Squirrels Nursery

Squirrels Nursery Tree Tops Children's Centre, Birchen Coppice School, Kidderminster, DY11 7JJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 November 2017 25 February 2014

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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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 Leadership and management of the group are strong. There is a strong commitment to evaluate and reflect on practice to secure improvement. This has a positive impact on outcomes for children.  Children are cared for in a highly welcoming and nurturing environment. They thrive as they build strong bonds with enthusiastic practitioners who are very attentive and sensitive to their individual needs. This fosters children's emotional well-being to a high level.  Children thoroughly enjoy attending the nursery. The well-considered organisation of the playrooms and wide range of activities ensures that children are motivated and very eager to join in. Children show high levels of curiosity, imagination and concentration.  The quality of teaching is consistently strong. Practitioners have a secure knowledge and understanding of how to promote the learning and development of young children. A strong focus is placed on promoting children's personal, social and emotional

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This provision is good

development and their communication and language skills in readiness for school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Opportunities to promote the learning of those children who prefer playing in the outdoor area have not yet been fully developed to further enhance children's achievements.  Practitioners professional development is not yet specifically focused on raising the quality of teaching to an outstanding level

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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 further the learning opportunities for children in the outdoor area  strengthen the focus on practitioners professional development to raise the good quality of teaching to the next level.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outside and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke to practitioners and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider and the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the self-evaluation, policies and procedures, children's records and evidence of the suitability of practitioners working in the setting.  The inspector took account of the views of a small number of parents spoken to on the day of inspection

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Safeguarding policies and procedures are implemented consistently. Practitioners have a good knowledge of the procedures to follow in the event of a safeguarding concern. They are alert and vigilant to wider safeguarding issues. Robust recruitment, vetting and performance management procedures are in place to ensure that practitioners are suitable and skilled for their roles. Leaders and managers successfully manage the learning programmes and monitor the quality of teaching. This ensures that all children get a good start and are well prepared for the next stage in their learning and that teaching remains consistently strong. Additional funding has been used effectively to narrow the gaps in children's outcomes. Parents speak positively about the nursery and are pleased with the progress children make.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children benefit from being cared for by motivated and enthusiastic practitioners who have a good knowledge of how children learn. Practitioners use observation and assessment successfully. They plan a wide range of activities for children based around their interests. Practitioners use their good teaching skills and give children time to explore and solve problems. Children delight in developing their creative and mark-making skills using paint and chalks. Sand play and building blocks are firm favourites with older children. Younger children enjoy craft activities and making masks for a fundraising event. They enthusiastically join in singing action and number rhymes and like to play their favourite game as they look for the little mouse. Children weigh different size objects on the scales and learn about light and heavy. They use tools and equipment to develop their own ideas, such as using tweezers to make footprints in the play dough.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

This is a delightful nursery where children are seen as unique individuals. Children show they feel very safe and secure as they make choices about their play and learning. Practitioners successfully promote a sense of achievement and children are supported extremely effectively to develop their independence and self-care skills. First class attention is given to promoting children's health and physical development. Children learn about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise and have superb opportunities to spend time outdoors in the fresh air. Practitioners consistently teach children simple rules, such as taking turns, sharing and thinking about others as they play. Links with schools and agencies work very well to support transitions and meet the needs of children who require additional support.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning. They are keen, expressive and inquisitive learners. Early literacy skills and mathematical development are promoted effectively to ensure that children are well prepared for future learning. Children learn how to develop positive relationships with others and about the world around them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY469879 Local authority Worcestershire Inspection number 1088237 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Worcestershire YMCA Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 25 February 2014 Telephone number 01562515747

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reference number

Squirrels Day Nursery registered in 2013. It is one of four settings managed by the Redditch Young Men's Christian Association Limited. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff, including the manager. Of these, nine staff hold appropriate qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 3. The nursery is open Monday to Wednesday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm. 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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