Kids Planet Nook Barn

Inspection of Nook Barn Nursery Nook Barn, Nook Lane, BLACKBURN BB2 4SN

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children are very clearly at the heart of this warm, welcoming and inclusive nursery. Children continuously demonstrate that they feel safe, happy and secure. They separate from their parents with ease and confidence and immediately become engaged in conversations with staff. Children independently select what they would like to play with. They are curious and inquisitive. Babies explore natural objects, developing their hand-to-eye coordination as they stack different- sized rings. Toddlers concentrate intently on transferring pom-poms with tweezers and creating artwork with paint and blocks. Pre-school children create models using recyclable materials. They learn about letter sounds as they share special objects from home that begin with the letter of the week. All children make good progress in their learning, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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The provision is good

Children behave well for their age. Gentle and consistent reminders from staff help children to learn how to share and to take turns as they play together. Children show an awareness of routines. They understand when it is time to tidy up or wash their hands for lunch. Children have many opportunities to develop their self-care and independence skills. For example, they competently feed themselves at mealtimes, pouring their own drinks and serving their own food. This helps children to develop essential skills for the future.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have worked tirelessly to address the concerns raised at the last inspection. They have been successful in bringing about significant changes to ensure that all children are safeguarded effectively. Staff feel extremely well supported. They benefit from regular staff meetings, supervision sessions and plentiful training opportunities. This ensures that their practice and knowledge are continually developing and has a very positive impact on the experiences and support provided for children. n Staff have a very good understanding of their individual key children and their needs and preferences. They use detailed information gathered from parent partnerships and their first-hand observations to plan purposeful activities that help children to progress from the outset. However, occasionally, in their eagerness to help, staff sometimes over-direct children's learning. This means that, at times, children's independent exploration and investigation are

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need to do better?

unnecessarily interrupted. n Overall, staff support children's emerging communication and language skills well. Staff working with babies introduce single words and model conversation. Pre-school children are introduced to new vocabulary, such as 'extend' as they talk about the ladders on a fire engine. However, sometimes staff are not careful to model the correct pronunciation of words. Furthermore, not all staff use skilful

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need to do better?

13 June 2022 questioning techniques consistently. Sometimes, staff ask children questions in quick succession and do not always give them time to think and respond. n Staff successfully support children to learn about their feelings and emotions. They have created a calming area that children can retreat to if needed. This helps children to recognise their feelings and emotions and to develop empathy for others as they learn about the consequences of their actions. Children enjoy yoga to help relax and focus their attention in readiness for learning. n Children have wonderful opportunities to learn about the world around them. They visit the local library, parks and shops. Children have most recently enjoyed a visit to the local fish and chip shop to complement their understanding of fish and life under the sea. They have learned about pollution through their discussions with staff about plastics and how they can help to care for the

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need to do better?

environment. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents' comments about the nursery team are very complimentary. They describe how staff are welcoming and approachable and how they ensure that information about children's learning and development is regularly shared.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have attended additional training to ensure that they are able to safeguard children and their families effectively. All staff have an accurate understanding of how to keep children safe from harm and how to report concerns about a child's welfare. They understand the steps to take if they have concerns about a member of staff's practice or conduct. Risk assessments are implemented rigorously and help to ensure that children are safe. Staff embrace opportunities to help children to recognise potential hazards. For example, they talk to children about the importance of holding on to the bannister as they climb or descend the stairs. Robust recruitment and vetting arrangements ensure that staff are suitable to carry out their roles.

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should:

n support staff to develop their teaching skills further, so that they are confident when implementing activities and do not over-direct learning or interrupt children's learning unnecessarily n help staff to understand the importance of modelling the correct pronunciation of words n develop staff's ability to use skilful questioning techniques consistently, ensuring that children are given sufficient time to think and respond.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY538462 Local authority Blackburn with Darwen Inspection number 10225674 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 55 Number of children on roll 98 Name of registered person Nook Barn Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01254 207676 Date of previous inspection 21 January 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Nook Barn Nursery registered in 2016. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff, 15 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am until 5.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with leaders and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the provider. n Discussions were held with the manager, parents and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n A learning walk was completed with the manager to discuss the curriculum intent and how the provision is organised. n The manager and the inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity. n The inspector reviewed a variety of documents including evidence of the suitability of staff, qualifications, first-aid certificates and policies and procedures. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children during activities and assessed the impact of teaching on children's learning.

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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

13 June 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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