Brook Green Early Years

Inspection of Brook Green Early Years Hillside Children's Centre, Eastwick Road, Taunton, Somerset TA2 7HD

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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 settle quickly on arrival, inspired by the inviting environment and activities. They move confidently around the premises and, at times, make choices whether to learn indoors or outdoors. Babies cruise around furniture and climb the small, enclosed slide and excitedly mount soft-play equipment to see their reflection in the mirror. Children grow in confidence and become independent learners. For example, staff support toddlers in playing together with small-world toys and older children engage in role play, following a theme and discussing their roles. Children of all ages develop a love of books, which staff use successfully to extend children's language skills. For example, babies point and interact with lifting flaps and feel textures, as staff role model words, and older children fill in familiar words as staff pause while reading. Children enjoy their learning and show awe and wonder at

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The provision is good

new experiences. For example, babies and toddlers excitedly anticipate water flowing through a funnel. Their enthusiasm increases as staff say 'ready, steady' and children squeal 'go', shrieking with laughter. Parents no longer enter the premises since the COVID-19 pandemic. This has continued because staff found that children settle and engage in their learning more quickly.

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need to do better?

n Children make good progress. The manager and staff are implementing a new planning system, enabling children to deepen their learning. Staff know the children well. They use their knowledge of children's interests and next stages of development to ensure they plan an effective environment and activities. For example, children enthusiastically join in with going on a 'bear hunt', recalling the sequence of events. However, occasionally, staff move children on too quickly, which hinders children's eagerness to use resources in their own way. n The manager is highly reflective and encourages her team to share their opinions. She honestly and accurately evaluates her provision. The manager and deputy are strong, positive role models, and provide supervision and support for staff, to raise the quality of teaching. However, although staff complete necessary training to keep children safe, they have had fewer opportunities

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need to do better?

recently to enhance their knowledge of supporting learning even further. n Children develop strong bonds with the staff and their behaviour is consistently good. Staff are gentle and reassuring with babies and they provide good support for children to understand and manage their feelings. They value children's contributions and treat them with respect. For example, they ask even the youngest children if they have finished their activity before clearing the table. Older children develop good British values, such as voting and accepting the majority. n The manager expects staff to concentrate on securing children's prime areas of

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need to do better?

8 September 2022 development, which underpins their future success. Staff implement this effectively. However, they do not use all opportunities to extend older children's problem-solving skills. For example, they turn children's coats out the right way and do not help them to use trial and error to complete a puzzle. n Children develop good practices to keep themselves healthy. They learn from a young age to get a tissue to wipe their nose and place it in the bin afterwards. Older children manage their personal needs and wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating. Staff provide good support for children to understand the importance of oral care and practise their skills, such as cleaning the teeth of dolls. Children have healthy snacks and meals, drink plenty of water and enjoy daily exercise. n Parents confirm that staff exchange important information with them face to face and through technology, to support care and learning at home and at

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need to do better?

nursery. The manager organises open days so that parents can go into the nursery and learn about their practice first hand. Parents comment positively on how quickly their children are developing since starting at the nursery, particularly their language skills, with children singing new songs and recalling books at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a good knowledge of child protection issues. They attend regular training to keep up to date and know what to do should a child be at risk of harm. Staff are aware of their responsibilities and who to report concerns to. The manager takes effective action to keep children safe. She carries out good risk assessments and takes quick action if accidents occur. The enthusiastic staff work well as a team, communicating effectively to ensure they can provide good supervision and meet children's individual needs well.

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should:

n provide staff with more frequent opportunities for professional development to support children's learning even further n focus staff development on supporting older children's problem-solving skills n give young children enough time to use resources in their own way, particularly in adult-led activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY316345 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10233679 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 50 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Brook Green Early Years Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01823 762042 Date of previous inspection 4 October 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Brook Green Early Years registered in 2005. It is located in Taunton, Somerset. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.45am to 6pm, all year round, apart from one week at Christmas. There are nine members of staff. Of these, the manager holds an appropriate early years qualification at degree level and seven staff have an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 manager led the inspector on a learning walk to discuss the curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspectors talked to staff, parents and children during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation in the two-year-old area and discussed the quality of teaching and learning. n The inspector observed the quality of education in all areas and outdoors and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The manager and inspector held a leadership and management meeting and the inspector checked relevant documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

8 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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