Stretton Lodge Day Nursery & Forest School

Inspection of Stretton Lodge Pre- School and Day Nursery School Lane, Stretton, Staffordshire ST19 9LJ

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children settle quickly into the nursery and enthusiastically explore the interesting toys and resources that capture their curiosity. They happily separate from their parents and excitedly greet staff and their friends. Children build positive bonds with their key person and staff, which helps children to feel safe and secure. Children receive cuddles and reassurance from the attentive staff when needed. Staff act as excellent role models. They provide children with an abundance of encouragement and praise for their efforts, which helps to boost children's self- esteem and sense of accomplishment. Children's behaviour is good. They share, take turns and are kind to their peers and staff.

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The provision is good

Children learn through their individual interests. For example, children develop a keen interest in tractors during their play. Staff invite a local farmer to bring his tractor to the nursery and children have opportunities to see the tractor in action. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress from their starting points. They develop an understanding of other cultures, faiths and beliefs and the world around them.

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The provision is good

Children take part in daily forest school sessions. They help staff to plant and harvest fruit and vegetables, which helps children to learn how things grow and where food comes from. They learn to assess and manage risks, for instance, when they learn to climb trees and toast marshmallows safely on the campfire. Children have wonderful opportunities to learn about nature and life cycles. They excitedly watch duck eggs hatch into ducklings and help to prepare the ducklings' food.

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need to do better?

n The new manager is passionate and dedicated in her role and works closely with the staff team. She monitors the quality of teaching well. She provides staff with professional development opportunities and mentoring to raise practice to an even higher standard. The manager has a clear vision for the nursery, which she shares with staff and involves them in the journey to improve. She values her staff and prioritises their mental health and well-being. The manager and staff work well together as a team, providing a happy and welcoming environment for children to develop and thrive. n The manager and staff build effective partnerships with parents. Staff share information with parents both verbally and via an online learning journey. They keep parents informed about the progress their children make and how to extend their learning at home. Parents speak highly about the manager and staff. They say that their children love attending the nursery and that staff place

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need to do better?

children at the heart of everything they do. n Staff support babies well and the atmosphere in the room is tranquil and calm.

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need to do better?

10 May 2022 Staff engage babies in meaningful experiences and interact purposefully to help them develop their social, emotional and communication skills. Babies have fun as they play with balloons. Staff skilfully introduce new words, such as 'up' and 'down', as they gently pat balloons into the air. Babies display their enjoyment as they giggle and babble as they play. n Staff weave some additional learning into children's play. They offer a narrative and suggest ideas on how to keep their play going. For example, children have fun rolling cars down a ramp. Staff introduce skittles into their play and children have fun as they use the cars to knock down the skittles. While staff are skilled at extending some areas of children's learning, they are less confident in teaching older children early mathematical concepts, such as problem-solving and making predictions. n Staff support children to develop some independence skills. Older children serve

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need to do better?

their own food at mealtimes and pour their own drinks. Staff encourage older babies to feed themselves and use a damp flannel to clean their hands and face after eating. Children make independent choices about what they would like to play with. They help themselves to resources and engage in purposeful play. However, on occasion, staff do not encourage children to tidy away resources when they have finished playing, to help children to develop a sense of responsibility and care for their environment and equipment. n The manager has developed good links with staff at the local schools that children are due to attend to ensure continuity in their learning and smooth transitions. For example, the manager invites teachers from the Reception class into the nursery and shares relevant information.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a good understanding of the possible signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. Staff know how to report any concerns about children's welfare or the behaviour of an adult. The manager ensures that staff keep their knowledge up to date with regular training. The manager and owner of the nursery use robust recruitment procedures to help ensure the suitability of staff working with children. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding issues, such as protecting children from radicalisation. Staff carry out daily risk assessments of all areas used by the children and are qualified in paediatric first aid to ensure the safety of children.

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should:

n build on children's independence skills and encourage children to take responsibility and care for their environment and equipment, including tidying

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should:

10 May 2022 away toys and resources they are no longer using n strengthen the curriculum for mathematics and develop staff's confidence in challenging older children's mathematical understanding as they play, to help children to make even more progress in this area of learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY491121 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10236687 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 60 Number of children on roll 57 Name of registered person Soden Educo Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07973982864 Date of previous inspection 16 August 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Stretton Lodge Pre-School and Day Nursery registered in 2015. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 48 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.30am until 5.45pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children. The provider employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, one has early years teacher status, two have a qualification at level 6, four hold a qualification at level 5 and three have a qualification at level 3.

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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 manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together to look at how the curriculum is planned to meet children's needs and development. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager to discuss leadership and management arrangements. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and checked the evidence of the suitability of the 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

10 May 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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