Appletree Nursery

Inspection of Appletree Nursery The Pavilion, Main Street, Grenoside, Sheffield S35 8PR

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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 well cared for by a kind, caring, attentive staff team. Staff focus on supporting children to develop secure bonds with their key person. Children who are new to the nursery and feel unsettled are offered lots of comfort and reassurance. This helps them to begin to feel settled, safe and secure. Children show confidence and behave well as they relate well to the staff team.

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The provision is good

Children learn about healthy eating as they plant a range of herbs, fruits and vegetables. They learn where foods come from and, as they have helped to grow them, it also encourages them to try new foods.

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The provision is good

Children are supported to develop the fundamental core skills to support their future development. They learn to share and take turns as they are encouraged to interact positively with their peers. Children learn to sit and listen for extended periods of time as they progress through the nursery. Staff help children to learn to vocalise their needs and to recognise and deal appropriately with their emotions. Scheduled physical education sessions in the summer term support children to develop their physical skills. They are also used to help children to learn how to successfully undress and re-dress themselves.

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need to do better?

n Children engage in a range of interesting play experiences, supported by staff. Staff monitor children's progress from their starting points. They quickly identify any children who are at risk of falling behind in their development. The special educational needs coordinator liaises with staff, parents and other professionals when needed, to ensure each child receives the full support they need. This helps to narrow the achievement gap between children. n The provider has a clear management structure in place. She has considered her exit strategy for when she leaves. For example, the provider is focused on up- skilling the members of the management team so that they have the required skills to continue running the nursery. n Children's communication and language is supported well overall. Younger children enjoy lots of singing activities. Two-year-olds recall actions and some words to their favourite songs. Staff respond to babies' attempts at

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need to do better?

communication and name physical objects to support early language development. Pre-school children are encouraged to express their own needs. However, occasionally, staff working with two-year-olds use overly complicated sentences and too many questions in their attempts to encourage younger children's communication skills. n Staff encourage pre-school children to learn to sit and listen. During group time activities, children recall how they should turn their listening ears on. They

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need to do better?

6 September 2022 respond well to daily routines. For example, when the bell sounds, children know to stop what they are doing. They are then encouraged to count to 10 before helping to tidy away the toys. This helps children to learn to count and to respect their environment. It also helps to keep them safe from trip hazards. n Babies benefit from playing outside and going on regular walks around the local area. Two-year-olds develop their physical skills in the sand. Older children show skill as they ride bikes and climb up and down the climbing frame. n Children are actively encouraged to share. When an older child has more pieces from a game, the staff member successfully encourages them to think about this. Through gentle persuasion and discussion, the child happily shares the game pieces with the other child. n Supervisions of staff practice and performance are completed by management. However, during these reviews, managers have not identified that the planned

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need to do better?

curriculum is not always implemented effectively by all staff. This results in occasions when some staff deliver activities which are slightly too advanced for children. n Parents speak very highly of the staff team. They confirm that they are provided with clear information about their child, including their achievements. Parents confirm that their children have developed their skills and knowledge since attending the nursery. n Children are supported with potty training, and their growing independence with toileting is continually promoted. This helps children to develop the confidence to meet their own personal hygiene needs.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children are supervised well. Staff and management have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities to protect children from potential harm. They all remain vigilant for possible indicators of abuse and take immediate and relevant action when required to safeguard children. Staff work in partnership with parents and carers, building positive relationships. This helps to ensure information is shared, so that children's welfare is continually maintained. Robust recruitment and induction procedures are in place to help ensure the suitability of staff working with children. The provider ensures that when new committee members join the nursery, they are provided with detailed information on their roles and responsibilities. This further ensures a strong management team overseeing the nursery.

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should:

n support staff who work with children aged two to three years to use simple

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should:

6 September 2022 language and not ask too many questions when building on children's growing vocabulary n review staff practice more closely to ensure all staff are consistently implementing the planned curriculum so that each experience provided is pitched at the right level to build effectively on children's prior learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY368525 Local authority Sheffield Inspection number 10229537 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 42 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Appletree Childcare (Sheffield) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01142 571 427 Date of previous inspection 5 October 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Appletree Nursery registered in 2008 and is situated in Sheffield. The nursery employs 24 members of childcare staff, 22 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am 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 assistant manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The assistant manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during a planned activity. n Parents and carers shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. 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

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

6 September 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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