Small Talk Nurseries

Inspection of Small Talk Nurseries 10-12 High Street, Dawley, Telford TF4 2ET

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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 Inadequate

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The provision requires improvement

Children enter the setting happily and are greeted by the friendly staff, who take them to their rooms. Staff support children as they transition to nursery. They offer comfort and reassurance, when separating from their parents. This supports children's emotional security. Children develop positive relationships with all staff and are confident to go to them to share their wants and needs.

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The provision requires improvement

Leaders have developed a curriculum that is designed to provide a broad range of experiences that reflect all seven areas of learning. Staff routinely reflect on the curriculum with children and offer praise when they have achieved a new milestone. That said, the quality of education is not yet consistent across the nursery.

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The provision requires improvement

Children take part in a variety of activities in the outdoor learning environment. They develop physically as they ride on the trikes. Children learn about growth and healthy living by growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Staff teach children how to care for their tomatoes by inviting them to water them using watering cans and spray bottles. This supports children to develop their hand-eye coordination and strength in their hands and fingers. Children comment that their tomatoes look like pumpkins as they observe how they have changed.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide children with experiences to explore the outdoor area throughout the day. Children use equipment such as cars and ride-on toys confidently. Children play together as they go on a treasure hunt. They search for shells and proudly share them with their friends. Children learn to take turns as they travel down the slide with the support of staff. n Staff offer emotional support and reassurance for children's well-being. They provide comfort when children are upset and acknowledge their feelings. Staff quickly manage behavioural incidents and promote an awareness of others. However, inconsistencies in staff's implementation of some daily routines means that children's learning is not always directed. As a result, children often wander around the room without any clear focus. This impacts on their behaviour and interactions with others. n Staff understand the importance of promoting positive communication. They get

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need to do better?

down to children's level as they play and offer repetition of key language. When young children enjoy exploring soft-play resources indoors, they look to staff for support. Staff encourage them to say, 'help please'. Children and staff count together to three before children happily slide down. n Children's care needs are well met. Leaders have created areas where children sleep safely, in line with the latest government safety guidance. Children learn

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need to do better?

23 September 2025 about the importance of eating healthy and nutritious foods. They enjoy eating the healthy meals provided by the nursery and develop independence by serving themselves at lunchtimes. n Staff use assessment well to check children's starting points and identify areas where children require additional support. They liaise with other agencies and understand some of the ways that they can support children. However, activities and learning opportunities are not always tailored towards all children's specific needs. This means they are not always supported to make the best possible progress. n Since the last inspection, leaders have implemented rigorous risk assessments to maintain the safety of children that attend the nursery. Staff teach children about how they can keep themselves safe. This includes inviting children to carry out daily assessments of the outdoor area. Young children enjoy taking part in

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need to do better?

daily safety checks outside and older children record the areas that they have checked. n Parents speak positively about the nursery and the progress their children make. They understand some of the ways that staff support their children and how they can continue this at home. That said, parents are not always fully informed about their children's transitions to new rooms or changes to their key person. This means that they are not always aware of who to speak to about their child's development. n Recent changes to the leadership team have been managed well and leaders have high ambitions for the future of the nursery. They have some systems in place to reflect on practice and identify areas for improvement. However, these systems are not yet fully embedded to ensure that staff receive effective mentoring and coaching to raise the quality of teaching to a higher level.

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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 enhance coaching and mentoring of staff, to improve the implementation of the curriculum, and to raise the quality of teaching to a consistently good or higher level n support staff to tailor activities and opportunities for all children to ensure that children's learning and developmental needs are met, and they make progress they are capable of n embed routines further, which support staff to be consistent in their approach,

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should:

23 September 2025 and which build on children's understanding of behaviour expectations n strengthen partnerships with parents so that parents are fully informed of children's learning and development and transitions within the nursery.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2671793 Local authority Telford & Wrekin Inspection number 10414018 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 50 Number of children on roll 81 Name of registered person Rak Day Care Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07809482531 Date of previous inspection 11 June 2025

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Information about this early years setting

Small Talk Nurseries registered in 2022 and is located in Telford. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and two hold level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for a week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The before- and after-school club operates from 7am until 9am and from 3pm until 6pm during term time. A holiday club operates from 7.30am until 6pm during the school holidays. The nursery provides funded early education for eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. 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.

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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

23 September 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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