Firbobs@ Mersey Park

Inspection of Firbobs@ Mersey Park Mersey Park Primary School, Birkenhead CH42 0PH

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This provision meets requirements

Children feel safe, secure and valued here. This reflects in their behaviour as they are friendly and welcoming to both visitors and their peers. Older children are particularly nurturing towards their younger friends. For example, they help younger children butter their toast at snack time and put on costumes in the dressing-up area. Staff are positive role models to children and consistently encourage them to use good manners. Staff teach children about different cultures and diversity within families. This helps them learn about people and families that are different to their own. Children decide on their own rules of the setting, supported by staff, which they call 'our promises'. Children's behaviour is good because these rules are embedded and understood from a young age. Children play well together, taking turns and sharing equipment. Positive behaviour is promoted by having a range of group and individual reward systems in place.

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This provision meets requirements

Staff plan a range of exciting and stimulating activities both indoors and outside using children's interests. Children's physical skills are well promoted. Children are engaged and motivated while staff teach them how to play rounders. They practise their batting and fielding skills and work incredibly well as a team. Older and younger children are thrilled with the excitement of gentle competition and learning new games.

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need to do better?

n The manager has built effective and beneficial working relationships with the host school. She uses these professional partnerships to ensure continuity of care for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Parents are thrilled with the service that the setting provides. They praise the homely environment and the good communication links with home. n Staff greet children warmly. They are interested in children's news and their day. As a result, children are keen to interact with their key person and other staff. Children are excited to spend time with both staff and their friends. They know the routine of the setting well. Children hang up their coats independently and store their things away neatly before setting off to play. n Children's physical development skills are well promoted. Children eagerly move between indoor and outdoor activities, following their own interests. While

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need to do better?

indoors, they are captivated while making sock puppet snowmen. Children carefully scoop the rice into the socks. They use scissors to cut ribbons for decorations. Staff enthusiastically teach children how to play dodgeball outside. Children thoroughly enjoy practising their throwing skills and they respond well to staff's directions, encouragement and praise. n All children have a key member of staff who supports them. Staff know children

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need to do better?

5 December 2019 well and give any additional support needed. This means that any staff member can share information with parents each day about their child's day in school and their time at the setting. n Managers monitor staff well-being and ensure that training and development needs are met. For example, staff have recently received training in supporting children with challenging behaviour. Staff are well supported by leaders and managers. They receive a detailed induction which enables them to carry out their roles and responsibilities well. Leaders carry out regular observations of staff during supervisions, and staff attend frequent meetings and training courses. n Self-evaluation is thorough and includes the views of staff, children and parents. Managers send out regular parent questionnaires to gain their views. This provides them with ideas about how they can improve their service. Staff continuously listen to and act upon children's views. They have recently

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need to do better?

purchased scooters, football nets and costumes as requested by the children. n Children's independence is actively promoted. They carry their snack to the table, put their coats and shoes on and manage their own hygiene. Children make choices to lead their own learning. They decide and plan the snack menu each week. This includes a range of healthy and nutritious food. Children have access to a range of fresh fruit and vegetables and they enjoy their social mealtimes. However, staff sometimes forget to remind children to have a drink of water at snack time, or following long periods of physical activity, to help them develop healthy lifestyles.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff recognise the signs and symptoms which may indicate a child is being abused. They confidently know the steps to take should they feel concerned about the welfare of a child. Staff attend training in safeguarding and have a good understanding of wider safeguarding matters. Robust recruitment procedures include rigorous background checks to help ensure that children are always cared for by suitable adults. Staff assess risks effectively and prepare activities which are suitable and safe for children. The premises are secure and children are safe. Staff are deployed well throughout all areas of the setting and communicate the movement of children to each other well.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY550760 Local authority Wirral Inspection number 10130738 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 Out-of-school day care Age range of children 3 to 11 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Firbobs Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07709807400 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Firbobs@Mersey Park registered in 2017. The setting employs three members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold an appropriate qualification at level 3. The setting opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 7.45am until 9am and from 3.15pm until 5.45pm.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector completed a learning walk of all areas used by the setting to find out the range of activities both indoors and outdoors, and to establish how the provision is organised. n A range of documentation, including evidence of staff suitability and training, was checked by the inspector. n The inspector held discussions with children and parents to seek their views about the setting. Parents' views were also taken into account through written feedback. n Interactions between staff and children, and the range of activities on offer, were observed by the inspector. n A joint observation was completed with the inspector and the manager.

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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

5 December 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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