AppleKids Day Nursery

Inspection of AppleKids Day Nursery 1 Showell Green Lane, Sparkhill, Birmingham B11 4NP

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children are greeted with smiles as they arrive at this friendly nursery. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure, as they play happily alongside staff. Children's language and communication skills are promoted. For example, staff regularly share familiar rhymes and stories with children, encouraging them to join in with actions and repetitive language. Staff engage in conversations with children as they play alongside them. For example, they model new vocabulary, such as 'squash 'and 'squeeze', as children prepare soapy sponges to wash their toys. Children who speak English as an additional language are supported well. For example, staff use pictures to support children's understanding of routines within the nursery. They read stories to children, sharing words in their home language and English. Children make good progress as a result.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy opportunities to be active outside. They develop physical skills of balance and coordination, as they navigate their way around pathways on scooters. Children behave well. Staff consistently remind children of the nursery rules. For example, they use visual prompts and give gentle reminders to children about using 'kind hands' and indoor voices. Staff recognise and praise children's kind actions, such as sharing toys with their friends. This helps to raise children's confidence and self-esteem. Children learn independent skills. For example, children learn to put on their coats before going out to play and develop personal hygiene skills, like good handwashing. These skills help prepare children well for the next stage of their education.

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need to do better?

n The new leadership team have made notable improvements to the nursery since their last inspection. They work in partnership with local authority advisors to review their ongoing provision and make changes that benefit children. Leaders implement a curriculum that reflects the developing needs and personal interests of children. n The indoor learning environment is planned to engage and motivate children to learn. It provides a range of opportunities and activities that reflect and support all areas of children's learning and development. However, leaders acknowledge that, at times, outdoor learning opportunities for children need further development, to fully enhance children's learning during outdoor play. n Staff know their key children well and actively support their learning and development. They use information gained from parents and observations to identify starting points for children's learning. This information helps staff

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need to do better?

identify and plan what children need to learn next. Leaders recognise how to support the learning of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They seek timely advice from additional professionals to enhance

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need to do better?

10 April 2025 support for children with SEND. They make good progress as a result. n Children respectfully follow nursery routines. For instance, they assist in tidying away toys before story time and proceed in small groups to collect their coats before going outside to play. These practices enable smooth and timely transitions between activities for children. However, staff occasionally miss the extended periods of time children wait for their fruit snacks to be served while seated at the snack table. This does not always support children to make the most of their time in the nursery, fully accessing the curriculum. n During their time in the nursery, children engage in a range of activities that they enjoy. For example, children develop fine motor skills as they manipulate play dough, rolling and shaping it to make balls and snakes. Children develop counting skills as they count how many scoops of water it takes to fill a bucket.

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need to do better?

However, staff do not always plan activities for children that focus teaching and learning precisely on what it is they need to learn next. This does not always support children to make the best possible progress. n Leaders regularly evaluate the quality of their provision and standards of teaching and learning in the nursery. They use this knowledge, along with regular staff supervisions, to pinpoint and implement training aimed at further enhancing their provision and advancing staff skills and knowledge. Staff feel supported by leaders. They appreciate the regular training opportunities offered to enhance their professional practice. For instance, training in utilising an assessment tool to support children's language and communication skills. n Parents report that they are happy with the care provided for their children at this nursery. They appreciate the daily feedback and meetings they have with

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need to do better?

their children's key workers and feel informed about what their children need to learn next. Parents feel their children progress well at this nursery.

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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 embed and monitor recent changes made to the daily routines and provision within the nursery to support children to fully access the curriculum n plan adult-led activities that focus teaching and learning more precisely on what children need to learn next to help them make the best possible progress in their learning n enhance learning opportunities in the outdoor environment so children can fully extend their learning when playing outside.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY468993 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10395476 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Apple Kids Day Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01212470345 Date of previous inspection 3 July 2024

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Information about this early years setting

AppleKids Day Nursery registered in 2013 and is situated in Sparkhill. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 5, two hold a level 3 qualification and one is qualified at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until midday, and 12.30pm until 3.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector completed a learning walk with the manager and talked about the curriculum and what it was they wanted children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and learning during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector had discussions with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the day. n The inspector completed a joint observation of teaching and learning with the manager. n The inspector spoke to the manager and nominated individual about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector spoke to parents throughout the day to gain their views of the nursery. n The inspector reviewed 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

10 April 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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