Skylark Day Nursery

Inspection of Skylark Day Nursery Murray Street, Scarborough, Yorkshire YO12 5AB

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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 safe and happy at this nursery. They have a positive attitude to learning and are eager to join in. For example, babies delightedly make footprints in the sand. Staff encourage them to compare the size of their footprints with their own. They introduce and repeat interesting words, such as 'stomp'. Children learn how to develop healthy lifestyles, for example the importance of exercise and healthy food. Children are encouraged to serve themselves vegetables at lunchtime and pour their own water. Pre-school children take part in daily yoga sessions to help develop balance, coordination and promote calmness. Younger children take part in daily dance sessions. They affectionately refer to themselves as 'mini gyminis'.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. Staff give children clear and consistent messages, that help them to understand what is expected of them. Children build good relationships with their key person and with the other staff. They receive lots of hugs from their key person, which help them to feel settled and secure. Although parents do not come into the setting, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff greet each child at the door. They share information with parents verbally and through an app. This helps to ensure that parents feel fully involved in their children's learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff ignite children's curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. For example, babies hide behind a hand-held mirror and giggle as they play peekaboo with their key person. This supports positive communication and language skills. Older children practise their fine-motor skills as they use scissors to cut blades of grass. They have great fun as they compare different 'lengths'. n Staff read books with good expression. They engage in conversations about visits to the dentist, their teeth and the tooth fairy. Children can take books home to share with their parents in book bags provided by the setting. They volunteer excidedly for their turn to take the 'Tooth Fairy' bag home. n Many high-quality interactions take place between staff and children. Staff ask thoughtful questions to extend their learning. However, sometimes, staff do not always give children enough time to respond to questions. This means children

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need to do better?

do not always have time to develop their thinking skills and express their own ideas. n Staff provide children who speak English as an additional language with excellent support. Staff and parents record greetings and familiar words as clips on the ipad. This has a positive impact on children's well-being. n Children benefit from a wide range of activities that support all areas of the early years foundation stage. However, staff do not always understand the targets set for children. This is noted through the characteristics of effective teaching and

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need to do better?

28 April 2022 learning, as explained in the 'Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage'. As a result, some children are not always given opportunities to embed their learning. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive good support. The special educational needs coordinator plans and reviews children's personal goals to ensure that they are receiving the correct help. n Parents speak very positively about the nursery and staff. They state that their children are happy and eager to attend. Parents feel well informed about their child's day and the progress they make in learning. They know how to support children's ongoing learning at home. n Children develop skills in readiness for their move on to school. They listen and respond well to staff's instructions. For instance, when it is time to go outdoors, they help staff to tidy away toys and line up at the door. Children understand

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need to do better?

how to keep themselves safe, for example, they know to hold on to a special rope as they visit the nursery garden. n Staff support children to develop their understanding of the wider world. For example, children relish the opportunity to grow fruit and vegetables in the nursery garden. They regularly attend an inspiring 'beach school' session. This broadens their experience of nature and wildlife very effectively. n There is a very cohesive approach and a strong team ethos across the nursery. Staff are led by highly qualified, passionate and extremely dedicated leaders. They are continually striving to ensure that children have the best possible life experiences.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are deployed well. They maintain effective supervision of children. The designated safeguarding lead makes sure that staff keep their knowledge of how to keep children safe and up to date. Staff know the possible signs of abuse and neglect. They understand what to do should they have any concerns about a child's welfare. Staff have a strong understanding of wider safeguarding issues, such as children being exposed to extreme views or female genital mutilation. All staff have up-to-date paediatric first-aid training. The providers make effective use of risk assessments and daily checks to ensure that the premises are safe and secure.

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should:

n give children more time to consider their responses to questions, to enable them to fully develop their communication skills n build upon staff's understanding of the characteristics of effective learning to ensure children are able to embed their learning and develop high levels of

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2557078 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 10219599 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 51 Name of registered person Skylark Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01723 375757 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Skylark Day Nursery registered in 2019 and is situated in Scarborough, Yorkshire. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, all year round, with the exception of bank holidays and for one week between Christmas and New Year. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery employs 11 staff, of whom nine hold a relevant early years qualification at level 3 and above, and two at level 2. Three staff have achieved qualified teacher status.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the pre-school 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 pre-school. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and the manager. n The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n Relevant documentation was reviewed by the inspector, including evidence of the suitability of staff, safeguarding and paediatric first aid. n The views of parents were considered by the inspector, through verbal discussions and emails.

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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

28 April 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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