Sunbeams Day Nursery

Inspection of Sunbeams Day Nursery 2 Compass Terrace, Southwell Business Park, PORTLAND, Dorset DT5 2NP

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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 Good

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The provision is inadequate

The provider has a poor understanding of safeguarding matters, which compromises children's safety and welfare. They do not identify when children might be at risk of harm or liaise appropriately with external agencies to obtain and share information to keep children safe. The provider and staff do not identify potential hazards or take appropriate action to minimise risks to children. For example, staff do not follow safer sleeping guidelines for babies and allow young children to play in dirty water.

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The provision is inadequate

Some staff fail to support and manage children's behaviour appropriately. For example, they raise their voices when children do not follow their instructions and direct them by physically moving them by their hands or wrists, rather than explaining what they want children to do. These failures have a negative impact on children's emotional development and well-being.

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The provision is inadequate

The curriculum is poorly planned and implemented. Staff do not have a good understanding of children's current abilities or what they need to know before they start school. Learning opportunities provided by staff do not meet children's individual needs or build on their prior knowledge. Staff do not interact with children in a way that promotes their development. For example, they ask questions children already know the answers to, which does not extend their learning. Staff do not always speak to children respectfully or warmly. As a result, most children do not speak to staff and play alone or wait to be told what to do next. Children do not make good progress and are not well prepared for future learning.

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need to do better?

n The provider does not understand their responsibilities in keeping children safe. For example, they do not appropriately follow up absences from the nursery or understand the potential safeguarding implications of this. In addition, they do not work collaboratively with external professionals, following multi-disciplinary meetings, to ensure they have all the information they need to protect children's welfare. n Weaknesses in the provider's knowledge and understanding of risk assessment puts children at risk of harm. For example, staff put babies down to sleep on cushions in chairs and give them dummies that they are not sure are safe. Despite being aware of the safer sleeping guidelines, the provider does not identify their actions present a risk to children's safety. The provider and staff's failure to identify hazards in the nursery means steps are not taken to remove or minimise risk, and this puts children's safety at risk.

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need to do better?

n Staff do not have the skills they need to understand and support children's

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need to do better?

5 September 2025 behaviour and have unrealistic expectations of children. For example, they expect young children to sit still for long periods. When children are unable to do so, some staff shout at them to sit down and use their hands to pull children back down to a seated position. Some staff do not treat children with respect and dignity. For example, they pick babies up and move them, without telling them what is happening. These weaknesses compromise children's emotional and personal development. n The provider has a poor understanding of child development and does not understand what children need to learn before they start school. As a result, the curriculum is weak. Staff organise activities for children, but these are uninspiring and do not build on what children already know and can do. Learning opportunities in the baby room are particularly limited. Staff provide toys but do not engage with babies as they play. Children generally show little

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need to do better?

interest in playing or engaging with each other or staff. n Children do not benefit from good-quality interactions with staff. Staff working with older children ask them numerous questions without allowing them the time they need to process their thoughts and respond. Staff working with babies speak to them from above and from across the room, so children do not know staff are talking to them. Staff do not model language well. For example, they sometimes use slang when they speak to children, rarely add new vocabulary and do not support children to pronounce words clearly. n Children are generally settled. They enjoy outdoor play and some staff read them stories and sing with them. Staff provide children with healthy meals and supervise them well while they are eating.

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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

implement training to ensure that all staff can identify potential risks to children and understand their responsibilities in minimising hazards to help keep children safe 19/09/2025

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Due date

5 September 2025 ensure that staff know how to support and manage children's behaviour appropriately 19/09/2025

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Due date

ensure the designated safeguarding lead has the knowledge and skills they need to be able to identify concerns about children's welfare and liaise with external safeguarding agencies appropriately. 19/09/2025

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Due date

plan and implement a broad and balanced curriculum that builds on what children already know and can do to ensure that children make good progress in their learning 05/11/2025

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Due date

ensure staff provide good-quality, two- way interactions with children that are respectful, positive and effective in developing their communication and language skills. 05/11/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY444777 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10397850 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 40 Number of children on roll 10 Name of registered person The Cubbyhouse Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01305 823111 Date of previous inspection 25 November 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Sunbeams Day Nursery registered in 2017 and operates from Portland, Dorset. The nursery opens each weekday, from 7am to 6pm, 51 weeks a year. It employs five members of staff to work with children, including the owner/manager who holds a relevant level 5 qualification. All other staff hold qualifications from level 1 to level 3.

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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 nominated individual/manager 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, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector talked to staff and parents at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nominated individual/manager. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The nominated individual/manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

5 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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