Blackburne House Nursery

Blackburne House Nursery Blackburne Place, Off Hope Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L8 7PE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 June 2017 19 February 2015

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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 quality of teaching is good and some aspects, particularly in the pre-school room, are outstanding. Overall, staff use their qualifications, knowledge and skills well to assess children's progress and to plan activities that reflect children's stages of development and interests.  The ambitious and dedicated management team aspires to be outstanding. They reflect on their practice and have a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the setting. Systems are in place to evaluate all aspects of the provision to inform continuous improvement.  Staff in the baby room provide a very warm and nurturing environment. Babies form very strong bonds with their key person. They are relaxed and content as they play and explore.  Well-qualified staff act as excellent role models. They are particularly skilled and sensitive in supporting good behaviour. Children show wonderful care and compassion

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasions, staff are less effective in helping children to enhance their mathematical skills.  Activities planned for children who speak English as an additional language can, on occasions, be too difficult for some children and they quickly lose interest.

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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

 review and reflect on how children's mathematical skills are extended in everyday play and routine tasks  support staff to consistently plan activities for children who speak English as an additional language that provide appropriate levels of challenge and maintain their interest and motivation.

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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 nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the joint 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 with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector spoke with a small number of parents 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. Staff can identify the signs of possible abuse. They know who to contact should they have any concerns about the welfare of a child. Managers offer a range of supervision sessions and training to improve staff practice. Funding is used effectively, including investing in resources and equipment. This contributes to the good progress children are making. Children's progress is monitored over time. Managers make effective use of this information to identify any gaps in children's learning. Where gaps are identified, staff work well in partnership with parents and other professionals to plan activities to help ensure children make good progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Pre-school staff are highly skilled in engaging children in conversation. Pertinent questioning encourages children to draw on recent learning to make comparisons in the features of living things. For example, children talk about their facial muscles and bones. Staff ask what they might look like without bones. Children take some time to think about their answer and then explain that they would go floppy and wobbly like a jellyfish. This helps to support children's thinking and language skills and their understanding of the world. Babies enjoy a wide range of sensory play opportunities. They use their hands and mouths to explore different materials and textures with interest and curiosity. This helps develop their physical skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Key persons gather meaningful information from parents before children start and use this to support children from the first day. Children form strong bonds with staff, which contributes to their self-esteem and feelings of being safe. They enjoy daily exercise and outdoor play and this helps support their physical well-being. Mealtimes are positive learning experiences. Staff encourage children to be independent and talk to them about healthy foods as they eat. They reflect children's individual home languages and cultures within their practice and encourage children to celebrate diversity.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident and motivated learners. Older children know initial letter sounds, reflecting their names. Toddlers recognise the covers of their favourite storybooks and excitedly join in with repeated refrains. This helps to develop children's early literacy skills. Overall, children, including those in receipt of additional funding and children who speak English as an additional language, are well prepared for their next stages in development. They acquire the skills they need for future learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 322362 Local authority Liverpool Inspection number 1090950 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 - 4 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 63 Name of registered person Blackburne House

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 February 2015 Telephone number 0151 709 4356

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reference number

Blackburne House Nursery registered in 1994. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year- old children. The nursery employs 12 members of staff. Two hold appropriate childcare qualifications at level 4, eight at level 3, one at level 2 and one holds early years professional status.

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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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