Grace Owen Nursery School

Inspection of Grace Owen Nursery School 1-7 the Pavement, Duke Street, Park Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S2 5QD

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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

The inspirational management team is truly ambitious for all children. Children thrive at this inclusive nursery school. They arrive motivated and excited for the day ahead. Teaching and interactions are of a consistently high quality. The broad and balanced curriculum builds on what children know and can do. Staff have a robust understanding of the skills that children require for their future lives. Children make exceptional progress in relation to their starting points.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is exemplary. For example, two year olds use wooden pegs to make shapes and patterns in a shallow sand tray. They offer to share their pegs with their friends and receive lots of praise and encouragement for doing so. Key workers make children feel extremely safe and secure. For example, babies smile and giggle as they enjoy warm and nurturing cuddles with their key person. Children engage deeply with the activities provided. Activities reflect the children's interests and promote their independence. For example, children are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas. They talk about the characters in the story that is read to them at group time.

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The provision is outstanding

The nursery school remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Children who did not attend were supported extremely well. For example, during lockdown periods, families received weekly food boxes. Parents had access to a range of online activities which helped children continue their learning at home.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide a communication-rich environment. They expertly present information to children and use signing to support children's understanding. Staff introduce new vocabulary at every available opportunity. Children have outstanding language development. This helps children to communicate their needs effectively. They listen with interest and are able to follow instructions. n Staff plan precise next steps for children. They are shared with parents in a meaningful way. Parents attend termly meetings with their child's key worker and are kept well informed with daily communication sheets which inform them about children's learning. n Staff take every opportunity to promote children's independence. Babies are given choices. They choose which colour scarf they would like. Children are able to sign 'thank you' and place the see-through scarves on their head. Babies are excited to sing the 'Where have all the children gone' song. They delight as they

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need to do better?

pull the scarfs from their heads and reveal their happy faces. n Staff work alongside a range of professionals to meet the needs of the children. Support plans are executed with integrity. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make accelerated progress and meet their next steps

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need to do better?

16 June 2022 and targets rapidly. n Staff have outstanding knowledge and understanding of child development. They use this knowledge and understanding to identify where children need extra support. Referrals to outside agencies are swift. As a result of these early interventions no child is left behind. n The leadership team use supervision meetings highly effectively. There is a culture of continuous improvement across all aspects of the nursery school. Professional development is valued and supported. Staff attend training which impacts on individual children. For example, staff are training in the use of signing in order to support children with hearing impairments who attend the setting. n Children enjoy musical enrichment projects which celebrate their varying cultures and home languages. For example, children engaged in the 'Our Street, Our Song' project and have explored fairy tales from around the world. These

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need to do better?

activities help children to recognise and celebrate the diversity of their community. n Children's physical health is of paramount importance. Children receive meals which are home-made and nutritious. Parents are invited to participate in healthy eating courses. They learn how to prepare low-cost home-made food with nutritious ingredients. n Parents are extremely well supported by staff. This includes key workers and managers providing tailored support to parents in crisis. Parents report that this support has been 'life changing'. They describe the school as a 'safe haven' in the community. n Staff feel extremely supported by senior staff. They report that managers view staff well-being as a priority. They are given opportunities to discuss workload and work-life balance. Staff report that they enjoy coming to work and love working in this 'amazing' nursery school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding is of paramount importance. All safeguarding and care practice arrangements keep children safe from harm. Staff received ongoing safeguarding training. They are vigilant and alert to any signs that a child's safety or welfare might be at risk. Staff know how to protect children from harm. They are alert to the signs of abuse. Staff have an excellent knowledge of wider safeguarding issues. The recruitment process ensures all staff are vetted and are suitable to work with children. Leaders check the ongoing suitability of staff which further assures children's safety.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY497807 Local authority Sheffield Inspection number 10218678 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 80 Number of children on roll 132 Name of registered person Grace Owen Nursery School Governing Body

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reference number

Telephone number 0114 2722541 Date of previous inspection 11 August 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Grace Owen Nursery School was registered in 2015 and is located in Sheffield. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff. Three staff hold qualified teacher status and two staff hold early tears teacher status. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, for 48 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8am 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 inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the headteacher about the leadership and management of the setting. 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 The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The headteacher showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the headteacher.

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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

16 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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