Headstart Nursery

Inspection of Headstart Nursery The Old School, Dudley Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 9AB

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children love to learn in the homely environment created by staff. They have close relationships with staff and settle quickly, seeking reassurance happily when needed. This supports children's emotional development and ensures that they feel safe and secure. Children make firm friendships with each other from a young age. They hold their friends' hands and ask them how they are feeling. Staff teach children to share and help one another. Two-year-olds help their friends to put woolly hats on ready to go outside. Children giggle as they try to put hats on the heads of staff.

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The provision is good

Children gain a wide range of skills and knowledge through play. They are confident in making choices in their play and sharing their ideas. For example, children use knives and other tools to chop different foods in the play kitchen. They keep trying when some vegetables are difficult. Children talk about why vegetables are good for you and about what food is unhealthy, such as cake. They use their imagination to create a 'vegetable cake' that tastes like chocolate and strawberry. They share their cake proudly with staff and sing 'happy birthday' to them.

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The provision is good

Children are courteous and show respect to staff and others, using 'please' and 'thank you'. Children in the pre-school room wait patiently with their hand up and take turns to speak during group conversations.

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need to do better?

n Staff have a good knowledge of children's learning and development. They know the children well and talk about their individual care needs. Staff observe children throughout the day and accurately assess what they need to learn next. They identify when children may need additional support quickly, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They focus on supporting any potential gaps in children's learning and experiences. n Staff interactions are effective and develop children's ability to communicate from a young age. While children in the baby room paint pictures using different tools, staff repeat key sounds and talk to them about what they are doing. Children smile and repeat words such as 'more' and 'tap, tap' while making paint marks on the paper with their fingers. Staff encourage the children to describe what they have created, including the different colours they have mixed.

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need to do better?

n Usually, children behave well. They listen to staff and follow instructions. At snack time, staff ask children to get their own drinks and remind them how to pass plates to their friends. They support children to follow familiar daily routines, including washing their hands independently. Occasionally, staff's behaviour expectations and boundaries are not consistent. Some staff remind children to listen closely to stories such as 'The three little pigs'. They support

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need to do better?

21 February 2022 children to concentrate on repeating familiar sentences when appropriate. However, some staff do not support children to focus during stories. Children wander around with toys and make noise, distracting themselves and others. n Staff provide opportunities that engage children through their current interests. They also support children to develop interests they may not experience elsewhere. For instance, pre-school children have a keen interest in the environment. They develop their creativity and pencil skills as they work together to draw a map of Grantham. Staff support children in recalling information from a walk they went on in the local community. Children share their ideas excitedly on adding the local landmarks they saw, and how to draw them. However, staff do not always consider fully what it is they want children, as individuals, to learn. Some opportunities are too challenging, or not

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need to do better?

challenging enough for some children. Occasionally, some children begin to lose concentration during activities. n The leadership team reflects on and evaluates the quality of experiences children receive. Leaders work together with staff, parents and carers to make improvements. They monitor staff practice and provide all staff with high-quality training opportunities. Staff feel well supported by leaders. This helps to maintain a well-established staff team. n Staff work with parents on all aspects of children's care and learning needs, including toilet training. Parents feel well informed about children's progress, including preparing for school. Parents comment on children becoming independent and confident since attending the nursery, and the new experiences staff provide. Children of all ages are independent and are keen to try things for themselves.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a thorough knowledge of how to keep children safe from harm. Safeguarding policies and procedures are kept up to date and staff attend regular safeguarding training. Staff check the environment regularly to ensure it is a safe place for children to play. There is a clear procedure for visitors and the site is secure. Staff and leaders understand their responsibilities in monitoring and reporting any signs and symptoms that indicate a child may be at risk of harm. They are confident in how to escalate any concerns. Leaders have a robust recruitment process and continuously monitor the suitability of all staff.

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should:

n strengthen staff's understanding of how to manage children's behaviour effectively and consistently

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should:

21 February 2022 n differentiate planned activities and interactions further, ensuring they build on what children know and can do and meet the individual developmental needs of all children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 253674 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 10138592 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 145 Number of children on roll 251 Name of registered person Lincolnshire Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01476 591744 Date of previous inspection 15 January 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Headstart Nursery registered in 1994 and is based in Grantham, Lincolnshire. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff. Of these, 16 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6pm all year round, except for bank holidays and for one week at Christmas. Before- and after-school and holiday club sessions are available for children up to the age of 11 years. 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 routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and have taken that into account in the evaluation of the setting. n The inspectors and leaders completed a learning walk together, discussing the intention for children and how the environment is designed. n The manager and the inspectors observed and evaluated an activity. n The inspectors observed children's play and evaluated the impact of interactions and the environment on children's learning. n Children's voices were taken into consideration. n The inspectors spoke to parents and took their views into account. n Staff and leaders had discussions with the inspectors regularly during the inspection. n A range of documentation was reviewed, including suitability checks, first-aid certificates and safeguarding policies and procedures.

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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 February 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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