Pre-School Learning Alliance Bulwell Childcare

Inspection of Pre-School Learning Alliance Bulwell Childcare Bulwell Children's Centre, Steadfold Close, Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 8AX

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time at this warm, homely nursery. They are happy, busy and safe in the care of the attentive and caring staff. Children develop a positive attitude to learning from an early age and behave well. They demonstrate confidence and concentration as they take part in a range of activities of their choice. This is evident when older children mix paints to create different colours using a pipette. They are fascinated as they see the colours change and spend long periods experimenting with the mixture. Younger children enjoy playing in the water and singing songs about ducks. They giggle and laugh, showing curiosity as they splash and pat while exploring the water.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language. Staff frequently check what children know and can do, and use this information to plan what they need to learn next.

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The provision is good

Staff provide a broad range of interesting and enriching activities to help promote children's learning. For example, they have created a large sandpit inside in the older children's room. They have added dumper trucks, drainpipes, logs and a wide selection of natural items, such as stones and fir cones. The children benefit from this. They enjoy digging and use their imagination as they become 'builders' and transport the items around the sandpit.

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need to do better?

n The manager cares for the well-being of her staff and conducts regular supervision meetings to discuss their workload. She provides ongoing support to help develop their practice further. Staff meet regularly to share their ideas and views and are encouraged to make decisions. They complete mandatory training, such as first aid and safeguarding. However, opportunities for a broader range of professional development for staff are not yet embedded. n The manager is ambitious and focused on improving the quality of the nursery. Since the last inspection, she has altered the rooms in the nursery to help enhance children's learning. She and her staff deliver a curriculum that encourages children to learn through their play. They take children's interests into consideration and help to develop their curiosity. Staff provide a broad range of activities and resources which enhance children's problem-solving skills.

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need to do better?

For example, children play with the small-world fairies and find ways to balance them on the tiny swings. However, staff sometimes miss opportunities to support and extend children's mathematical skills. n The manager is committed to developing strong partnerships with parents to support children's learning at home. For instance, she organises coffee mornings

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need to do better?

21 November 2019 for parents to discuss children's development. Staff gather information from parents about what children can already do and what experiences they have at home. They add to these experiences, providing children with opportunities to develop their future learning. For example, children have access to the 'Imagination Library'. They develop a love of reading as they borrow books and look at them at home. n Staff generally support children's communication and thinking skills well. They talk to children throughout the day and introduce new words. For example, they introduce 'sticky' and 'slimy' while children play with the spaghetti. This helps to broaden children's vocabulary. However, on occasion, staff do not give children enough time to extend their thinking skills when asking them questions. n Children are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles. They enjoy eating nutritious food at mealtimes. Children follow good hygiene procedures and know to wash

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need to do better?

their hands before lunch. They learn to serve their own food and clear away their dishes. This helps to develop their independence and personal skills. Children have daily opportunities to be active and enhance their physical skills. For instance, they climb the slide and enjoy going up and down on the rocker. n Staff interact with children in a highly respectful and caring manner. They frequently give children encouragement and praise. Children show high levels of self-esteem and behave well. They learn to share and take turns. Older children are beginning to respect their friends' views. This is evident when children play with the play dough. They share the rolling pins and wait patiently for the cutters. The play dough has different smells, and the children talk about which smells they like and dislike.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager understands her responsibilities to safeguard children. She frequently checks staff's knowledge of a range of safeguarding issues, to ensure they know how to keep children safe from harm. The manager provides opportunities for discussions on safeguarding at every staff meeting and asks on-the-spot questions to assess staff's knowledge. Staff understand the reporting procedures to follow should they be concerned about a child's welfare. They receive regular training to enhance their understanding of wider safeguarding issues. The manager implements secure recruitment procedures to ensure staff are suitable to look after children.

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should:

n give children more time to think about and respond to questions to help build their early language and thinking skills

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should:

21 November 2019 n develop the opportunities to support and extend children's understanding of mathematics n research ways to enhance professional development to improve staff's interactions with children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY295475 Local authority Nottingham Inspection number 10073459 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 1 to 4 Total number of places 54 Number of children on roll 61 Name of registered person Pre-School Learning Alliance

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reference number

Telephone number 07958630912 Date of previous inspection 19 May 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Pre-School Learning Alliance Bulwell Childcare registered in 2004 and is located in Bulwell, Nottingham. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2 or 3. The nursery operates from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8am to 5pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and the manager completed a learning walk throughout the nursery. They discussed how the early years provision is organised and how the curriculum supports children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She had a meeting with the manager and the line manager at the end of the inspection. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and read recent parental feedback forms to take account of parents' views. n The inspector carried out a joint evaluation of an activity with the manager. She observed the quality of education during activities indoors and outdoors, to assess the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector viewed a range of essential documentation, such as staff's suitability checks and first-aid certificates. She reviewed the attendance register and discussed staff's qualifications and training needs.

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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

21 November 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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