Apple Tree Day Nursery

Apple Tree Day Nursery Soho Street, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 4DX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 July 2017 8 August 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 management team has worked hard to address improvements in the setting. It has taken clear and effective action to bring about positive changes. For example, monitoring staff practice rigorously and the quality of teaching is improving steadily.  The management team monitors children's development effectively. It identify gaps in individual children's learning and areas that need to be developed for particular age groups. This helps children to make good progress, overall.  Staff know the children well and understand what interests and motivates them to learn. They carefully observe children daily and use this information to plan activities that effectively support what they need to learn next.  Staff foster children's independence skills successfully. For example, children learn to serve their food at mealtimes and practise putting their own wellingtons and coats on.  The management team continually evaluates the effectiveness of the setting. It acts

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This provision is good

upon the views of parents swiftly. For example, listening to parents' comments to ensure they are successfully kept up to date with staff changes, via regular newsletters.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not fully support parents to complement or further extend their children's learning in the home.  Staff do not always make the most of opportunities to fully promote and extend children's language and communication skills.

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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 the information shared with parents to help them to complement and extend their child's learning at home  exploit opportunities to enrich children's language and communication skills 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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the early years consultant for the setting.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider, nursery manager and early years consultant. She looked at relevant documentation, such as children's assessments, planning, policies and procedures and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and also took account of their views recorded on feedback questionnaires for the setting.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The management team has instilled a strong culture of reflection within the team and has high expectations to continually improve practice. Staff have regular supervision meetings to help monitor their overall performance. Staff observe each other to identify areas to develop further in their teaching practice. They attend regular professional development opportunities, for example, learning about the benefits of imaginative play. They now use real objects, such as fruit in the role-play area, to help promote children's creativity further. Safeguarding is effective. Staff show knowledge of child protection issues. They are confident about what action to take if they are concerned about the welfare of a child. They complete checks of the environment to minimise any hazards to children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff find out what children can do and already know when first starting at the setting. They use this information to plan activities that are well matched to their individual needs. For example, staff promote older children's interest in making different marks. They demonstrate how to use a sponge and toothbrush in paint to make different patterns. Staff foster younger children's mathematical language effectively. For example, they count up to three before throwing the ball, and count how many times the children move forwards on the swing. Children enjoy creating insects with dough and staff ask questions to successfully promote their thinking skills. Parents are kept well informed about their child's development, including through progress reviews, parents' evenings and a daily diary. These relationships help to support continuity in children's learning, overall.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children benefit from a range of experiences indoors and outdoors. Staff foster children's physical well-being effectively. For example, children balance across the bridge and over the stepping stones. They enjoy moving in different directions on the spinning boards. Children enjoy a range of healthy meals and learn how to look after their teeth. Staff develop children's personal, social and emotional skills well. They sensitively support children's toileting and offer cuddles and reassurance to babies when needed. They encourage children to help tidy the toys away and children of all ages behave well.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress. This includes children who speak English as an additional language and those who receive additional funding. Children learn to respect others, grow in confidence, build friendships and develop strong social skills. Babies enjoy pressing buttons on interactive books and toys, and older children practise their computer skills. They develop early writing skills, sing songs and share stories together. Children are well prepared for their future and in readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY297521 Local authority Calderdale Inspection number 1098234 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 54 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Amanda Clare Aspin

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 August 2016 Telephone number 01422 320819

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reference number

Apple Tree Day Nursery registered in 2004. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, six hold level 3 and one has an early years degree. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, excluding the week between Christmas and New Year and on bank holidays. Sessions are from 7am to 6pm. 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

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

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