Growing Minds Day Nursery

Inspection of Growing Minds Day Nursery 28 Newlands View, Northowram, Halifax, Yorkshire HX3 7HT

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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 thrive in this welcoming and safe learning environment. They are inquisitive learners and staff support children well, providing them with good levels of challenge. Staff are knowledgeable about children's next steps in learning, what they want children to learn and why. Staff keep parents well informed about their children's development, including sharing ideas of how best to support their learning at home.

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The provision is good

The curriculum is ambitious and builds on children's existing knowledge and skills. Staff make sure they remain flexible in their approach to include anything that sparks the children's interest. Children follow up on their own ideas and staff are skilled at supporting them in doing so. Staff ensure that they bring in the key skills that they are focusing on for each child and adapt their practice according to each child's differing ability.

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The provision is good

Children are kind and considerate towards one another. Staff do a lot of work talking to children about feelings and exploring their different emotions. They encourage children to use language to express how they feel and to discuss and agree ways to resolve any disputes. This helps children to learn about others' feelings and how their behaviour may have an impact on others. This has been a real focus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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need to do better?

n Children are provided with good levels of challenge. Staff have a good grasp of children's abilities. They understand how best to support children to make good progress in their learning and development. Staff capture children's interest and imagination. n Pre-school children enjoy learning more about the world around them. They learn to use tally charts to count ladybirds and compare with their friends who has more or less. They use magnifying glasses to count the number of spots and discuss why ladybirds have spots. Staff introduce children to new words and their meanings, such as 'poisonous'. They talk about the spots acting as a warning to other 'predators' that might want to eat the ladybirds. n Staff working with babies encourage them to try new experiences, build on their knowledge step by step and develop new skills. They respond well to children's verbal and non-verbal cues and repeat words back to them to encourage

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need to do better?

language development. However, on occasions, some staff in the baby room are not consistent in following agreed approaches to best support children. n Children are good communicators. They use language well to talk through their experiences and to describe what they plan to do next. Staff listen to children and allow them time to process any questions and respond in their own time.

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need to do better?

24 March 2022 Good arrangements are in place for children who may require additional support with their speech and language. Small-group work and one-to-one support enable children to develop their speech and build their confidence to talk in larger groups. n Children are developing a love of books and visit the local library. A newly introduced nursery book loan scheme allows children to take books home to enjoy with their family. Children recall the stories back at nursery and describe what happens and what they enjoyed most about the book. Older children also learn to use books for reference. They learn that ladybirds have wings folded underneath a protective casing that opens to reveal them. Children talk about how this 'keeps the wings safe' from getting broken. n There is good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff work well in partnership with professionals and understand how

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need to do better?

best to support children. Funding is used where it will benefit the child most and support their learning and development. For example, funding is used to provide one-to-one support or to purchase specific resources and equipment. n Routines to accommodate children's needs work well in practice, except for lunchtime in the baby room. For example, sometimes babies are seated before their food is ready to be served, resulting in some children becoming upset and unsettled. n The strong leadership team has a clear understanding of the setting's strengths and any areas for development. Leaders are committed to making improvements, and staff are actively encouraged to attend training. The provider has a good oversight of the curriculum and is proactive in evaluating and monitoring practice, including the quality of teaching. This benefits children's care, learning and development and ensures any gaps in learning are identified

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need to do better?

quickly and systems put in place to address this.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff attend regular training on safeguarding and have a good understanding of the setting's policies and procedures. They are clear about their responsibility to safeguard children and report any concerns quickly so that appropriate action can be taken to support children and their families. The provider ensures that safeguarding is always on the agenda, including at supervision and team meetings. Staff complete safeguarding quizzes and discuss possible scenarios to test out their knowledge. This helps to ensure staff are confident and have the required knowledge to recognise and deal with any safeguarding concerns. Recruitment and vetting procedures ensure appropriate checks are carried out to ensure staff are suitable and have the required knowledge and skills to work with children.

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should:

24 March 2022 n support staff in the baby room to follow agreed approaches so that young children benefit from consistency in their learning and high-quality teaching is maintained n consider how lunchtimes are organised to ensure that babies are not sat for long periods waiting for their food.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2536876 Local authority Calderdale Inspection number 10214032 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 75 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person Growing Minds Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07877438017 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Growing Minds Day Nursery registered in 2019. The nursery employs 23 members of childcare staff. Of these, 16 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including two with qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. 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 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 provider and the inspector completed 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 nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the provider about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the provider of an activity involving pre-school children. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection, looked at written feedback from parents and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working at the nursery. n The inspector viewed the nursery and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises.

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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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