Shadsworth Childrens Centre

Inspection of Shadsworth Childrens Centre Shadsworth Childrens Centre, Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, Lancashire BB1 2HR

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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 enjoy an interesting and nurturing learning environment where they are kept safe by experienced staff. They have access to a wide variety of resources, both indoors and outdoors. Children test out new ideas and develop their thinking through the learning experiences offered to them. Children are encouraged to take care of resources and care for their friends. Staff use gentle reminders to help them to understand what is expected of them. Children have good manners and are learning to share and take turns. For example, at snack time they wait patiently for their turn to pour their own drink and cut their fruit up. Experiences like this are also helping children to become independent.

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The provision is good

Children are encouraged to express their ideas and feelings. Staff listen to children's questions and follow their interests. For example, children's interest in birds in the garden led to a range of learning experiences. These included making bird feeders and using binoculars to look closely at birds. These activities help children to learn about the natural world. Children who had little opportunity to play with other children during the COVID-19 pandemic are well supported to develop their social skills. Parents now bring their children into the setting and are welcome to stay if children need support to settle. Children now enjoy the times when their parents come in to learn alongside them at special stay-and-play sessions. Children are confident and have positive attitudes to learning.

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need to do better?

n Children have strong bonds with the staff who care for them so well. New children are well supported to settle into nursery. They visit for short periods before starting and parents are welcome to stay with them. This means that children feel emotionally secure and happily engage with the learning experiences offered to them. n Children enjoy sharing books with adults in the cosy and beautifully resourced book areas. They become enthralled as staff tell stories with expression and humour. Children love to hunt for zoo animals in a feely bag to help tell the story. This supports them to learn new vocabulary. Staff also plan to introduce new vocabulary as children play. This systematic approach means that children are always learning new words. n Staff communicate with children in a range of ways to support all children to become confident communicators. For example, they use signing and pictures as well as spoken language to make meaning clear. These strategies also support

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need to do better?

those children who have few words in English in which to express their ideas. n Staff play alongside children and support their play ideas. They follow children's interests and use these to teach key skills. For example, children's interest in plants and seeds resulted in a large digging and gardening area being created

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need to do better?

7 September 2022 outdoors. This helps children develop their coordination and strength when digging in the soil. It also helps them to learn to care for living things as they water and tend to the plants. n Parents value the love and care shown to their children at nursery. They describe the way that individual needs of children are supported. Parents talk about the way in which the staff help them too. They are given ideas to support their child's learning and development at home. This strong partnership leads to a consistent approach which helps children to manage their feelings and behaviour. n Staff know children well and effectively assess their learning and development. They plan activities and experiences to build on what children know and can do. However, there are occasions when staff do not use effective strategies to keep all children engaged in group activities. Children then become distracted and

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need to do better?

lose interest in the activity. This interrupts their learning. n Those children who receive additional funding, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Leaders use funding creatively to meet individual needs. Staff are skilled in identifying additional needs early. They then work effectively with a range of professionals to ensure that children make the best possible progress. n Leaders use a range of methods to monitor and evaluate the quality of provision. They have a clear vision for improvement. Staff are supported to further develop their knowledge through training opportunities and by sharing their skills. Leaders prioritise the well-being of children, staff and families. Parents and staff feel that they are well supported to ensure that children are happy and able to flourish.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand how to keep children safe. Regular training and updates are used effectively to ensure that staff develop a breadth of safeguarding knowledge. Staff and leaders know what to do if an allegation is made about a colleague. Robust processes are in place for the safe recruitment and induction of new staff. In this way consistent approaches to safeguarding are maintained. Staff and leaders share safeguarding messages with children and families. These include messages about car safety and road safety.

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should:

n reflect on practice during group activities in order to consistently meet children's individual needs and maximise learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY371644 Local authority Blackburn with Darwen Inspection number 10143941 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 60 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

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reference number

Telephone number 01254 680 733 Date of previous inspection 14 January 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Shadsworth Childrens Centre was registered in 2008. It is operated by the local authority and is situated in Blackburn, Lancashire. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. There is one with qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday during term time, from 8.45am to 3.25pm. 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 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 talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

7 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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