Ash Park Childcare

Inspection of Ash Park Childcare The Stables, Marage Road, Thirsk YO7 1UN

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children are happy and settled in the nursery. Interactions between children and staff are positive and support the development of strong bonds. Children also develop friendships with their peers. The key-person system is generally effective, but sometimes changes unnecessarily. Despite this, all staff across the nursery know all of the children well. This helps children when they move into another room.

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The provision is good

An appropriate educational programme has been developed and is in place across the nursery; it is understood by all staff. However, there are not yet clear procedures in place to evaluate the ongoing effectiveness of the programme on individual children's outcomes for learning and development.

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The provision is good

Children are well behaved and have a positive attitude towards learning. They are engaged, busy and meaningfully occupied throughout the day. Children receive calm and sensitive reminders from staff about expected behaviours, such as sharing and taking turns. This helps to promote children's personal, social and emotional development.

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The provision is good

Children talk about what they like to do at nursery, such as playing with their friends, playing outside and visiting a forest school. They also talk about what they like to do at forest school, including 'sliding down mud banks and swinging in the hammock'.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from a wide range of activities to promote all areas of learning. Teaching is effective. Staff are confident and state that they are well supported in their roles. n Staff are sensitive to babies' needs and quickly identify when they need a sleep. However, in the Daffodils room, staff do not always promptly recognise when a nappy needs changing. n Children are provided with a range of healthy and nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day. They also have opportunities to decide what they would like to eat. 'Choosy Tuesdays' allows the children to choose lunch once a week, via a voting system. This helps the older children to learn about fairness and equality. n Eating times are relaxed and sociable occasions with staff sitting with children and allowing them the time they need to finish their food. Language and communication skills are also promoted continuously throughout the daily

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need to do better?

routine and during regular singing and story time sessions. n Staff have high expectations for children's learning. They help older children to practise and further develop skills they already have. For example, older children

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need to do better?

28 November 2022 can already cut paper confidently. Here, staff introduce different items that need more pressure, such as felt and other materials. n Children's physical development is well promoted. They participate in exercise, indoors and outdoors, and have access to a new, enclosed, outdoor play area. Good use is made of the outdoor space, with a varied range of resources available to promote all areas of learning. n All children enjoy a weekly dance session with a dance teacher, who visits the nursery. Sessions help to promote children's listening skills and their ability to follow instructions, as well as their language skills and physical development. This includes their coordination and balance. Children also learn about their local community, and visit the library and church. n Staff work well with parents and other professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Parents are invited into the setting,

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need to do better?

where detailed handover information is provided to each parent from their child's key person. Parents comment that they are happy with the care and learning their children receive and feel their children have made good progress. n There is strong leadership in the setting. The manager has ensured that excellent progress and improvements have been made since the last inspection. For example, room partitions have been removed and children have access to a second room, to ensure they have sufficient free-play space available at all times. Staff have access to ongoing online training courses and have recently benefited from face-to-face behaviour management training. There is also an effective staff supervision system in place which identifies staff training and welfare needs.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Clear staff recruitment and induction procedures are in place and include safeguarding training. Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of how to safeguard children and of the procedures to follow, should they have any concerns. Staff complete appropriate risk assessments on a daily basis, to maintain a safe indoor and outdoor environment. Children are also helped to learn about personal safety and talk about needing a seat belt when in cars and tractors. When the fire alarm is activated, staff show that they are able to follow the evacuation procedure effectively and quickly ensure children's safety.

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should:

n enhance the key-person system to promote consistency and reduce unnecessary changes to staff liaising with parents n develop clear procedures to continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the

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should:

28 November 2022 educational programme for individual children's learning and development n support staff to identify when children's nappies may need changing, sooner than at routine times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2627732 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 10250540 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 33 Number of children on roll 49 Name of registered person Parkinson, Stephanie

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reference number

Telephone number 07720548215 Date of previous inspection 20 July 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Ash Park Childcare registered in 2021 and is situated in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. It operates from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Funded early years education is provided for two-, three- and four-year-old children. There are 14 members of childcare staff employed. Of these, three hold a qualification at level 6, one has a level 5, two have level 3 and two have level 2.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued 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 and also when on outings from nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the manager and the registered individual about the leadership and management of the setting. 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 joint observations of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of

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Inspection activities

their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the 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

28 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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Inspection activities

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