Alice Park Nursery

Inspection of Alice Park Nursery 1 Alice Park, Gloucester Road, BATH BA1 7BL

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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 show that they are happy and feel secure at the setting. Staff are friendly and chat to children on arrival to help them settle quickly. Staff use phrases such as 'Come on friends, let's do this' to motivate children to engage in activities and form good bonds with others. Children demonstrate that they are kind. They cooperate well and share toys. The owner and staff build positive relationships that make children, parents and carers feel part of a community.

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The provision is good

Since the COVID–19 pandemic, children learn in rooms according to their age and ability. They know the environment well and move confidently around the setting. Children show good coordination skills as they negotiate stairs and steps. They access resources independently and show curiosity in the activities on offer. Staff help children to recall previous experiences to extend their learning. For example, they provide toddlers with farm toys and images to enable them to re-enact a recent trip to the farm. Staff know what they want children to learn and plan activities effectively using children's interests to engage them, for example supporting pre-school children to create postcards for loved ones. The provider uses additional funding effectively to help meet children's individual needs. Staff support children's learning and development well. For instance, they help children to peel stickers and count out shapes to create pictures about their family. Children

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The provision is good

make good progress, including those who speak English as an additional language and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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need to do better?

n The owner has a clear vision for the setting and works with staff to reflect on the quality of provision in order to identify areas for improvement. She considers the well-being of staff and avoids unnecessary burdens on the team. The owner provides staff with interesting professional development opportunities so that children have access to additional experiences, such as forest activities. n Parents appreciate the support that staff give their children to progress with their learning. Parents receive daily feedback and work with staff to provide consistency for their children. For example, staff share photograph books from trips for parents to share with their children at home. n Children develop good listening and communication skills. Staff respond well to children's needs and views. Staff introduce children to new words to extend their vocabulary, such as 'humid' and 'reflecting' to describe effects of the weather.

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need to do better?

Staff ask children effective questions to challenge their thinking, and give children time to think and respond. Children display confidence to talk within small groups and are happy to share their ideas. For example, they share how to brush their teeth when learning about oral health. n Staff know the children well and have considered the impact of recent pandemic

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need to do better?

17 May 2022 restrictions on children's social skills. Children benefit from regular outings to the park where they meet new people and develop confidence in social situations. Staff always supervise the children well. However, they recognise that they can better support children to understand risks involved when meeting new people. Children learn to manage their own risk well in the garden, for example when they climb and jump on play equipment. Children develop good physical skills and enjoy daily exercise, including running and ball games. n Babies enjoy regular songs, for example when they wash their faces after snack time. Children of all ages develop a love of books. Toddlers and pre-school children concentrate well as staff read them stories. Children have lots of fun exploring resources and developing their imagination, giggling as they play with toy dinosaurs in slime. Staff celebrate children's achievements to boost levels of

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need to do better?

self-esteem. However, staff do not consistently encourage all children to try out new experiences to extend their learning even further. n Staff are good role models for children and use positive behaviour management strategies. Children are kind and considerate to one another and gain good self- care skills in readiness for their next stage in education. Younger children sort and give out drink bottles to one another unprompted, and older children pour gravy from large jugs onto their meal at lunchtime. Staff monitor children's progress and work with other professionals as required to help close any gaps in children's learning and ease their move to school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The owner completes robust recruitment checks to ensure that staff are suitable. Staff receive effective inductions to ensure they feel confident to carry out their duties. Staff understand their responsibilities to safeguard children and have a secure knowledge of signs and symptoms that may show a child is at risk of harm. Staff have a suitable understanding of wider safeguarding matters. They are aware of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about adults' practice. Children learn how to be safe when leaving the premises. They know to put on high-visibility jackets and recall the dangers they need to look out for when walking through the car park.

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should:

n ensure staff consistently help all children to broaden their interests and engage in new experiences to extend their learning further n enhance opportunities for children to gain a better understanding of the risks involved when meeting new people.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY363070 Local authority Bath and North East Somerset Council Inspection number 10235149 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 20 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Watson, Jacqueline Helen

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reference number

Telephone number 01225 424 971 Date of previous inspection 17 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Alice Park Nursery registered in 2008 and operates from a converted house set in the grounds of Alice Park, Bath. The nursery is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm for 50 weeks of the year. It receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are seven members of staff, five of whom hold early years qualifications 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 owner joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Parents and carers shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The owner showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

17 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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