Smart Kids Nursery

Inspection of Smart Kids Nursery Unit 1, 93 High Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, West Midlands B5 6DY

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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 are happy and settle quickly into their rooms with their peers on arrival. They form close relationships with staff, who cater well to meet their emotional needs. Staff are warm and caring towards children, which helps them to feel safe and secure in their care. Children enjoy their time in the nursery. For example, all children are eager to sing along and follow the actions to familiar songs and rhymes and join in with enthusiastic staff. Staff make appropriate adaptations to routines and activities to ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and children who need additional support gain the learning experiences they need. This helps all children to continue to make progress from their starting points.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. They listen and respond well to staff's gentle reminders to share toys with their friends and to use their good manners. For example, children say, 'thank you' when their peers are encouraged to give them one of their toys, so that they can both play. Staff give timely praise, which helps children to know the behaviours that are expected of them. Children gain the skills and understanding they need to prepare them for the next stage of their learning.

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need to do better?

n The nursery curriculum is well designed, with clear intentions for children's learning and achievements from young babies through to pr-school. The learning is sequenced to help build on what children already know and can do. Staff use the information gained from their observations of children to decide what they are each ready to learn and make plans to provide for this learning. n Staff know what they want to teach children to help them develop in the areas needed. However, the teaching methods used are almost always adult-led, table top activities. There is little opportunity for children to decide what they play with and how to use their imaginative and thinking skills to extend their learning in their chosen direction. n At times, such as during outdoor play and mealtimes, children have lots of interesting conversations with staff about the activities they have engaged with, which helps children recall past events and includes the vocabulary they know.

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need to do better?

However, communication and language during teaching activities is not promoted as effectively. This is because staff verbal interactions through questioning with children require a response that is often limited to one word. n Independence is promoted effectively for all children in the nursery. For example, young babies learn to feed themselves, while older babies build further on their skills with cutlery at mealtimes and know where to find their belongings. Older children begin to manage their personal care and dress themselves with increasing competence.

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need to do better?

3 June 2025 n Staff ensure that children who need additional support receive timely intervention and activities that are tailored to meet their specific needs. They liaise effectively with parents and other relevant professionals to ensure the support provided is effective to help children make the progress they are capable of. n Children thoroughly enjoy being active, both indoors and outdoors. For example, they exert their energy and giggle while playing running games with the staff. Children practise their balance and coordination while climbing on the frames in a range of ways and sliding down. Babies strengthen their muscles and persevere to climb up steps and along rope structures. Staff praise their efforts and achievements. This helps raise children's self-esteem and confidence in their abilities. n Managers ensure that staff receive the training, guidance and support they need to fulfil their duties effectively. Staff are provided with regular opportunities to

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need to do better?

reflect on their practice and discuss their training interests and needs to help them continue their professional development. n Parents are happy with the nursery. They say that the staff are friendly and helpful. Parents comment particularly on how staff support children's emotional well-being. They value the information they receive about their child's care and learning, both at collection times and online.

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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 build further on the provision for children's learning to provide a play environment that is stimulating and enables children to make decisions about how they play, that extends their learning n develop staff verbal interactions so that children are provided with further opportunities to practise their speaking skills and use their increasing vocabulary.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2595823 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10404478 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 80 Number of children on roll 135 Name of registered person ASKN Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01214488688 Date of previous inspection 27 April 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Smart Kids Nursery registered in 2020. The nursery is based in Digbeth and employs 31 members of childcare staff. One holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 6, two at level 5, one at level 4 and twenty at level 3. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 8pm, and on Saturday from 9.30am to 1pm, all year round. The nursery provides funded early education for children aged from nine months within the early years age range.

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Inspection activities

n The deputy manager showed the inspector all areas of the premises and discussed how staff ensure that it is safe and suitable for children to attend. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching throughout the inspection and considered the impact this has on children's learning. A joint evaluation of the quality of teaching during an activity took place between the manager and the inspector. n The inspector spoke to parents at appropriate times and took account of their views of the nursery. n The inspector spoke to children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with the managers and the leader and discussed how the setting was organised. The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

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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

3 June 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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