The Octagon Nursery

Inspection of The Octagon Nursery The Octagon, Walker Street, Hull, North Humberside HU3 2RA

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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 happily arrive at the nursery. They are welcomed by caring staff who make them feel safe and secure. Children quickly settle into the routine of the day. They know and understand what is expected of them and, as a result, their behaviour is very good. Children demonstrate good manners. Staff gently remind them when they forget.

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The provision is good

Children's communication and language development is given extremely high priority. Staff build on the words that children already know, by checking that they understand the meaning of a word. For example, when reading a story, children recall and demonstrate how to use a telescope. Staff consistently model good language. As a result, children are making good progress in their speaking and listening, including those who speak English as an additional language.

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The provision is good

Children of many different nationalities are building friendships. They are gaining an understanding of what makes them unique. For example, children create pictures of themselves using cut-up photographs. They choose hair colour, skin colour, eyes and a mouth. Children describe what they like and dislike.They are learning about different cultures in the world and within their nursery through activities, food and dressing up.

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need to do better?

n There is a clear curriculum to support children's learning and development, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff understand the needs of individual children extremely well. This enables them to adapt and introduce new activities to ensure all children are suitably challenged. For example, when children are making birthday cakes with dough, they take turns singing and blowing out the battery-operated candle. Children gain an understanding of using technology as they capture the moment on camera. n Staff provide a range of opportunities for children to be active and develop their physical skills. For example, children learn to balance on the see-saw, wooden beams and bikes. They show good physical control as they dig and sieve in the large sand pit. Staff talk to children about keeping safe outdoors. However, staff do not always consider the learning in daily routines. For example, they pour

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need to do better?

and serve snack when children have the capability to do this for themselves. n Staff use every opportunity to support children's communication and language development. For example, children use picture menus to select their snacks, recalling and repeating the words of the food and drink. Visual and tactile timetables are in use in every room. This supports children who speak English as an additional language and children with SEND to understand what happens next in the day.

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need to do better?

14 January 2022 n Children learn about oral health from an early age. Each child has their own toothbrush. Children confidently brush their teeth to the toothbrush song. They are learning to be healthy. Children wash their hands before eating. They are served nutritious and healthy meals, cooked on the premises by the nursery cook. Staff are aware of allergies and dietary requirements, and ensure these are adhered to. n The nursery special educational needs coordinator is experienced in her role. She is knowledgeable about the children who require additional support. She works closely with each child's key person and family. This ensures children receive timely interventions and targeted support to meet their development needs. Additional funding allocated to children is used to support interventions and reduce any gaps in their learning and development. n The relatively new managers collectively lead a staff team that is enthusiastic in

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need to do better?

providing good learning opportunities and experiences for children. Staff can access a variety of training opportunities to ensure that they have up-to-date knowledge and skills. Staff comment that managers are good role models and mentors. n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents receive a variety of information to help their child settle into the nursery, including photographs of the staff team. They are kept up to date with regular newsletters. However, the setting could explore more effective ways to communicate with parents who speak English as an additional language.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Staff are aware of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm, including local and wider safeguarding issues. There is a training plan in place to ensure staff are kept up to date with safeguarding topics, paediatric first aid, health and safety training. Staff have been proactive in maintaining regular contact with families and other agencies, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This offered a high level of protection to children.

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should:

n ensure staff consider the learning that can take place in daily routines, such as snack time n implement more effective ways to share information with parents, particularly those who speak English as an additional language.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY311282 Local authority Kingston Upon Hull City Council Inspection number 10219505 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

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inspection

Total number of places 46 Number of children on roll 45 Name of registered person Goodwin Development Trust

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reference number

Telephone number 01482 594324 Date of previous inspection 7 February 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The Octagon Nursery registered in 2005 and is located in Hull. The nursery employs 11 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including the managers who hold level 5 qualifications. The nursery opens Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 8am until 5pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first 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 their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector made observations throughout the inspection of children's experiences in the setting. n Joint observations were carried out by the inspector and the provider. n The provider and the inspector completed a learning walk together to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n Children spoke to the inspector about their experiences in the setting. n The inspector spoke to staff, external agencies, parents and carers at appropriate times during the inspection. n A meeting was held with the provider. This included a review of relevant documentation, including evidence of staff's suitability and training.

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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

14 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.

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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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