The Spinney Day Nursery

Inspection of The Spinney Day Nursery Warrington Road, Hoole Village, Chester, Cheshire CH2 3PA

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Spinney Day Nursery is a small, family run nursery that is very well led and managed. Most staff have been in post for several years, so providing consistency of care for children.

p.2

The provision is good

A real strength of this nursery is the adjacent woodland area. Staff take children on regular forest school sessions to this area. Here, children can explore the natural environment, measure the wind speed and the amount of rainfall in the weather station. They develop their skills as they balance, climb and jump on and off the wooden structures and take a real interest in nature and their surroundings.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff work with local schools to help to ensure that older children are ready for school. They encourage children to be independent. Older children serve their own lunch, and they start to zip their coats up before going outdoors. They take part in daily phonic sessions, and some children write their own name.

p.2

The provision is good

Generally, children behave well. Staff give children clear explanations about their expectations. They explain why children should not run indoors. Children know the safety rules when going on a forest school session. For example, they know that they have to be careful of the fire, and of the bees in the summer.

p.2

need to do better?

n Babies enjoy dressing up and riding in the play cars outdoors as they pretend to steer the vehicle. They go in and out of the playhouse and enjoy singing rhymes as they rock on the see-saw. They are supported to climb the steps to the slide, and they slide down with obvious enjoyment. n Toddlers are inquisitive as they explore silver paper, metal objects, lights and spaghetti. They use different utensils to scoop and pour as they develop their sensory exploration and fine manipulative skills. However, sometimes, staff do not fully support younger children to manage their strong feelings, particularly at times of transition. n Partnerships with parents are very good. Staff work hard to meet children's individual needs. They set up systems such as a communication diary to benefit children and help them to settle well. To encourage children's enjoyment of books, parents can take nursery books home to read with their children. Parents

p.2

need to do better?

are very happy with the nursery and their comments include, 'My child has grown so much in confidence and is very settled…', 'My child's speech has come on in leaps and bounds', and 'I can see how enthusiastic and happy the children are.' n Staff read stories in a lively and engaging way. They involve children in the story and ask them to think about what they see on the page. However, sometimes,

p.2

need to do better?

16 January 2020 staff interrupt the flow of the story as they take children away from the group to wash their hands. n The management team takes account of staff's well-being. Managers have introduced different systems to show how they value staff and their views and ideas. Staff are given time to complete paperwork and can access treats within a 'well-being locker'. They can add suggestions about how to improve the nursery, and are able to recommend another staff member to show they appreciate their help or support. n Freshly prepared home-made food is cooked on the premises. The cook considers any dietary requirements and allergies carefully. She works hard to ensure that children with any particular needs have meals that look similar to other children, so attention is not drawn to children with allergies. Plate colour is used to help staff subtly distinguish children with specific requirements. n Visitors, such as a doctor, an artist and a musician, are invited into the nursery

p.2

need to do better?

to share their skills with children. Children learn about the wider community, and their vocabulary is extended as they learn new words such as 'skeleton', 'plaster cast' and 'x-ray'. n Staff access regular training and share their new-found knowledge with the staff team. Some staff have recently attended training on autism awareness. They feel that this has given them an insight into looking at each child as a unique individual, and has provided them with the confidence to recognise signs earlier.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff have a good knowledge of the signs to be concerned about in relation to child protection. They know the referral procedures if they are concerned about the behaviour of another member of staff, or if they have worries about a child's well- being. Staff's knowledge is kept current as they attend regular safeguarding training. The manager checks their awareness on a regular basis by setting quizzes at staff meetings. Forest school sessions are rigorously risk assessed prior to children going out into the woodland area.

p.3

should:

n support younger children more effectively to manage their strong emotions and feelings, particularly at times of transition n provide more guidance to staff about enabling children to concentrate fully when taking part in activities.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 305385 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10062166 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 to 11 Total number of places 41 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person The Spinney Day Nursery Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01244 348520 Date of previous inspection 2 July 2015

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The Spinney Day Nursery registered in 1998. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one who holds early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector and the manager completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery. n The quality of teaching was observed during activities indoors and outdoors, and the inspector assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working at the nursery. n A joint observation was completed with the manager. n The inspector spoke to children, parents and staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.4

Inspection activities

16 January 2020 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.

p.4

Inspection activities

16 January 2020 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6