The Old School House Day Nursery

Inspection of The Old School House Day Nursery Church Lane, Middleton, Tamworth B78 2AW

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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

Leaders and staff build strong bonds with families that attend the setting. Children are confident to share who their friends are and their achievements with visitors. Parents are aware of their child's key person. Children behave well and staff encourage and praise children for having a go.

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The provision requires improvement

All children have access to a range of activities that support their physical development. For example, babies practise their gross motor skills as they stand and sprinkle shredded paper and older children develop new skills while having a go at an obstacle course in the garden. At times, staff teach children some self-care skills. For example, older children are encouraged to have a go at wiping their own noses. However, younger children have this done for them without asking as staff lean over the back of them. Not all staff implement the intent of the curriculum or strategies in place to meet the individual learning needs of children, in particular when they need additional support. Which means at times some children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), may not make the progress of which they are capable.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are keen to do their best for children and families. They have made improvements to the safety, security and hygiene of the setting since the last inspection. They have welcomed support from the local authority and external professionals to help them support all children's learning. These changes are positive, however they are not yet fully embedded. n Leaders have created a clear curriculum for each age group. However, teaching for children is inconsistent. For example, leaders share how they intend to support all children to build on their independent skills before they go to school. However, although some staff discuss letting younger children have a go at wiping their own faces after they have eaten only a few children are given the opportunity to have a go. Furthermore, although planned, not all children put on or take off their own coats. This means children's independent skills are not

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need to do better?

developing consistently in all areas. n In addition, leaders and staff are not always clear on how the curriculum can be adapted for children with SEND to meet their learning needs. Staff complete assessments and make the appropriate referrals and funding arrangements for children with SEND. However, in the meantime not enough is in place to reduce any gaps in children's learning. For example, communication strategies, such as signing, is not used consistently and staff do not identify how it can support all children with additional needs. Furthermore, the strategies that have been identified are used well by the key person, such as single words and getting down to their level. However, not all staff make effective use of the strategies to

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need to do better?

23 September 2025 fully engage children in the routine and learning. n Staff provide books in all areas of the setting, including the garden, which helps children to enjoy looking at books independently. Older children listen carefully to staff instructions and answer questions by recalling previous learning. However, not all staff are fully aware of what children need to learn next. For example, some children are attempting to use scissors but are not holding them in the correct way. Staff do not identify this which means they eventually give up and move away from the activity. This means that the quality of teaching is variable, and not all children are consistently supported to make the best possible progress. n Parents express they feel they have strong relationships with leaders and staff. They are kept up to date with what their children are learning via an online application. In addition, they share how it helps them to continue the activities

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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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Due date

improve arrangements to support children with SEND and ensure that agreed strategies are fully understood and implemented by all staff 08/10/2025

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Due date

support all staff to understand and implement the curriculum to meet the learning needs of all children. 08/10/2025

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should:

n strengthen practice so all staff are able to support all children with their next steps in learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2597717 Local authority Warwickshire Inspection number 10410945 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 76 Number of children on roll 99 Name of registered person Middleton Daycare Group Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01213083923 Date of previous inspection 2 June 2025

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Information about this early years setting

The Old School House Day Nursery registered in 2020. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, 17 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 to level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.15am until 6pm. The nursery offers the government-funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged 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 and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. 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 Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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 inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. 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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