Larkfield Daycare

Inspection of Larkfield Daycare 672-674 Aigburth Road, Liverpool, Lancashire L19 0NY

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are happy and safe at this caring nursery. They arrive ready to learn and explore. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children leave their families at the door. Most children respond well to this change and enter happily. Those who are unsettled receive reassurance from staff and settle quickly.

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The provision is good

Children develop close bonds with staff who know them well. Staff have high expectations for all children. In the main, they plan meaningful activities that build on children's interests and what they know and can do. Children demonstrate a positive attitude to learning. Babies explore activities, using all their senses. They investigate objects with their hands, feet and mouth and giggle when the objects produce different sounds. Toddlers enjoy the challenge of finding triangles in the room, and older children make predictions as they mix colours together.

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The provision is good

Children are highly valued and listened to. They are encouraged to celebrate what they are good at. Younger children show great kindness as they play with the dolls. They cuddle and rock them as they put them to bed gently. They listen attentively to staff and their friends and demonstrate kind behaviours and good manners.

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need to do better?

n Parents feel well informed about what their children are learning. Parents talk positively about the progress their children have made since starting at this 'hidden gem of a nursery'. They particularly value the range of outings that the nursery provides for the children. This helps to enhance children's knowledge of their community. n Staff collate detailed information from parents about their child before they start at the nursery. This provides staff with an accurate view of children's abilities on starting and helps them to identify what children need to learn next. However, staff are not always clear about what they intend for children to learn through the activities they provide. This means that not all activities consistently build on what children know and can do. n Staff carefully assess children's abilities. When children require extra help, the special educational needs coordinator works closely with outside agencies to

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need to do better?

secure support as needed to implement agreed plans. All children make good progress, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The dedicated manager is clear about the vision for her nursery. She strives to offer a home-from-home, caring environment where children are valued and nurtured. Staff receive regular support through supervision sessions and training. However, this support does not take account of the performance of the staff and their individual development needs. This means that staff are not being supported to raise the quality of their teaching to the highest level.

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need to do better?

24 March 2022 n Children are keen to show off their knowledge and skills. For example, younger children talk enthusiastically about the different animal habitats they have learned about. Older children confidently speak about how accurately they can throw beanbags. Children listen attentively as staff read stories, and older children repeat phrases from familiar stories. Children develop high levels of confidence in their own abilities. n Children's physical and emotional well-being are thoroughly supported. They take part in football and dance sessions and go for numerous walks in the community. Children proudly exclaim that they can run 'super fast' now. Children develop their small-muscle skills as they mix and squeeze dough and use threading equipment with confidence. Older children show great hand strength as they use scissors with accuracy. These opportunities support children to develop their later writing skills.

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need to do better?

n Children are encouraged to be healthy by drinking water and eating nutritious food. They confidently scoop out pasta and shout 'yummy' with great delight and tell their friends that this is their favourite meal. Children are supported to be healthy and active. n Staff are confident to support children with their mathematical knowledge. As younger children stack blocks, staff model counting. Toddlers proudly show off the space rocket that they have made, using various shapes. Older children predict that they are lighter than their friends. These opportunities support children to develop a positive attitude and interest in mathematics.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The designated safeguarding lead ensures that staff are confident in how to identify and respond to child protection concerns. Staff understand the steps to take should they have a concern about a child's welfare or the conduct of a colleague. Robust recruitment procedures ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Children are well supervised at the nursery and when on outings. Children have many opportunities to learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, they know to take care when using scissors and that they must wear hats on a sunny day.

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should:

n help staff to consider more precisely what they intend for children to learn through the activities they provide n strengthen the professional development provided to staff to ensure that this is focused on enhancing individual teaching skills to the highest level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY562442 Local authority Liverpool Inspection number 10190916 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 24 Number of children on roll 49 Name of registered person Binns, Jennifer Elizabeth

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reference number

Telephone number 0151 494 9666 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Larkfield Daycare registered in 2018. It is situated in Cressington, Liverpool. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications to at least level 2, one holds a qualification at level 4, and four hold qualifications at level 3. The nursery operates from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. 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 nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager and the inspector had a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff and several parents at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed 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

24 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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