Thrive Grosvenor House

Inspection of Benison Nursery School Ltd Benison Nursery Care, Rake Lane, Eccleston, Chester, Cheshire CH4 9JN

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children of all ages enjoy days full of exciting learning at this nursery. They arrive eager to play with their friends and happily greet staff. Older children show their curiosity and imagination during outdoor play. They create colour charts with paint and hunt for matching colours in the environment. Children also use magnifying glasses to examine bugs and refer to posters to identify what the bugs are. Younger children make pretend food from mud and water in the outdoor kitchen. They become immersed in the texture of the sticky wet mud. Children eagerly use clipboards and refer to lists as they go and hunt for ingredients to add to their recipes. These activities help develop early literacy skills.

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The provision is good

Children play imaginatively. They make cakes and pasta dishes, recreating their experiences from home. At other times, children concentrate as they attempt to rescue dinosaurs that have been frozen in ice cubes. As they do so, staff introduce vocabulary such as 'melt' and 'dissolve'. Children show that they feel safe at nursery as they are keen to involve staff in their play. Babies approach staff for cuddles, particularly when they are feeling tired. Due to the impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic, the nursery is providing children with even greater support in relation to language and social and emotional development.

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need to do better?

n Leaders plan, and staff deliver, an engaging and challenging curriculum for all children. They provide children with exciting experiences that they might not otherwise have access to. Children develop an abundance of skills in their cookery class and forest school sessions. They learn how to stay safe around water as they visit the local river. Staff have high expectations for all children and deliver activities that prepare children for the next stage in their learning. n Staff are enthusiastic and motivated. They are led by passionate leaders who strive to provide a high standard of care and education. Leaders regularly monitor staff practice. However, feedback and development opportunities offered to staff are not always sharply focused enough to ensure that the highest quality of teaching is consistently achieved across the nursery. As a result, children do not always gain the intended skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children's communication and language development. They read stories and engage children in lively singing sessions. Children are keen to answer questions. They share their views and participate in interesting conversations. For example, children eagerly explain how they discovered a 'really small' water vole in the outdoor area. These experiences develop children's vocabulary and help children become confident communicators. n Children learn about healthy lifestyles and show great focus as they make healthy smoothies to enjoy at snack time. Children follow the steps on picture

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need to do better?

2 August 2022 recipe cards, saying 'one banana' and 'two strawberries', which helps develop their early literacy and mathematical skills. Children are beginning to correctly identify numbers in different contexts and form letters in their play. This shows mathematical and early literacy learning has been absorbed. n From an early age, staff support children to understand their emotions and feelings. Young children use mirrors to look at their facial expressions and discuss sad and happy faces. Older children enjoy a daily well-being session. Staff support children to sit quietly, listen to calming music and focus on their breathing. This helps children to identify when they feel calm and relaxed. These activities help children to learn how to identify and manage their emotions. n Children challenge themselves as they learn to balance on tyres and eagerly climb up ladders and frames. This helps to develop their physical strength. Staff

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need to do better?

support children to develop their coordination and strength in their hands. Children peel fruit and use knives to chop and cut. They pour water between containers and dig in soil to plant vegetables. As a result, children develop skills that will benefit them when they start school. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents give overwhelmingly positive feedback about the nursery. They feel valued and appreciate the 'nurturing approach' of the managers and staff. Parents receive detailed information about their children's experiences and ideas of how to support learning at home. Staff share information about a 'book of the month' and provide activity ideas for children to complete at home. This helps children and their families develop a love of reading.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff are committed to safeguarding children's welfare. They accurately identify the potential signs and symptoms that may indicate that a child is at risk of harm. Staff know the procedures to follow if they are concerned about children's safety. Managers provide regular training, so that staff keep their knowledge and skills up to date. Staff ensure that children are able to play in a safe and secure environment. They take steps to minimise any potential risks. Children demonstrate the ability to keep themselves safe in their play. For example, they safely use tools in activities. All members of staff have paediatric first-aid training. They are confident to deal with any incidents or accidents that occur.

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should:

n strengthen staff development and feedback to further enhance the quality of teaching to a consistently high level across the nursery.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 304975 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10129133 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 97 Number of children on roll 121 Name of registered person Benison (Nursery School) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01244 676199 Date of previous inspection 2 February 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Benison Nursery School Ltd registered in 2006 and is managed by a limited company. The nursery employs 23 members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 6, one holds a qualification at level 5, 18 hold qualifications at level 3 and one holds a qualification at level 2. One staff member has early years professional status and two have qualified teacher status. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, all year round, from 7.30am until 6.30pm. 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 setting 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 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 manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Parents, staff and children shared feedback with the inspector. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity and evaluated its effectiveness together. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in 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

2 August 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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