behaviour. For instance, older children know that they need to walk inside. They explain to visitors that to be nice, they give their friends a cuddle, share and be kind to each other. Staff encourage younger children to be helpful. For example, younger children place cups and cutlery on tables in preparation

p.2

need to do better?

17 February 2025 for lunch. n Staff know children's interests and incorporate these into the activities they plan. However, children's key persons do not regularly share information with other staff about what each child needs to learn next. This means some staff do not know how to support children's learning as they play alongside them. n Staff plan activities to support younger children's listening skills. For example, staff ask younger children to listen to the sounds objects make as they shake a box with them inside. Staff encourage children to guess and predict what the objects might be. When staff say it is something green, children ask if it is a 'green dinosaur'. However, staff's support to widen children's understanding and speaking skills is less effective. Staff do not consistently gather or use keywords in children's home language to support understanding and the acquisition of new words. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well.

p.2

need to do better?

Individual targets are identified and implemented by staff to support children's development. Additional funding that some children receive is used effectively to support children's needs. This includes providing additional sessions to help provide more consistency for children. n Staff provide opportunities for children to learn about oral health. For example, older children use toothbrushes to brush toy dinosaurs' teeth. Staff introduce discussions with older children about cleaning teeth and their knowledge of visiting a dentist.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

Due date

ensure that staff follow the nursery procedures to gain prior written consent before administering any non-prescribed medication to children 24/02/2025

p.3

Due date

ensure that staff accurately assess younger children's development, identify gaps in their learning and implement a curriculum to support children's most relevant next steps. 13/05/2025

p.3

should:

n strengthen staff's interactions to support children who speak English as an additional language to develop their understanding and acquisition of new words n strengthen the sharing of information about children's individual learning between children's key person and other staff.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY486476 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 10372144 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 109 Number of children on roll 121 Name of registered person Appletree Corner Daycare & Pre-School

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01522868166 Date of previous inspection 3 April 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Appletree Corner Daycare & Pre-School registered in 2015 and is located in Witham St. Hughs, Lincolnshire. The nursery employs 30 members of childcare staff. Of whom, 25 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for children aged nine months upwards.

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Inspection activities

n The manager, the deputy manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed how staff implement the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the provider, the manager and the deputy manager. She reviewed relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Parents, carers and local school staff shared their views of the nursery with the inspector.

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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

17 February 2025 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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