Early years · Early years inspection (EIF)
Fairhaven Under Fives Centre
Summary
What we read, and from where
Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.
- Group verified
Fairhaven Under 5's Centre Ltd
- Group reference verified
RP528187
- Inspection date verified
9 Jul 2025
- Inspectors verified
Ali Myers
- Behaviour and attitudes verified
Outstanding
- Leadership and management verified
Outstanding
- Overall effectiveness verified
Outstanding
- Personal development verified
Outstanding
- Previous overall verified
Outstanding
- Quality of education verified
Outstanding
- Postcode verified
DY8 5PY
- Name on report verified
Fairhaven Under Fives Centre
- URN verified
EY377174
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Grade profile
Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2019.
- OverallOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Quality of educationOutstanding
11% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Outstanding (17,905 inspections).
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type graded Outstanding.
Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- They say that their children make exceptional progress and thrive at this outstanding setting. p.3
- Children flourish at this outstanding setting. p.2
- They delight in the consistency of the routines and demonstrate exemplary behaviour. p.2
- As a result, all children make excellent progress. p.2
- Children settle exceptionally well and walk into nursery with confidence. p.2
Concerns
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No strong criticism found.
Next steps
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No next steps set out.
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Leadership & governance4
“Leaders and managers maintain strong partnerships with parents and carers.” p.3Communication & language3
“Children thrive in this communication-rich environment.” p.2
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 7
- Words of findings
- 934
- about usual (typical 818)
- Reading level
- Fairly hard
- Flesch 51, typical 49
- Average sentence
- 13 words
- Next steps
- 0
- typical 0
- Hedged sentences
- 0%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Inspection of Fairhaven Under Fives Centre Fairhaven Primary School, Barnett Lane, STOURBRIDGE, West Midlands DY8 5PY
p.1
Overall effectiveness Outstanding
The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding
p.1
The provision is outstanding
Children flourish at this outstanding setting. The dedicated team members are passionate about building strong relationships with children and their families. They take time to get to know children and discover their unique personalities. Staff use this information creatively to offer personalised activities that help children to build trust and feel safe. Children settle exceptionally well and walk into nursery with confidence. They delight in the consistency of the routines and demonstrate exemplary behaviour. The positive influence of the nursery team inspires children to be kind and compassionate to others. For instance, children are eager to help others. They notice when someone does not have a chair to sit on and go out of their way to collect one for them. When children struggle to remove the lid from their glue, their friends instantly offer to help them and show them how to do it.
p.2
The provision is outstanding
Children are immersed in an abundance of inspiring learning opportunities. They delight in exploring and investigating. Children build towers with wooden bricks and compare heights, discussing whether they are taller or shorter than themselves. Staff skilfully offer challenge by asking questions that support critical thinking. For instance, when building a wooden house for the three pigs, children are encouraged to consider how they can keep their sticks standing upright. Outside, children practise using hula-hoops. Staff talk to them about how to swing their hips in rhythm to keep up the momentum. They invite children to practise spinning their hoops in different ways, including on their arms. Staff instil confidence in children to have a go, even when they are doubtful of their abilities. They offer praise for children's achievements, no matter how big or small.
p.2
need to do better?
n Leaders and managers have created a meticulously planned curriculum that is thoughtfully designed and expertly sequenced. The dedicated team offers children opportunities to practise and perfect their skills through stimulating experiences. Children delight in sharing that they have created the letters from their name using play dough. Others patiently wait for their turn to explore the gymnastics bars. The attentive staff closely monitor children as they explore different ways of swinging. Children skilfully manage risks and negotiate how to manoeuvre their bodies safely. n The experienced team members use robust assessment procedures to identify children's learning needs and monitor their progress. They use their extensive knowledge of child development to create individual plans for children. This provides children with inclusive, exciting learning opportunities tailored to their specific needs. For instance, staff swiftly identify when children require support
p.2
need to do better?
with their fine motor skills. They offer an abundance of activities to strengthen their muscles, such as manipulating dough and exploring ways of tearing paper.
p.2
need to do better?
9 July 2025 Children engage for extended periods as they investigate shapes and patterns in paper. They use their fingers to grip and tear paper into different shapes and use them to create pictures and 3D models. n Swift action is taken by staff and managers when there are concerns about a child's development. They liaise with parents as a priority and make timely referrals to the appropriate agencies. Additional funding is used effectively to provide appropriate support to children. This enhances children's opportunities to have inclusive experiences. Leaders and staff attend training to enhance their knowledge and skills in supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They work together to ensure that children can access all areas of learning. As a result, all children make excellent progress. n Children thrive in this communication-rich environment. Staff use a variety of
p.2
need to do better?
tools to enhance their development, such as Makaton signing and visual cues. Children delight in joining in with daily adult-led activities. They sit silently, watching and listening intently at what will come out of the bucket. Staff maintain children's attention as they masterfully describe each object, providing repetition of key vocabulary. Children develop a love for reading and sharing stories. They choose stories to take home each week to share with their families and enjoy retelling them when they return to nursery. n Children are confident, independent learners. They proudly attend to their own toileting needs and understand the importance of washing their hands. At snack times, children make healthy choices about the fruit that they would like to eat and select them using tongs. They pour their own drinks and chat to their friends as they enjoy this social time. Staff support children to prepare for
p.3
need to do better?
primary school. They provide uniforms for children to practice dressing themselves and build confidence in their abilities. Children stop and listen immediately when they hear the tambourine. They eagerly help to tidy up and ask staff what else they can do to help. n Leaders and managers maintain strong partnerships with parents and carers. They recognise the importance of this relationship and routinely share assessment information with parents in a timely manner. This enables parents to support their children's precise development at home. Parents speak fondly of the team members and the dedication that they provide for the care and education of their children. They say that their children make exceptional progress and thrive at this outstanding setting. n Leaders and managers are highly committed to strengthening their team. They regularly attend training to improve their knowledge and ability to support the
p.3
need to do better?
well-being of their staff. Staff receive consistent reflection and feedback on their practice. They are aware of how they can improve their teaching and speak highly of the professional development opportunities available to them.
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
Setting details
Unique reference number EY377174 Local authority Dudley Inspection number 10395100 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises
p.5
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care
p.5
inspection
Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Fairhaven Under 5's Centre Ltd
p.5
reference number
Telephone number 01384 813 977 Date of previous inspection 24 October 2019
p.5
Information about this early years setting
Fairhaven Under Fives Centre registered in 2008. The setting employs six members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from level 3 to level 6. The setting opens Monday to Friday, from 8.30am until 3.15pm, term time only. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.
p.5
Inspection activities
n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The managers joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.
p.6
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
9 July 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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