Cottage Day Nursery

Inspection of Cottage Day Nursery Smithy Cottage, Cuckoo Lane, LIVERPOOL L25 3PL

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

Children are extremely happy at this homely nursery. They show high levels of self- esteem as they carry out self-care tasks. Older children eat with a knife and fork, they work together to tidy away after lunch and toddlers know to clean their own faces. Staff embed a routine that enables children to revisit and recall new learning. For example, staff use prompts throughout the day to encourage children to count and use new vocabulary. Children have good manners and learn how to be courteous to each other. They wait for their friends to get their food before they start to eat lunch. Even the very youngest children know how to follow the routines of the day and follow instructions very well. Staff provide challenging activities that children eagerly take part in. For example, pre-school children have a go at writing their name and concentrate well as they sound out letters of simple words. Toddlers hunt for shapes in the room and match them to giant shape templates.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff make learning fun. They incorporate memorable actions and phrases during activities to help children to retain new knowledge.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff place great importance on getting to know about children's individual needs. Right from the start, staff make home visits, so children and families feel secure. These visits, coupled with nurturing and caring support for the youngest children, in turn provide a strong basis for ongoing positive relationships for children and their parents with their key person.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff develop children's communication skills well. They ask children questions when reading stories to help children to think about the characters, such as 'I wonder why he is angry?' Staff remodel language to ensure children learn the correct pronunciation of words. Babies enjoy listening to staff sing about dinosaurs stomping and lions roaring. Older children watch with delight as staff dress up in costumes and read stories to them. They excitedly join in and engage in purposeful play and learning for long periods of time. n All children make good progress in their learning. Those that need extra help receive appropriate support. The nursery special educational needs coordinator works with other professionals to support children's development. Staff carefully plan activities to help children to develop new skills. n Staff routinely support children to build on prior knowledge and make links in their learning. For example, following a comment made by a child about making

p.2

need to do better?

'pizza soup', staff use this to extend learning further. They make 'pizza collages' and practise recalling knowledge of shapes that represent the pizza toppings and colours of the ingredients. n Children develop healthy lifestyles. They eat home-cooked, nutritious and appetising food. Children say they eat their lunch to help them 'to be strong' and

p.2

need to do better?

5 January 2022 drink water which 'helps to keep their teeth clean'. They visit the local park and practise climbing skills. They successfully navigate tricycles on the pretend road in the outdoor area. Children's physical skills are developing well. n Overall, staff teach children about the wider world. Parents visit the nursery to talk about their job roles, such as a doctor and vet. They learn about familiar festivals, such as Christmas and Easter and perform in concerts during these times. However, staff do not always provide meaningful teaching for children to develop an awareness of different cultures, festivals and ways of life that are less familiar to them. n The dedicated and passionate owners, who also manage the nursery, are supportive of the staff team. Staff have completed mandatory training around safeguarding, signs of abuse and first aid. This ensures they have sound knowledge to keep children safe. More experienced staff role model good quality

p.2

need to do better?

teaching to help apprentice staff to improve practice. However, they have not recently accessed training opportunities to help to raise the quality of their teaching to the highest level. n Parents are highly complimentary of the nursery. Many of the families have used the nursery for a number of years. They comment it is a 'home from home haven' that their children love to come to. They regularly receive video clips and photos to show children's achievements and learning. They appreciate the partnership they have with the nursery to support their children's ongoing needs.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The premises are safe and secure. Staff are deployed effectively and risk assessments are carried out. Staff know to act swiftly to concerns that may arise around children's well-being and know who to report concerns to. All staff are first- aid trained and have a good understanding of how they would manage accidents and emergencies. Recruitment procedures ensure staff are suitable to work with children and their ongoing suitability is checked. The designated safeguarding lead ensures staff receive training on signs and symptoms of abuse and factors that affect children's well-being. The staff and provider understand what to do if they have concerns about the conduct of a colleague.

p.3

should:

n enhance the curriculum to help children to consistently understand differences and similarities of people, cultures and communities different to their own n provide staff with further training opportunities, to help them to develop their teaching to the highest level.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY355293 Local authority Liverpool Inspection number 10216984 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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Cottage Day Nursery Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01514289419 Date of previous inspection 31 May 2018

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Cottage Day Nursery was registered in 2007. The nursery is open all year round from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, with the exception of bank holidays. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery employs eight members of staff, of whom four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3.

p.4

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the provider. n The inspector conducted a learning walk with the nursery manager who is the nominated individual and owner, and the intent of the curriculum was discussed. n The inspector spoke to children, parents and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector evaluated activities in the pre-school room and toddler room, together with the nursery manager. n The inspector looked at a sample of the nursery's documents, these include risk assessments and evidence to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

5 January 2022 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