Wolverhampton day care nursery told to improve again by Ofsted

Little Bundles of Joy, in Wellington Road, Bilston, registered as a nursery in 2018 and currently has 20 children on its books out of a capacity of 32.

The last full Ofsted inspection, carried out in May 2019, also came to the conclusion the facility required improvement.

Following February’s visit, the nursery – which provides paid for day care for children up to four-years-old – was found to have a number of areas that needed improvement but also a significant number of strengths.

In a report published this week, Inspector Karen Laycock said: “In order to improve, the early years foundation must ensure toilet training is introduced when children are developmentally ready and not delayed due to operational restraints.

“Staff need to work closely with parents and share strategies to help accelerate children’s acquisition of toileting skills.

“The provider should enhance the monitoring of the curriculum to ensure that all areas of learning are implemented, with more guidance and support for less-experienced staff on how to extend activities that further promote children’s learning.

“Children are happy and settled in this nursery where staff establish warm and affectionate bonds with them. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

“In the pre-school room, children are excited to take their turn as the daily helper. They know the routine and the tasks they need to carry out,” she added.

“For example, they collect the plates and cutlery and set the table for lunch. However, not all children are supported to manage their own personal care.

“Children respond positively to the praise they receive, behave well and use good manners. They also learn about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and demonstrate their understanding by talking about the effect of different foods on their bodies.

“Staff support children to develop their own identity. For example, children are excited as they arrive to find photographs of themselves on toy cars, set out by staff for them to use in a mathematics activity.

“Younger children build their mathematical understanding as they sing number songs. They learn to recognise simple shapes. Older children begin to solve simple number problems. For example, they work out how many more cups they need so that everyone can have a drink,” said the report.

“The arrangements for safeguarding are effective and the manager and staff have a secure knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. They know how to make a referral to the relevant agencies in the event of a concern about a child’s welfare.”

During the visit the inspector observed the quality of teaching activities and assessed the impact this has on children’s learning.

She also held discussions with the acting manager, the owner and staff as well as looking at relevant documentation including qualifications and first-aid certificates.

The nursery employs six members of childcare staff, five of whom hold early years qualifications at levels 2-3. The nursery is open Monday-Friday from 7.30am-6pm.

This was the first routine inspection the provider had received since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

The nursery has been contacted for comment.