Bright Sparks Child Care

Inspection of Bright Sparks Child Care Smawthorne Lane, Castleford WF10 4EW

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children are happy, highly motivated and incredibly independent. They feel safe and thrive on the high expectations of staff. Children play games together. They take turns to draw pictures in secret and other children skilfully ask questions to discover what has been drawn. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They learn to be assertive and display a strong sense of fairness. Children are kind and remind each other when it is their turn.

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The provision is outstanding

The nursery is at the heart of the community it serves. Children work with staff to learn how to care for the local community garden. They take an active part, for example, by taking donations to the local food bank and the baby resources bank. Staff provide an extremely inclusive environment. Children develop empathy and value differences in people. Babies walk confidently and set themselves a challenge to climb on the step so that they can learn to wash their hands. Children show resilience as they persist in learning how to use bats and balls, and practise yoga positions until they succeed.

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The provision is outstanding

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the dedicated managers and staff went out of their way to provide socially distanced home visits to support all families, particularly those most in need. They provided essential food parcels for families and activity boxes for children to help support their learning at home.

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need to do better?

n Managers are ambitious for all children. They successfully target additional funding for eligible children to help to make the biggest impact on their learning. Children benefit greatly from the additional hours they receive in nursery and the consistently high levels of staff interaction. Staff continually challenge children to extend their knowledge and help them develop new skills. n Staff place the highest importance on developing children's language skills. For example, they repeat and build on children's existing language to support and extend their speaking skills. Babies and toddlers delight in singing songs as the music bag goes round. They confidently name the items, such as 'ball', 'cow' and 'elephant'. Older children use an extensive vocabulary and speak articulately using well-constructed sentences. n Children develop an excellent understanding of and respect for the local community and the wider world. For instance, they visit the river and the local

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need to do better?

nature reserve to learn about the boats, animals and nature. Staff make effective links with settings in the United States of America. Children learn about the lives of children who live in Nevada and send gifts to them that reflect the traditions of their local area. Staff use technology incredibly well to widen children's knowledge of the world. This is illustrated when children learn about

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need to do better?

2 March 2022 the Bellagio Waterfalls in Nevada using the internet. n Staff focus sharply on developing children's literacy skills. They read expressively and adapt their tone to help focus children's listening. Children thoroughly enjoy the story about 'The Gruffalo'. Staff sequence and repeat the stories they read. Children display a keen interest in books. They develop an impressive knowledge of stories and show excellent memory skills as they recall stories. n Children's emotional well-being is exceptionally strong. Staff nurture the character of babies and children and support their sense of security superbly. Key persons provide highly flexible settling-in sessions and ensure consistency for babies when they move to other rooms. Babies and children build extremely secure attachments to their key persons. n Staff teach mathematics incredibly well throughout nursery. Babies and young children learn to count and develop their understanding of shape, size and

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need to do better?

distance. Older children confidently recognise numbers. They accurately identify the different numbers they can add together to make five. For example, they know that 'two add three' and 'four add one' make five. Children are extremely motivated and delight when playing 'What's the time, Mr Wolf?' They develop a solid foundation in mathematics. n Managers systematically review the quality of education and invest heavily in staff training and well-being. Staff are highly skilled and dedicated to helping children succeed in their learning. n Parents are very complimentary about the nursery and highly recommend it to other families. They are delighted with how well their children are progressing in their learning. Parents state that their children have 'thrived with the nurturing care that staff provide'. Managers work extremely effectively with other professionals to provide swift intervention and additional support when children

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding children is given the highest priority at this nursery. Managers and staff have an excellent understanding of how to protect children. They are alert and ready to support children who may be at risk of harm. Managers use robust recruitment, induction, supervision and training to ensure that staff are suitable and understand their role. All staff hold paediatric first-aid qualifications. They are also trained in how to effectively use prescribed medication for children who may suffer severe allergic reactions. Managers organise first-aid training on site for parents. This helps them to know what to do if their children need emergency medical assistance.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2523568 Local authority Wakefield Inspection number 10206580 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 135 Number of children on roll 140 Name of registered person Bright Sparks Child Care Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 01977 552782 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Bright Sparks Child Care registered in 2019 and is one of three nurseries managed by Bright Sparks Childcare Partnership. It is located in Castleford, West Yorkshire. The nursery employs 23 members of childcare staff. Of these, 20 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including staff with level 5 and level 6 qualifications, and one with qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 5.30pm. 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 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 Managers and the inspector completed a learning walk together. Managers told the inspector what they want the children to learn, and how the curriculum is planned and sequenced for the different groups of children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with a manager and discussed teaching and the impact on children's learning. n Parents told the inspector, through discussion and written feedback, how their children's learning is supported, and how staff keep them informed. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

n Managers discussed their action plan and vision for the nursery. They shared relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

2 March 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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