Beacon Lane Day Nursery

Inspection of Beacon Lane Day Nursery 22 Beacon Lane, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 9DF

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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 show they feel safe and secure. They confidently separate from their parents and carers when they arrive at nursery. Babies go to staff for cuddles and reassurance when they are unsure of visitors. Children show a love of books. Babies sit on the knees of staff and turn pages of a book while feeling the different textures. Toddlers take a book to staff and listen to a story. Pre-school children become completely immersed in a story when staff read it in an engaging and animated way.

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The provision is good

Children have access to a wide range of interesting resources and activities that staff plan based on children's individual needs and interests. They show high levels of curiosity and spend a long time at the activities they choose to engage in. Babies demonstrate a strong exploratory impulse as they engage in sensory play. For instance, they investigate water and watch in awe as they create bubbles by splashing the water with their hands. Toddlers and pre-school children share and explore tools, such as pipettes, to develop their fine motor skills. They experiment with coloured liquids and shaving foam. Children have opportunities to talk about the colours they see. Staff extend their learning further by encouraging them to have a go at mixing colours.

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need to do better?

n The manager and her staff team have a commitment to helping all children achieve the most that they are capable of. There is a clear focus on ensuring that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who are at risk of falling behind their peers receive prompt support. Staff work well in partnership with parents to put targeted plans in place while awaiting professional support from other agencies. This helps children move on to the next stage in their learning. n Overall, interactions between staff and children are good. For example, babies explore running cars down guttering. Staff gently support them to use their problem-solving skills to decide which way works best. However, occasionally, staff's interactions with toddlers could be improved. For example, some staff remain at activities that they are leading, and newer, less-experienced staff are not fully confident to support other toddlers who are not accessing adult-led

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need to do better?

activities. This results in some children wandering and not having the highest quality learning experiences. n Staff understand the well-sequenced curriculum. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have noticed that children's physical skills have not been as developed as in previous years. As a result, there is a clear focus on encouraging children to practise using their upper-body core strength. This is particularly evident when children access the superb natural garden space, where risk-taking, swinging

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need to do better?

6 December 2022 and climbing are given high priority. Children use brushes to paint on the trees. Staff add to the experience as they encourage the children to flick the paint as high as they can up the tree trunk. n Children develop important independence skills from a young age. For example, pre-school children serve their own food at lunchtime and pour their own drinks. Young children are starting to manage their own self-care needs independently. Staff encourage babies to take their tissue to the bin after wiping their nose. n Children have good opportunities to learn about nature and living things through first-hand experiences. They help to feed and clean out the nursery chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. n Staff provide clear expectations for behaviour. Children learn why some behaviours are not acceptable through the patient, calm and kind guidance of staff. Children behave well and form good friendships with each other. They

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need to do better?

seek each other out to play and share their experiences. n Parents speak positively about the nursery. They feel that their children are happy and well cared for and that they make good progress in their learning. Many of the children have followed their older siblings into the nursery. Staff share what children have learned and what they need to learn next. This contributes to the continuity of learning at home and at nursery. n Staff comment that they feel well supported by the manager. They complete training, such as accessing higher qualifications.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding and how to protect children. They recognise the signs of abuse and neglect and know about wider safeguarding issues, such as the 'Prevent' duty. Staff know who the designated safeguarding lead is and to report any concerns without delay. The manager follows safer recruitment procedures to make sure that staff are suitable to work with children. Children are supervised well at all times. Staff complete daily checks of the nursery to ensure children's safety. Staff support children to learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, they encourage children to hold onto the banister as they walk up the stairs.

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should:

n support newer and less-experienced staff to develop their interactions, to help all children have quality adult interactions consistently.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY481978 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 10236494 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 77 Number of children on roll 71 Name of registered person First Explorers Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01476 577337 Date of previous inspection 10 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Beacon Lane Day Nursery registered in 2014. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including the manager with qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, 8am until 6pm, all year round, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

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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 and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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 manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to several parents and took account of their feedback.

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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

6 December 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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