Heron Day Nursery

Inspection of Heron Day Nursery St. Johns Centre, Brick Kiln Lane, WIGAN, Lancashire WN1 1XH

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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 are happy, feel safe and settle well at nursery. Children are provided with lots of reassurance and cuddles as and when needed. Staff rock babies in their arms and soothingly talk to them. As a result, they develop good bonds with the attentive staff. Toddlers show good concentration and coordination skills when they fill and empty containers. Pre-school children are busy learners and show good levels of independence. For example, they help themselves to resources, such as paints, and hang their coats on named pegs. Managers continuously adapt the nursery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to help keep children safe. They soon hope to restart visits to schools with children and parents. Parents can now enter the nursery with their children. This helps children to be confident and prepared to enter the next phase of their learning.

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The provision is good

Children make good progress at this nursery. They demonstrate a positive attitude to learning and are motivated to investigate the stimulating learning environments. For example, children play with dough of progressively firmer consistencies. They enjoy exploring coloured dough and pipe cleaners. They roll and squeeze the dough, and shape it around the pipe cleaners. They stretch and pull the dough, helping to gradually strengthen the small hand muscles needed for them to become capable writers.

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need to do better?

n Staff have a good understanding of how young children learn. They get to know children well and plan a curriculum full of exciting activities. For example, older children enjoy building with large blocks and sand in the construction area. Staff encourage children to count and estimate how tall they will make the tower. However, when children's interests move away from the planned activity, staff are less effective in providing these children with support. This means some children have less opportunity for their learning to be extended. n Managers and staff are proficient in supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They work in partnership with parents and other agencies to ensure that children and families get the help they need. n Staff help children to develop their language skills. They listen to children and talk to them throughout the day. Children enjoy singing nursery rhymes. They

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need to do better?

are eager to listen to stories, and staff successfully read stories to children in a way which keeps them engaged. Children have time to respond to questions, which helps to develop their critical thinking skills. However, staff do not always introduce a wider vocabulary into children's independent play to support them further with their language development. n Children who speak English as an additional language are helped to make connections in their learning. For instance, staff use a variety of resources to

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need to do better?

31 May 2022 help children to develop in English and their home language. They use these along with visual cards for routines to help children's understanding. The manager specifically tracks the development of children who speak English as an additional language to ensure they are not left behind. n The manager and staff share a wealth of information with parents, such as on toilet training strategies. They actively encourage parents to extend their children's learning at home. Parents comment that they are very happy with the care their children receive. They describe the nursery as a very nurturing environment. n Children are caring towards each other and are learning about how to share resources and wait their turn. For example, older children practise brushing a set of pretend teeth. They share the toothpaste and wait patiently for a turn. Staff talk to children about why it is important to clean their teeth twice a day.

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need to do better?

n Staff successfully broaden children's experiences. Children relax when spending time with the nursery dog and enjoy the therapeutic benefits that brings. They have discovered how the dog needs to be looked after and this has supported children who have been frightened of dogs and has developed their confidence. n Staff feel that managers support them well with their professional development. They benefit from purposeful supervision meetings, observations of their practice and plentiful training opportunities. This helps them to reflect and continually improve.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff have a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding. The designated safeguarding lead understands their role and responsibility in keeping children safe. Staff can accurately identify the possible signs that children may be at risk of harm. They know the procedures to follow if they have concerns about children's welfare. Children receive close supervision. Staff who are qualified in paediatric first aid are available to support children during any emergencies. Robust recruitment procedures are in place. Staff undergo stringent checks to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. Staff carry out checks of the premises to ensure that children play in a safe and secure environment.

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should:

n adapt teaching to extend children's learning further during free-play activities n support all staff to model new vocabulary to enable children to consistently hear and practise new words.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY358603 Local authority Wigan Inspection number 10235121 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 148 Number of children on roll 90 Name of registered person Heron Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01942202198 Date of previous inspection 30 March 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Heron Day Nursery registered in 2007. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 2 to level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery receives funding to provide free 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 nursery. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk. The intent of the curriculum was discussed. n The quality of education was observed. The inspector assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and the manager. n A range of documentation was sampled by the inspector, including evidence of the suitability and training of staff. n The views of parents were obtained by the inspector through discussions.

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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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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