Happy Hands Pre-School and Childcare

Inspection of Happy Hands Pre-School and Childcare McIntyre Road, Stocksbridge, SHEFFIELD S36 1DG

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in the stimulating home-from-home nursery. Staff skilfully plan opportunities to inspire children's imagination and curiosity and build on their interests and experiences. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), learn to explore the world around them and think and act together. They learn to apply themselves to solve problems. For example, children work as a team to paint the garden shed with water and make sure they reach the higher parts and do not leave any gaps.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are safe and secure. They enjoy every moment of the time spent in the company of the caring and experienced staff. Children behave extremely well, both individually and as part of a group. They learn to understand and appreciate their own emotions and how these can change. For instance, children identify the colours and create musical sounds that help them to feel calm and soothed, or excited and enthused. Staff have high expectations for every child to make excellent progress. Children love the many songs, stories and rhymes that staff fill their days with and which contribute to the rich vocabulary they acquire.

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The provision is outstanding

The nursery remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and provided strong support to the local community. Staff kept in close touch with all children, particularly the most vulnerable, with many suggestions for learning activities at home and general childcare guidance.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide highly effective support to children with SEND. They have a very wide knowledge of children's learning needs. Staff identify gaps in development at an early stage and act promptly to address them. They plan very precisely to help children achieve key steps. Staff work closely with other professionals in education and medical fields to ensure children achieve their potential. n The well-qualified manager inspires her tight-knit team of staff to constantly deepen and develop their understanding of how children learn. She encourages them to research and reflect on their experiences to develop the rich and challenging curriculum children benefit from. For instance, staff have taken lead roles in developing transition programmes with other local early years providers and provide training for parents, to support continuity for children. n Staff nurture children's communication skills extremely well. They have thorough

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need to do better?

planning to support staff in the ways they talk, question and read to children to promote language development. For instance, children at an early stage of talking learn to listen carefully, repeat key words and use them appropriately. Children are consistently introduced to exciting and memorable words, such as 'germination' and 'creation'.

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need to do better?

18 May 2022 n Children's love of books and stories is strongly promoted. Staff make excellent use of different strategies to make books memorable. For example, children enthusiastically chant the words and coordinate their actions as they 'go on a bear hunt' and anticipate the next page. They create their own muddy fields, snow and tall grass from chocolate powder, ice and other materials they suggest. Staff carefully choose books that build on and broaden children's interests. They make very good use of video and other media to bring stories to life. n Staff help children make excellent progress in their counting and mathematical knowledge. For example, they help children to count forwards and backwards and work out 'more' or 'less' as they sing and make up their own counting songs. Exciting touch-and-feel or lift-the-flap books help children to understand that numbers have a constant value. Children learn to repeat patterns in their

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need to do better?

sensory play or with peg boards and construction toys. n Children's physical development and appreciation of healthy lifestyles are strong. Children are physically very active. Staff help children to develop their small- muscle skills by, for example, encouraging them to make 'slim'' or' enormous' shapes with their self-made glitter play dough. Children learn about oral hygiene, for example through brushing their teeth together after their main meal. n Staff support children's personal development very effectively. They develop social skills and learn to appreciate the world beyond their own community. For instance, staff provide opportunities for children to regularly meet different people, such as local clergy, musicians and dentists. Children learn about different faiths and ask thoughtful questions, such as 'What is a spirit?' n Parents highly recommend the playgroup. They feel that it is at the heart of the

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need to do better?

local community. Parents appreciate staff's extensive knowledge of their children and the support they offer for their children's learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The designated safeguarding lead ensures that staff update their safeguarding knowledge continually through training, discussion and staff meetings. Staff confidently know the signs that indicate a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect. They understand the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child's well-being. Staff have an excellent understanding of broader concerns, such as protecting children from extreme views. They teach children to identify and manage risks. Children know how to keep themselves safe in the setting, indoors and outside.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 300932 Local authority Sheffield Inspection number 10131546 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 25 Number of children on roll 82

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Name of registered person

Happy Hands Pre-School and Childcare Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01142 886 262 Date of previous inspection 11 May 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Happy Hands Pre-School and Childcare registered in 1999 and is located in the Stocksbridge area of Sheffield. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, one holds a qualification at level 4 and one holds early years professional status. The pre- school opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. The pre-school 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 manager and the inspector conducted a learning walk together to review children's learning experiences. n The children talked to the inspector about their activities. n The manager and the inspector conducted a joint observation of children's activities. n Discussions were held with senior leaders and members of staff. n The inspector discussed the management and organisation of the nursery with the manager. He reviewed relevant documents. n The inspector held discussions to seek the views of parents.

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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

18 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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