Partou Whalley Meadows Day Nursery & Forest School

Inspection of Whalley Meadows Forest School And Private Day Nursery Olympic House, The Sidings, Whalley, CLITHEROE, Lancashire BB7 9SE

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is good

The manager and staff work effectively with parents to provide children with experiences that they may not have at home. Children enjoy regular outings and outdoor play experiences, including forest school activities, where they learn about the world around them. They talk with enthusiasm about the 'magic beans' that they have collected and planted. Children can take nursery books home, with accompanying information for parents about the benefits of early reading. This helps to foster children's enjoyment of books and supports their early literacy skills, ready for school. Staff provide healthy meals that children enjoy and share recipes with parents.

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The provision is good

Children are confident, active and creative in their play and learning. Babies show curiosity as they explore a variety of sensory resources and press the paint between the transparent wrapping. Children work out which shaped blocks to use to make a house. They describe planets that they travel to in an imaginary rocket that they make from chairs and crates. However, occasionally, staff in the pre- school room do not maximise opportunities to build on what children know and can do. Therefore, children's learning is not consistently challenged to help them make the best possible progress.

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need to do better?

n The manager has high expectations of the staff and what children can achieve. She regularly seeks and values the views of parents, children and staff. This information is used to make improvements to practice and results are shared using 'you said, we did' feedback documents. n Staff take part in regular reviews and supervision meetings with the manager to discuss their practice. However, these are not used consistently so that any weaknesses in practice are promptly identified and staff are individually supported to further improve. n Staff provide children and parents with a warm and enthusiastic welcome which helps children to settle in quickly. Children develop strong bonds with the staff and seek reassurance and cuddles when they are upset. They have a good understanding of expectations of behaviour and are kind to each other. n The nursery's special educational needs coordinator understands how to

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need to do better?

promptly identify the need for early support. She knows the importance of working closely with parents and other professionals to promote consistency in children's care and learning. n Staff communicate well with children. They encourage babies to join in with repetitive action songs and rhymes. Staff model language, introduce new words appropriately and check children's understanding, for example by asking relevant questions. They use descriptive language that widens children's vocabulary and

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need to do better?

7 October 2019 encourages listening and attention skills during group activities. n Children's mathematics skills are promoted well, in a variety of ways. Children are eager to make predictions and estimate quantities. For example, they guess how many small tubes of water they need to fill the larger container. Staff use mathematical language, such as 'fill it right to the top' and 'half fill it', to encourage children's thinking skills. n Staff provide age-appropriate resources within an attractive, spacious learning environment that ignites children's interest and curiosity. On the whole, they provide children with opportunities and experiences that promote all areas of learning. Children are confident to choose what they would like to play with and show a strong sense of belonging. n Children are supported well to acquire the knowledge and key skills they need for future learning, and for school. Staff keep parents well informed with

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need to do better?

children's learning and progress. Parents say that they are happy that staff have helped their child to 'come on leaps and bounds'. n Staff promote children's physical skills well. They encourage tummy time and provide babies with plenty of space to move around. Older children tie ropes around trees and pull themselves up the slope. They hold out their arms to help balance across the concrete pipe. Staff provide activities to help children develop good pencil control and early writing skills. For example, children manipulate the dough in their hands and pick up pom-poms with tongs.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures that all staff understand their role in keeping children safe through support and regular training. Staff demonstrate a robust knowledge of the procedures to follow should they be worried a child is being abused. They use secure entry systems to ensure that all nursery visitors are known to staff before they open the door. Children are supported effectively to learn how to keep themselves safe. Older children hold onto the 'walking rope' and know not to touch the nettles as they walk to the woods. They tell their friends to stay within the yellow ribbons on the boundary trees during forest school sessions.

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should:

n focus staff monitoring and supervision more sharply to promptly identify any weaknesses in practice and help raise the quality of teaching and learning consistently to the highest level n make better use of each child's interests and what they already know and can do, particularly in the pre-school room, to provide more consistent and challenging opportunities and help them make the best possible progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY408064 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10109807 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 to 4 Total number of places 58 Number of children on roll 85 Name of registered person First Class Child Care Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01254825550 Date of previous inspection 28 May 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Whalley Meadows Forest School And Private Day Nursery registered in 2010. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above, including two who hold level 6, and 12 who hold level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n A tour of the nursery and joint observations were completed with the manager to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n The inspector held meetings with the manager and spoke to the quality assurance and area managers. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Parents were spoken to during the inspection and their views were taken into account.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

7 October 2019 regulates and inspects to 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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