Houghton Nursery Group

Inspection of Houghton Nursery Group Houghton Nursery Group, Jackson Road, Houghton, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 0PA

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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 thrive at this warm and welcoming nursery group. They come into the setting with great excitement each day to play with their friends. Children greet the kind and caring staff with smiles, hugs and friendly gestures, showing that they feel safe and secure. They develop close relationships with staff, who provide a calm and nurturing environment. Children develop confidence in choosing what they want to do from a wide range of choices. They quickly become independent in care needs and in developing their own personal preferences.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is good. Staff provide clear and consistent routines. As a result, all children feel settled as they know the expectations each day. They learn to take care of their environment and thrive on the responsibility and challenge while tidying away resources. Staff act as good role models. They support children's understanding of turn taking and sharing during their play. Staff teach children the importance of good social skills, of manners, respect and listening to other people. They prepare children well for their next move on to school.

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The provision is good

Children take part in activities that promote their physical development. For example, they thoroughly enjoy the outside agency music and movement sessions. Children confidently do the actions as they sing favourite songs and dance to the music. This is a great resource that supports the use of funding and enables all children to take part. Staff provide yoga sessions and PE. These activities help children recognise their emotions and develop physically through stretching and breathing exercises. Children are proud of their achievements. They carefully handle their Remembrance Day pictures and recall how people got medals for being brave in the war. Children show great resilience and persist in chosen tasks, such as when completing complex puzzles.

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need to do better?

n The inspirational manager has a clear vision for the nursery. She ensures regular team meetings occur in order to share updates and ideas. Staff attend regular supervision meetings that help to identify their strengths and training needs. Staff work together as a team. They plan an effective curriculum and have high expectations for the children. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Staff are highly proactive at recognising where help is required. They swiftly put in a package of support to ensure that early help strategies are implemented swiftly while waiting for other professionals to assess these children. The key-person role is effective and enables all children to make the best progress they can. n Children are confident to interact with staff, who support their language,

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need to do better?

9 November 2022 communication, and literacy skills well. Staff introduce new words and concepts while children engage in activities. For example, while children examine medical instruments during imaginative play, they learn the word 'stethoscope'. Children enjoy listening to stories and taking part in interactive songs, and music and movement sessions. A superb communication and language programme is embedded in the curriculum. Staff create an environment rich in language, including at snack and mealtimes. As a result, children become confident communicators. n Children learn about healthy eating and practise good hygiene routines. Staff provide a varied fruit snack for children, with fresh milk and drinking water. Children are encouraged to pour their own drinks and decide for themselves how much they want to eat. This supports children's independence and personal skills. However, opportunities to introduce children to oral hygiene are not as

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need to do better?

well promoted. n Staff provide a good range of activities and resources that allow children to make individual choices in their play. For example, children move freely into the outdoors, where they access the water tray. Staff support this interest while introducing concepts of floating and sinking. Staff know their key children well. They use their knowledge of each child to plan how they can best support them. Staff embed children's learning to ensure their next steps are supported. n Staff develop strong partnerships with parents. They are sensitive to children's individual needs and the needs of their families. Parents have nothing but praise for the nursery and they feel highly supported. They say how staff have helped coordinate things and supported them. Parents feel they are listened to and respected. They appreciate the regular communication and updates on their children's development and activities.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of their responsibilities to keep children safe. They complete refresher training in child protection and wider aspects of safeguarding, including the risk of children being drawn into radicalisation. Staff are confident of the signs and symptoms of abuse that may indicate that a child is at risk of harm. An effective recruitment procedure is implemented to ensure staff are suitable for their roles. Existing staff's ongoing suitability is successfully monitored and all outside agency personnel's suitability is checked. Accident and incident processes are stringent and secure.

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should:

n support staff to help children to understand the importance of oral health.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY334729 Local authority Cumbria Inspection number 10233689 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 26 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Houghton Nursery Group Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01228 558888 Date of previous inspection 21 November 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Houghton Nursery Group registered in 2006. The nursery employs eight members of staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, and three at level 4. The nursery operates from Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. They also run a breakfast club, after-school club and a holiday club. 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 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 The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 carried out a joint observation of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of the views of parents from written testimonials. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

9 November 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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