Applepips Day Nursery (Heritage House)

Inspection of Applepips Day Nursery (Heritage House) 80-82 Woodlands Avenue, Rustington, Littlehampton BN16 3EY

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

There are significant breaches of requirements at this nursery. These directly impact the safeguarding arrangements in place to keep children safe, as well as the quality of education children receive. Leaders have not taken the appropriate steps to assure themselves of the initial and ongoing suitability of staff. In addition, risk assessment is ineffective, and leaders have not ensured staff have a sufficient knowledge of child protection. These breaches compromise children's safety.

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The provision is inadequate

Leaders do not ensure staff have the knowledge they need to understand how to plan or implement a well-balanced and ambitious curriculum. As a result, staff do not plan purposeful activities to engage and motivate children's curiosities and meet their individual learning needs. Although staff provide some activities based on topics they select, these do not incorporate learning that is tailored for individual children. This is because leaders have not ensured staff have a sufficient understanding of the assessment processes in place. In addition, staff do not have the knowledge needed to enable them to complete the required progress checks at age two and some children do not have these. Staff do not know precisely what children have already learned and what they need to learn next. This has a detrimental impact on the progress all children can make.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Generally, children demonstrate they are happy in the environment. Staff are kind, attentive and respectful of children. In turn, children seek familiar staff for comfort when needed, demonstrating secure and trusting bonds. Overall, children's behaviour is satisfactory. However, children's attitude to learning and, at times, their behaviour is impacted due to the weaknesses in the educational programmes on offer. Consequently, some children wander around the environment, flitting between available resources without purpose. Others become bored which results in behaviour, such as rolling around on the floor and leads to disagreements with friends. Overall, children do not receive the support they require in preparation for their next stage in learning.

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need to do better?

n Following new ownership, leaders who have ultimate oversight and governance of the nursery do not provide the staff team with the support and guidance they need. As a result, they have not identified the weaknesses or taken appropriate action to ensure the requirements of the registration are met or maintained. n The new leadership team have not taken steps to assure themselves of staff's ongoing suitability following new ownership. They have relied upon staff's previous vetting checks, however, records of these are poorly maintained. For Instance, leaders do not have information to confirm the range of checks that have been completed, such as references, or evidence to show when previous

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need to do better?

20 August 2025 Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks were obtained. In addition, current recruitment and vetting procedures are not robust, as leaders are unable to demonstrate that some staff have a DBS. As a result, leaders cannot demonstrate how the initial and ongoing suitability of staff is assured. n Although some staff have previously completed safeguarding training under previous ownership, new leaders have not tested staff's knowledge to see what has been previously understood and retained, or provided any additional training. As such, they have not identified that staff's knowledge, including those with lead responsibility for safeguarding, is not sufficient. Staff demonstrate a poor understanding of child protection, including how to identify and respond to a child welfare concern. Additionally, staff are not aware of how to contact local safeguarding partnerships, should they have concerns about a colleague. Those

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need to do better?

with lead responsibility are unaware of a broad range of safeguarding matters and how to identify if a child or family is at risk. As a result, they do not have the knowledge to advise and guide other staff if needed. This compromises children's safety. n Since new ownership, leaders have not put any arrangements in place for staff supervision sessions. This means staff do not receive the support, coaching and training they need. Consequently, staff do not have the knowledge and skills they need to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. They are not supported to continually improve their own personal effectiveness. This negatively impacts the quality of education and experiences children receive, and does not foster a culture of mutual support, teamwork or continuous improvement. n Leaders have not ensured staff have the skills required to consistently identify and appropriately manage or mitigate risks. For instance, some resources in the

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need to do better?

garden are broken and expose children to sharp plastic, which is unnoticed by staff. However, there are some occasions staff have identified risks. For example, there are overgrown stinging nettles in the garden. A shed has been removed leaving stacked paving slabs and resulted in overgrown foliage that has not been maintained. These risks are fully accessible to children. Staff have reported these hazards to those who have ultimate responsibility for the nursery. However, leaders have taken no action to eliminate these risks. This knowingly compromises children's safety. n Leaders have not identified that staff do not have the understanding to implement expected processes, such as children's ongoing assessment and next steps. In addition, leaders have not ensured that the required progress checks at age two are completed. Consequently, children do not benefit from a well- balanced curriculum or learning that prepares them for future success.

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need to do better?

n Staff make good use of the outdoor areas and, as such, children do have ample opportunities to develop their physical skills. Children enjoy running, manoeuvring their whole bodies and using equipment, such as the see-saw and slide. This supports children to be physically active and develop their core muscle skills. n Leaders have taken appropriate steps following a previous incident to ensure the premises are secure. This ensures children are not able to leave the provision, particularly when accessing the outdoors, and ensures children are always fully accounted for.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

take action to improve the oversight of all aspects of the provision, to address weaknesses and maintain a safe environment for children 25/09/2025

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Due date

ensure the required vetting checks have been completed for all staff and records of these are maintained to demonstrate their initial and ongoing suitability 25/09/2025

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Due date

ensure information and records are accessible and made available to all those who require access to them 25/09/2025

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Due date

ensure that staff, including those with lead responsibility, receive appropriate safeguarding training to enable them to identify children who may be at risk of harm, or what to do in the event they have concerns about a colleague's behaviour, and know the correct procedures to follow 25/09/2025

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Due date

ensure effective arrangements are in place for the supervision of staff, that provide the support, coaching and training needed to improve their personal effectiveness, address weaknesses and foster a culture of continuous improvement 25/09/2025

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Due date

20 August 2025 implement and monitor risk assessments, ensuring that all potential hazards are consistently identified, minimised and promptly addressed to protect children's safety. 25/09/2025

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Due date

plan and implement an ambitious curriculum that builds on all children's existing knowledge, skills and capabilities and engages them fully in their learning, indoors and outdoors 15/10/2025

p.5

Due date

ensure assessment of children's development is used effectively to identify their next steps to support their learning and help them to make good progress 15/10/2025

p.5

Due date

ensure that progress checks are completed for all children aged between two and three years. 15/10/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2813342 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10404352 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Applepips Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07501413905 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Applepips Day Nursery (Heritage House) registered in October 2024. They are located in Rustington, West Sussex. They operate all year round, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. They have eight staff, of whom seven hold relevant early years qualifications. The nursery receives free entitlement funding for children aged nine months to four years.

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Inspection activities

n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The deputy manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The deputy manager and inspector carried out a joint observation during an activity. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The deputy manager showed the inspector various documentation upon request. n Parents shared their views of the provision 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

20 August 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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