Kaleidoscope Day Nursery

Inspection of Kaleidoscope Day Nursery Sherborne Business Centre, East Mill Lane, SHERBORNE, Dorset DT9 3DR

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is inadequate

Leaders do not implement rigorous recruitment and vetting procedures. For example, they do not undertake Disclosure and Barring service (DBS) checks for all staff who work directly with children. Leaders do not follow advice from the local authority designated officer to improve their recruitment procedures following previous incidences, where DBS checks were not completed.

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The provision is inadequate

Children show they are happy and enjoy their time at the setting. They form positive relationships with their key person. They go to them for support and to involve them in their play. Staff who work with babies are caring, nurturing and responsive. Babies confidently explore their environment, take toys to their key person and calmly settle at nap time. Children behave well. They follow the setting's daily routines and boundaries and respond positively to staff's requests and instructions. They listen and engage well as staff enthusiastically read stories and freely say please and thank you, when staff give them their lunch. Staff deliver a curriculum that builds on what children already know and can do. They monitor children's development and use this information to organise learning opportunities that help children to reach their next steps. This ensures children continually make good progress in their learning.

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need to do better?

n Recruitment procedures do not promote children's safety and welfare. Leaders do not ensure that the necessary checks to ensure the suitability of staff working with children are undertaken in a timely manner. n Leaders seek advice from external safeguarding partners but do not act on the guidance they receive. The provider shows a lack of understanding of the importance of undertaking recruitment and vetting checks. They do not identify the potential impact of their failure to do so on the quality of the provision and care that children receive. n Staff deliver a broad and balanced curriculum that nurtures children's interests. Children enjoy learning new skills and knowledge, both indoors and outdoors. For example, younger children smile and laugh as they master using a range of tools while looking for dinosaurs hidden in the soil. Older children concentrate and show pride as they practise their early writing. They say, 'Wow! I did it,' as

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need to do better?

they confidently write their names and draw different shapes. n Children benefit from staff's positive and supportive interactions. Staff use encouraging language and consistently praise children for their attempts and achievements. This supports children to develop positive attitudes towards their learning and helps build their confidence and self-esteem. n Parent partnerships are positive. Staff warmly welcome parents and carers as they arrive. Each child's key person speaks to parents about their child's care

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need to do better?

20 August 2025 and learning, when children are collected. Parents appreciate this regular communication. They say they feel informed about their children's development and progress. Staff work collaboratively with parents to help understand each child's individual likes, dislikes and needs when they start. Staff use this to tailor each child's care and learning. This supports consistency for children. n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language is strong. Staff who have responsibility for this are passionate and dedicated. They understand their responsibilities and attend regular training. They use their knowledge and skills to support staff to ensure all children can access the learning opportunities they need. This effective support helps all children make good progress from their starting points. n Staff plan regular opportunities for children to learn about the world around

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need to do better?

them. Children visit the local care home, go to the town's annual street fair, watch the local school's nativity play at Christmas, and go shopping to buy food and drink for their snacks. This helps children feel part of their local community and supports their social development. n Children show they are developing good communication and language skills. Staff support children to learn and use new vocabulary. They encourage children to talk about what they are doing and to share their thoughts and ideas. For instance, staff take time to explain new words and concepts as they share books with children.

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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

ensure the required checks are undertaken for all staff to confirm their suitability to work with children 21/08/2025

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Due date

ensure leaders promptly follow advice provided by the local safeguarding partnership to improve the procedures for recruitment and vetting. 21/08/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY411243 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10414321 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 148 Number of children on roll 195 Name of registered person Kaleidoscope Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01935812424 Date of previous inspection 23 August 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Kaleidoscope Day Nursery registered in 2010. It is a privately owned nursery, situated in a business park in the town of Sherborne, Dorset. The nursery is open weekdays from 8am to 5.30pm, all year round, except for two weeks at Christmas and on bank holidays. It employs 39 staff members who work directly with the children. The manager holds early years professional status, 1 member of staff holds a level 5 qualification, 23 hold a qualification at level 3, and 10 hold a qualification at level 2. The nursery offers government funded childcare places.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors Mikaela Jauncey Rebecca Lihou

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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 Both deputy managers joined an inspector on a learning walk and talked about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n Staff talked to inspectors throughout the inspection. They discussed how the curriculum is planned and implemented and how children's progress is monitored. n An inspector spoke to parents and took their views into account. n Both deputy managers carried out joint observations of creative activities with inspectors. n Inspectors observed interactions between staff and children throughout the inspection. n Children spoke to the inspectors. n Inspectors viewed various documentation relating to the suitability of staff and the recruitment procedures followed by leaders. n An inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises with the deputy managers.

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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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