Little Swanswell Nursery

Inspection of Little Swanswell Nursery Cornerstone Family Centre, Howard Street, Coventry CV1 4GE

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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

The provider has taken action to ensure that some of the necessary improvements from the last inspection were made. The premises are secure to ensure that unwanted visitors cannot enter without authorisation. Appropriate play resources are used with children, ensuring they do not present risks to the different groups of children attending. That said, the nursery curriculum is not yet ambitious enough to ensure that children achieve and make the progress they are capable of. Staff do not yet have a secure understanding of how the curriculum is to be implemented across the setting to ensure all children receive the learning that they need when they need it. The play environment for the youngest children does not help them settle in quickly. This means that they are not ready to engage in learning with the right support from staff.

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The provision requires improvement

Children who are settled enjoy attending. Staff build close relationships with children and are kind and caring towards them. Children go to them for cuddles and comfort, which helps them to feel safe in their care. Staff use gentle reminders to support children to understand the behaviour that is expected of them. Staff give timely praise when children show positive behaviours, such as helping their friends with tasks while they play together. Children gain some of the skills and understanding that they need to prepare them for the next stage of learning and the eventual move on to school.

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need to do better?

n The setting's curriculum lacks ambition for what children can achieve. This does not ensure that children receive the learning opportunities they need to catch up and make continual progress over time. When children first start, staff gain information from parents to help them know what children are ready to learn. However, children are not provided with sufficiently challenging experiences, which help them to build on what they already know and can do. n The arrangement of the play environment for babies is not effective or conducive to learning. Children who are new to the setting remain unsettled and, much of the time, other children either engage in solitary play or sit at activities with little to no interaction from staff. This is because staff time is taken up attempting to soothe a high number of babies who are upset. n Children who require additional support do receive the individual time and

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need to do better?

experiences that they need to make progress from their starting points. This is because staff liaise effectively with parents and outside professionals to plan for this learning. Staff use words from home languages for children to support their understanding, where children speak English as an additional language. n Independence is promoted at times, for example children learn to manage their personal care and wash their hands correctly. Toddlers collect their plates and

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need to do better?

23 September 2025 cutlery at mealtimes, tidying away after eating. However, there is scope to provide further opportunities for children to complete tasks for themselves during mealtimes and to practise self-dressing. n Communication and language is promoted, staff use a range of songs, stories and rhymes. For example, older babies and toddlers engage well, following the actions and singing the words that they know. However, across the nursery, staff often use closed questions during their verbal interactions. This means that children are required to respond with one word or make a choice from two words provided. This does not enable children to use their vocabulary, thinking skills and practise their speaking skills. n Staff provide children with opportunities to develop their physical skills and larger muscles in a range of ways. For example, young babies have space to crawl and use well-placed furniture to pull themselves up to standing. Older

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need to do better?

children use a range of equipment in the garden to practise their balance and coordination for climbing. n Managers ensure that staff receive the support and guidance they need to increase their professional development. However, because the curriculum is not yet designed well to sequence the learning for children, further guidance is required for staff to understand how to implement an appropriate curriculum in the way that it is intended; to ensure children gain the experiences they need to develop well in all areas of learning. n Parents are happy with the nursery. They say their children enjoy attending, and they are happy with the communication they receive about their child's care and learning.

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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

design a well-thought-through curriculum that is ambitious for what all children can learn and achieve over time 28/11/2025

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Due date

23 September 2025 provide staff with the support they need to understand the curriculum and the intended learning, so that they deliver this learning effectively for children to make the progress they need 28/11/2025

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Due date

improve the play environment for the youngest children to enable new children to settle quickly, while other children receive the support they need to engage in purposeful play and learning. 28/11/2025

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should:

n provide children with further opportunities to develop independence and complete a range of tasks for themselves n develop alternative verbal interactions with children that help them to think and respond using their vocabulary and thinking skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY414744 Local authority Coventry Inspection number 10418617 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 102 Number of children on roll 128 Name of registered person Paradise Mobile Creche Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 02476 633 899 Date of previous inspection 6 June 2025

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Information about this early years setting

Little Swanswell Nursery registered in 2010 and is based in Coventry. The nursery employs 23 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 5, one at level 4, seven at level 3 and 6 at level 2. The nursery is open from Monday to Thursday, 7.30am to 6pm, and Friday 7.30am to 4.30pm, during term time. The nursery offers government funded places for all eligible children aged from nine months in the early years age range.

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Inspection activities

n The manager showed the inspector all areas of the premises and discussed how staff ensure that they are safe and suitable for children to attend. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching throughout the inspection and considered the impact this has on children's learning. A joint evaluation of the quality of teaching during an activity took place between the manager and the inspector. n The inspector spoke to parents at appropriate times and also took into account their written views of the nursery. n The inspector spoke to children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and the leader and discussed how the setting was organised. The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

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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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