Furnace Barn Day Nursery

Inspection of Furnace Barn Day Nursery Furnace Barn, Foundry Lane, Halton, LANCASTER LA2 6LU

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children settle well, feel safe and are happy in this nursery. Staff take time to talk to each parent when children arrive. This means that the transition between home and nursery is easy for children. Leaders and staff focus on children's attachments and well-being, recognising the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's emotional development. As a result, children form strong attachments with their key persons. They confidently approach staff for comfort and reassurance when needed, which supports their emotional well-being extremely well. Children can visit the 'zen garden', which is a calming space that offers books and resources to encourage children to talk about their feelings.

p.2

The provision is good

Children's behaviour is good, and they understand what is expected of them in the nursery. Children understand the routines of the day, which means that useful learning time is not lost. For example, they gather quickly and enthusiastically for yoga sessions and singing times. They are supported to play cooperatively together, share and take turns. Children display positive attitudes towards learning. They move around freely and join in with their preferred activities. During a water activity, children count how many scoops they need to fill their containers and eagerly compare this number with their friends. Staff have high expectations of each child. As a result, all children make good progress from their starting points.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children develop a love of books. Staff regularly read familiar stories to children from a young age. Babies sit and listen to staff intently as they touch and feel the different textures on the pages. Leaders have set up a 'secret library' where children can borrow a mystery book. This helps to support learning at home. n Children are taught how to care for their environment and where food comes from. They talk about the vegetables they like with great humour as one child says, 'My Dad likes peas so much he wants to bath in peas!' Children have access to a large garden area that includes fruit trees and vegetable patches where they grow their own healthy snack foods and care for their crops. This supports children to develop healthy lifestyles. n Children's mathematical development is supported well. Staff weave numbers and counting into activities and routines. For example, children confidently count

p.2

need to do better?

how many spikes they need to make a hedgehog from play dough and sticks. Staff extend this learning by showing them how to add one more. This helps to support children's understanding of early mathematical concepts. n Children's curiosity and sense of wonder is ignited when they discover an unfamiliar creature. Staff are prompt in creating an opportunity to teach children new vocabulary as they tell them it is a 'millipede'. Children are intrigued to find out more and question the way the millipede moves. This supports their

p.2

need to do better?

4 October 2022 understanding and appreciation of the natural world. n The nursery has a designated special educational needs coordinator (SENCo). The SENCo works alongside children and has positive relationships with parents. She helps staff to make plans to adapt the curriculum to meet children's learning needs. Intervention plans are regularly monitored and gaps in learning are targeted with precision. Children make good progress. n Children develop independence skills for some of their own personal needs. For example, older children collect their own cutlery and clear their plates after lunch, and babies are supported to feed themselves. However, there are times when staff complete tasks that children are capable of attempting and mastering themselves. For instance, staff wash children's hands and remove their wellies and coats. This does not consistently help children to develop independence. n Leaders have a clear intent to provide high-quality care and education for all

p.2

need to do better?

children. The nursery's values teach children respect, to share, be considerate, collaborate and listen. Leaders understand how to sequence learning effectively to ensure that the aims are achieved. Leaders are ambitious and are dedicated to ensuring that all children reach their full potential. n Partnership with parents is good. Parents are very clear who their child's key person is and they value the opportunity to talk with them when dropping off or picking up their children every day. Staff share information with parents through an online learning journal about what children are learning in the setting. This provides a consistency of care for children.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff understand their responsibility to keep children safe. They know the indicators of abuse and what they should do if they have a concern about a child. Thorough recruitment arrangements ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. All staff have attended regular safeguarding training and leaders ensure that this knowledge is kept up to date through regular team meetings. Staff are deployed well and supervise children with vigilance. Security arrangements are robust. For example, the nursery has a fingerprint system on the gates and doors to prevent unauthorised access. All staff attend first-aid training and understand how to deal with accidents and injuries. They follow individual healthcare plans and complete additional training for specific healthcare needs.

p.3

should:

n extend children's independence skills, particularly when they are capable of carrying out tasks themselves.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY454577 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10235988 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 39 Number of children on roll 63 Name of registered person Furnace Barn Nursery Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01524811811 Date of previous inspection 10 November 2016

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Furnace Barn Day Nursery registered again in 2012 and is situated in Halton, near Lancaster. The nursery employs 16 members of staff. Of these, two hold childcare qualifications at level 6 and have also achieved early years teacher status, one holds a qualification at level 5, seven hold qualifications at level 3, and one holds a qualification at level 2. The nursery is open from 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.

p.4

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 nursery. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The provider joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. 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 SENCo 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 on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the

p.5

Inspection activities

provider. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The provider showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

4 October 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6