Ashby Castle Day Nursery

Inspection of Ashby Castle Day Nursery 28 North Street, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 1HS

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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 enjoy their time within this exciting and enticing environment. They readily choose from the variety of activities on offer. Children are keen to be active, for example young babies are encouraged to stretch and reach for toys to build up their core muscles. Older babies are supervised as they safely crawl up slopes and down steps. Toddlers gain confidence as they jump over hurdles. Staff create additional challenge for children and place the hurdles at different heights. This supports their growing muscle strength and coordination skills.

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The provision is good

Children are kind. They learn to care for a variety of animals within the nursery, such as rabbits and tortoises. Children listen carefully to staff who explain the rules when handling animals. To this end, children are quiet and gentle as they feed and stroke the animals.

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The provision is good

Children are becoming confident communicators, for example older babies babble back-and-forth with staff as they talk on toy phones. Younger babies hear staff sing familiar songs and they eagerly join in the actions. Toddlers freely talk to staff during their play. Children are listened to and asked questions to extend their thinking. This helps them share ideas and develop their conversational skills.

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need to do better?

n The provider has taken a positive approach in response to the last inspection. Staff have been supported to gain a robust understanding of safeguarding, including procedures to follow in the event of a concern. This ensures children are safe and secure while at nursery. n Staff understand the impact the restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have had upon children. They are keen to broaden children's experiences. For example, children are taken out within the local community to purchase items from shops, play at the park and visit cafés. n Staff know their key children well. They plan appropriate next steps based on children's interests and individual needs. This ensures children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress from their starting points. n Staff help children to understand the expectations for their behaviour. Children are reminded to share and take turns during their play. They know the routine

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need to do better?

and follow instructions from staff, for example they readily line up at the door for mealtimes. Children are learning to use manners, for example, staff say please and thank you, which babies repeat. n Staff help children develop their small-muscle skills, for example toddlers make moon dough. Children stir the mixture carefully in a bowl. They roll it out and squeeze it in their hands to make shapes. Outside, children use felt tips to make

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need to do better?

5 August 2022 marks on whiteboards and they colour in pictures using pencil crayons. This helps children develop the muscles they need for early writing. n Staff support children's growing mathematical knowledge. For example, as children tip and pour water, staff use words, such as full, empty, more and less. Toddlers share that they have a yellow peg, which they have noticed matches a yellow square. Staff extend this and encourage children to match other coloured pegs to items they can find. n Overall, children are supported to be independent. Staff help them develop key skills, such as accessing the toilet themselves. They remind children to wash hands before meals, and older toddlers wipe their face with a flannel. However, occasionally, staff can be overly helpful. Staff wipe children's nose for them when they can do it themselves. In addition, they do not allow children time to serve themselves food at mealtimes, even though children show an interest in

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need to do better?

helping. n Leaders and managers value their staff team and care about their well-being. Staff state they feel managers are supportive and listen to them. Parents are positive about the care their children receive. They say their children have good relationships with staff and are developing their communication skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a strong understanding of the possible signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. This includes those that may potentially be at risk from radical views. Staff know the procedure to follow should they need to report a concern about a child, and how to report concerns about another member of staff. The manager ensures safer recruitment checks are undertaken to confirm the ongoing suitability of staff working with children. Children are well supervised indoors and outdoors. Parents say they feel their children are safe and secure at the nursery.

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should:

n support staff to gain a better understanding of how to help children strengthen their independence skills during mealtimes and self-care activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 223187 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 10231493 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 74 Number of children on roll 173 Name of registered person Hodgson, Gail Dawn

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reference number

Telephone number 01530 415541 Date of previous inspection 22 February 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Ashby Castle Day Nursery is located in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. It registered in 1996. The nursery employs 37 members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold qualified teacher status, and 15 hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. The nursery opens from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The nursery provides funded early education for two- and three-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a language and communication activity for babies. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. 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

5 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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