St Catherine's Independent Nursery

Inspection of St Catherine's Independent Nursery St Catherine's RC Primary School, Moss Lane, Leyland PR25 4SJ

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children flourish in this warm and nurturing environment. They are excited to see their friends when they arrive and settle happily into their learning. Children have exceptional bonds with the staff and readily share their ideas and learning with them. They feel extremely secure with staff, who know them very well. Staff make children's learning fun and chat to them endlessly about the things that they are doing. Children have beautiful manners. They help each other out and work collaboratively together. Children recognise kindness in each other. They decide who needs to put a jewel on the 'kindness tree' at the end of each session. Staff are positive role models and demonstrate to children their high expectations of behaviour. As a result, children understand how to manage their feelings and emotions, and behaviour is excellent. Children are extremely independent and have a real can-do attitude. They persevere to solve problems for themselves.

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The provision is outstanding

There is a clear plan to maximise children's learning throughout the environment. Children are immersed in a rich array of resources and learning opportunities, both indoors and outdoors. Here, children expand their ideas and become fully engrossed in their learning. Staff recognise that some children experienced social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. They quickly identify those children whose language and social development have been affected and plan to boost their learning in these areas. As a result, children make excellent progress in all areas of learning and development.

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need to do better?

n The quality of teaching is exceptional. The extremely knowledgeable staff team seamlessly expands upon children's ideas by building on their interests. For example, a child's interest in space becomes an opportunity for children to make a detailed plan to go into space and, together, they build a cardboard rocket to get them there. This skilful teaching means children become totally engrossed in their learning. This impacts significantly on what children know, remember and understand. n Staff take every opportunity to talk with children. They skilfully use these conversations to develop children's communication and language skills. Children are developing an extensive vocabulary. For example, they talk about the 'ingredients' in their play dough cakes. A word of the week is threaded into discussions and play. This helps children to use and understand more complex words, like 'pretending', 'estimating' and 'persisting'.

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need to do better?

n Staff expertly support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to succeed in their learning. They quickly identify any gaps in learning and use effective strategies to meet individual learning needs. They work extremely closely with parents and a range of other agencies to ensure that the

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need to do better?

11 October 2022 developmental needs of all children are met. As a result, all children make excellent progress from their starting points. n Staff build great partnerships with parents and carers. Parents report that their children thrive here and cannot praise staff enough. They comment on the outstanding progress that their children make and how they grow in confidence and make friends. Parents say that they know what their children are currently learning and how they can continue to support them at home. n Children are learning to become responsible citizens. They take responsibility for recycling and learn about protecting the environment. Staff thoughtfully give pairs of children other roles in turn. These include 'snack helper' and 'risk assessor'. Through these roles, children develop a sense of pride in their environment and have a real reason to engage in conversations, follow instructions and work together with their friends.

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need to do better?

n Staff use the thoughtfully designed outdoor space and the forest school, as well as external sports experts, to offer children a fantastic array of physical challenges. Children enjoy being outdoors in all weathers. They can describe what they see and understand about the natural world. For example, children know that the worms they find need to go back into the soil. These experiences enhance children's emotional well-being and result in them making excellent progress with their physical development. n Children have a strong voice. Staff take time to listen to them and develop their questions. For example, children beam with delight as staff follow their interest in the sycamore seeds by demonstrating how the seeds fly. Children then ask more questions and wonder about how other seeds move through the air. Children express their views and contribute to nursery life through the children's council. In this way, children are developing outstanding levels of self-

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need to do better?

confidence. n Leaders are passionate about providing high-quality learning experiences for children. They show tireless dedication to the well-being and professional development of their staff team. Staff find creative new ideas through the time that leaders allow them to dedicate to reading journals and accessing learning. This keeps learning fresh and ensures that staff continually reflect on the ambitious curriculum offered to all children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The setting has a strong culture of safeguarding. All staff access regular training and have an excellent understanding of their role in protecting children. They can recognise the many forms that abuse may take and know how to respond to signs that a child is at risk. Children actively take part in the risk assessment of their environment on a daily basis. They are taking responsibility for their own safety and that of their friends by recognising any potential risks. The management team completes robust recruitment and induction procedures to ensure that those working with children are suitable and that safeguarding messages are consistent. Leaders and staff work hard to share key safeguarding messages with parents,

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Safeguarding

11 October 2022 including those related to online safety and car safety.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY488889 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10233981 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 40 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person St Catherine's Independent Nursery

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reference number

Telephone number 01772 456304 Date of previous inspection 11 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

St Catherine's Independent Nursery was registered in 2015. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, one holds qualifications at level 5 and one holds qualifications at level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for Christmas and the Easter holidays. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports children who access the early years pupil premium and children with SEND.

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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 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 Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at nursery. 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 quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of

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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

11 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.

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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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