Thrive Frodsham Hill

Inspection of Homestead Nursery Homestead Day Nursery, Sunshine House, Chester Road, Frodsham, Cheshire WA6 6XR

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They are polite, respectful, considerate and overwhelmingly kind towards others. To illustrate, children take care of the nursery animals. They feed and look after the rabbits, guinea pigs and tortoise that all live at the nursery. Children show extraordinary empathy and compassion. Staff are exceptional role models. They use simple and effective strategies to help children to know what is expected of them. For example, flash cards provide visual prompts and help children to understand boundaries. Children know right from wrong and behave impeccably. They show impressive levels of independence, self-assurance and self-confidence. For example, they undertake daily 'missions', which are everyday tasks they are responsible for completing. They complete these roles with pride and learn to be responsible, self-assured and helpful in the process. Children develop outstanding attitudes to their learning, supported by a secure foundation

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The provision is good

Children of all ages enjoy playing spontaneously and choosing what they want to do. Staff encourage choice and children remain enthused and engaged in their play. For example, children use marbles to vote for which activity they would prefer. This democratic system promotes fairness and helps children to feel valued. The curriculum provides a good mix of child-initiated games coupled with adult-led activities. All children make good progress, supported by a well-planned, broad curriculum. Staff remain vigilant towards the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's development and offer additional support to children, if required.

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need to do better?

n The management team is aspirational and ambitious. Managers lead with motivation and dedication. Collectively, the entire staff team regularly reflect upon its practice. A detailed action plan is in place to help to support ongoing improvements. Many staff have worked at the setting for several years, promoting a stable and consistent environment for children to flourish. n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents are regularly invited into the setting to attend sessions delivered by staff or other professionals. This joined-up approach helps to extend children's learning beyond the setting and has an impact on their overall development. Parents are complimentary about the kind and supportive staff who care for their children. Parents refer to the staff as 'kind, nurturing and gentle' and comment that they 'often go the extra mile to help children to settle'. n Staff plan a variety of interesting activities, centred around a theme or topic.

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need to do better?

Children help to choose the theme, linked to their interests. This helps to inspire children and ensure that their play remains enjoyable and engaging. n Staff skilfully support children who speak more than one language and those

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need to do better?

31 May 2022 with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Teaching is tailored to each individual child. Careful sequencing ensures that each activity builds on previous learning and provides increasing challenge. All children are well supported in their learning. n Staff are gentle and nurturing. Babies enjoy cuddles with staff. They gaze at their carers with contentment as they experience warm and genuine affection. Children are relaxed, secure and happy in the friendly and nurturing setting. n Laughter is frequently heard throughout the nursery. Children giggle with peers when they play hide and seek. Babies laugh when they are tickled. Older children enjoy making faces at each other, chuckling at their reflections. This is a very happy nursery, and confident children benefit from the positive atmosphere they experience. n Staff closely assess children's progress. Regular observations tell staff what

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need to do better?

children do well and also where they need more support and help. Staff use this knowledge to target their teaching and help children improve their skills and build on what they already know. However, sometimes children's next steps are not reviewed with sufficient frequency to ensure they remain relevant and accurate. n Staff are experienced and keen to learn. Training programmes have been interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and available training provision. The management team recognises the benefits of re-establishing a culture of continual training to extend skills further. Plans to re-instate rigorous training programmes are yet to be implemented.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff know the procedures they must follow if they are concerned about a child's safety or welfare. A wealth of information about child protection is published on noticeboards throughout the nursery. Information is easily accessible and staff refresh their knowledge on this topic regularly. Children remain safe and secure. Extensive risk assessment systems are in place. Staff and children continually check areas, indoors and outdoors, for possible hazards and quickly respond to these if necessary. Children play safely. Staff recognise the learning opportunities provided through riskier play, such as climbing trees. They encourage children to try, while remaining close by to support and help if needed. Safety is given very high regard and children's welfare is well promoted.

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should:

n review children's next steps with increased frequency to ensure they are precise and accurate to help children to make rapid progress

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should:

31 May 2022 n extend opportunities for staff to attend relevant training to strengthen their good skills and knowledge even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY562723 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10191073 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 92 Number of children on roll 90 Name of registered person Homestead Nursery (Wirral) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01928 732324 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Homestead Nursery registered in 2018. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold qualifications at level 6, five hold qualifications at level 3 and one holds a qualification at level 2. One member of staff holds early years teacher status and one holds 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 nursery manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. The manager explained to the inspector how the curriculum is planned for different groups of children. n The inspector spoke with staff, children and parents during the inspection and considered their views and comments. n The inspector jointly observed an activity alongside the nursery manager. They discussed teaching and the impact on children's learning. n The inspector observed planned activities, children's spontaneous play and daily routines, such as mealtimes. The inspector assessed the impact of activities on children's learning. n Relevant documentation was checked by the inspector, including evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working at 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

31 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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