Highview Baby Unit

Highview Baby Unit Hall Green, Upholland, SKELMERSDALE, Lancashire, WN8 0DX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 September 2016 19 February 2016

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 The owner, manager and staff team have worked exceptionally hard to make the required improvements since the last inspection. Insightful evaluation and detailed action plans have contributed greatly to the changes that have been made.  Overall, the quality of teaching is good. The well-qualified staff use their skills effectively and all children make good progress in all areas of learning. Children enjoy having the freedom to independently explore and develop high levels of confidence. This helps to prepare them well for the next stage in their learning.  Children demonstrate strong attachments to their key person. Staff are attentive to young children's needs and support them well. For example, when young children learn how to feed themselves, staff are nearby to offer guidance and help them to succeed.  Staff have a secure knowledge of how young children learn and provide a range of exciting activities and resources to encourage and motivate them. They meticulously

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This provision is good

track children's progress, swiftly identifying any gaps in learning and providing appropriate support to help improve their outcomes.  Partnerships with parents are strong. They are kept well informed about their child's progress and share information about their child's learning at home through parent contribution forms and daily discussions.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasions, staff do not use the correct words when speaking to children and during activities to support their acquisition of language.  Staff do not give the same consideration to planning the outdoor environment as they do inside. This means that children who prefer to learn outdoors do not always benefit from the same stimulating learning experiences.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 ensure staff use the correct words when interacting with children to effectively support their developing language skills  strengthen the planning for activities in the outdoor environment, in order to help children who prefer to learn outside have the same level of stimulating experiences as those provided indoors.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the baby unit manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the baby unit manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the baby unit's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the baby unit.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents and grandparents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff have a good understanding of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare. Staff remain vigilant at all times. Their thorough checks of the environment, close supervision and robust recruitment procedures help to keep children safe in their care. Children's progress is monitored effectively to help ensure that any gaps in learning are swiftly identified and supported. Detailed improvement plans, regular staff meetings and feedback from parents are very clearly focused on making improvements. Focused professional development opportunities help to ensure that staff working with younger children are suitably qualified and skilled in their role.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff gather a wide range of information from parents when children first start and subsequently at regular intervals. This is used alongside their own observations to plan precisely to meet the needs of children. Resources are well chosen and age-appropriate. Babies and toddlers delight in feeling the texture of shaving foam and glitter. They make marks with their fingers, developing their small-muscle skills. Specialist music sessions promote young children's exploration of sound and musical instruments. Staff play peek-a- boo games with children using scarves and fabrics, encouraging children to copy their actions. They make learning fun and build on children's next steps effectively.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children demonstrate that they feel happy and safe in the warm and welcoming environment that the staff team has established. They are encouraged to put on their own shoes before playing outside and do so with increasing confidence. Children's emotional well-being is given high regard. Staff work closely with the sister nursery when children are due to move on. This helps to ensure that the move is as smooth as possible for children and they settle quickly. Furthermore, children benefit from seeing familiar faces when moving into the nursery because staff work between the setting and the sister nursery. Staff model the nursery's values very well. Children show high levels of respect for one another. They carefully consider each other's needs, often taking comfort items to other children when they become upset to help them feel reassured. Children behave well and are settled and happy. Children enjoy healthy, nutritious meals which are prepared on

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

the premises and have daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise, developing their increasing physical skills.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children progress well from their starting points. All children gain important skills for their future development. They learn to follow instructions well and share toys with each other. Babies and toddlers develop strong physical skills and confidence as they crawl through tunnels and pull themselves up on furniture with the support of staff.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 309637 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 1040645 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 2 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 16 Name of registered person Jean Ann Hurst

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 February 2016 Telephone number 01695 627 277

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reference number

Highview Baby Unit was registered in 1998. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm.

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reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted 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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reference number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, 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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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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