Briar Cottage Nursery

Briar Cottage Nursery 31 Park Road North, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 9TF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 November 2016 11 April 2013

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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

 Managers and staff develop warm relationships with parents who are well informed about their children's progress. Parents speak very highly of the manager and staff team. Comments include, 'It is a wonderful nursery, especially the staff. My child loves coming and is very happy.' and, 'It is really nice here. Staff are very pleasant'.  Staff make regular observations of children's learning and plan activities that help promote their future development. Children, including those who are in receipt of early years funding, make good progress from when they first start at the nursery.  Managers and staff complete a range of risk assessments to help promote children's safety and well-being. They evaluate accident and incident records to help ensure that they maintain a secure environment where children can play safely. Children's personal needs are met well. For example, children's nappies are checked frequently and regular

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This provision is good

changes are completed.  The nursery environment is clean, warm and stimulating. Children recognise their own picture label on individual water bottles and freely access fresh drinking water. This helps to promote their independence skills. Staff ensure that tops are sterilised each evening. This helps to prevent cross contamination.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, some staff do not make the best use of opportunities to encourage younger children to develop their good speaking skills further.  Occasionally, assessments of children's learning, particularly for younger children, are not yet rigorous and sharply focused.

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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

 enhance teaching that further develops younger children's good speaking skills to an even higher level  enhance the good systems for assessing children's learning even further.

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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 one of the nursery managers.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery managers. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the nursery's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to some parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. All staff are aware of their role in keeping children safe and who to contact if they have any concerns about a child's welfare. Regular supervision meetings are held with staff to share information about their key children. Training needs are identified and addressed to further support good practice. For example, information gained from recent training in mathematics has been shared with the staff team. This has helped to promote children's mathematical skills. The views of staff, parents and children are sought to help improve the services provided. Overall, managers monitor individual and groups of children's progress well. They use additional funding effectively to help support the needs of individual children. Managers show a determination to work effectively with other professionals. This ensures that all children receive appropriate help.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are well qualified. They join in with children's play and encourage their imaginative skills well. For example, young children enjoy fresh air and role play experiences outside. They pretend to make soup using ice crystals that have formed in the play kitchen. Staff encourage children to think and solve simple problems. For instance, children discover that ice melts. They tell staff this is because their hands are warm. Babies are provided with sensory play experiences. For example, they enjoy feeling dry sand as it flows between their fingers. Staff encourage babies to splash their hands in water. Babies help to pour water in the sand and feel the change in texture once the water is added. All children show good levels of engagement as they play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are settled and form close bonds with staff. They behave well and use good manners. Staff gain information from parents about their child's current interests. They use this information well, such as to reward children's good behaviour. For example, children enjoy dressing up in costumes brought in from home. Older children learn about their differences and similarities. For instance, staff encourage them to take turns and think about the different movements they can make. Children's physical development is promoted well. They walk, run and tiptoe and recognise the skills they are best at using and which help make them special. Children engage well with staff and are keen to share their personal experiences. Younger children share family photographs brought in from home. Staff encourage them to recognise who is special to them. This helps all children to form a good sense of belonging.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are socially confident and communicate very well with each other and visitors. Older children write their name on their artwork and read their name written on labels. They skilfully sound out letters during singing sessions. Young children count the steps they make as they stomp through tyres in the garden. Children learn about self-care skills. For example, older children take off their coats and hang them on their peg. Younger children use cutlery independently and eat their healthy lunch. Children are prepared for the next stage in their learning, including school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 323097 Local authority St. Helens Inspection number 1064131 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 61 Number of children on roll 90 Name of registered person John and Valerie MacGowan Partnership

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 11 April 2013 Telephone number 01925 220019 or 220020

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reference number

Briar Cottage Nursery was registered in 2000. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff, who all hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 2 to level 4. The nursery opens on Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm and all year round, except for three days at Christmas. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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

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