Poulton St Chads Nursery

Inspection of Poulton St Chads Nursery Poulton C of E School, Hardhorn Road, POULTON-LE-FYLDE, Lancashire FY6 7SR

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 build close and nurturing bonds with their key person from the outset. They arrive full of smiles, and gleefully greet their friends and staff. Children quickly settle in and are ready to learn. Children learn well across all areas of learning. They are confident communicators, have good social skills, and are becoming increasingly confident in mathematics.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff work hard to ensure that what they plan for children enables them to meet the next steps in their learning. As a result, all children, including those who are funded and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), all make good progress from their unique starting points.

p.2

The provision is good

The manager, who is also the provider, is committed to providing good-quality childcare and education for all children. The staff team are aware that some children have had limited experiences due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the needs of children and their families are at the heart of all that this setting strives to achieve. Parents are highly complimentary of the provider, staff and the service they receive. Parents of children with SEND praise the constant, high-level support that they receive, and describe the staff as 'wonderful'.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff model language well. As a result, children are confident communicators. Staff repeat familiar words and phrases to children and encourage them to engage in meaningful discussions. For example, younger children predict what might happen next as staff read to them. Staff ask older children questions to test their understanding and widen their vocabulary. For instance, when children make 'muddy hot chocolate', staff talk to them about the ingredients, portion size, and quantities. n Children are supported by staff to gain an understanding of their emotions and be considerate of the feelings of their friends. Older children explain to younger children that they must wait for a vacant chair at the table before they sit down to join in. Children say 'please' and 'thank you' without having to be prompted by the staff. Children relish their reward stickers for their good behaviour, which they proudly show off to their friends.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children display positive attitudes to learning and are eager to have a go and try new things. However, at times, some staff are too quick to step in. Also, the way in which some routine times of the day are organised do not give all children sufficient time to refine their independence skills. As a result, some children become easily frustrated. n Children develop well in mathematics. This is because staff skilfully weave

p.2

need to do better?

16 January 2023 mathematical concepts through children's play and at routine times of the day. Younger children are tasked to count how many times they can pat their hands in paint. Older children predict how many cups of water it will take to fill a container with water. Older children understand more-complex mathematical concepts, such as 'more', 'less', 'full' and 'half full'. n Children have many opportunities to practise and refine their physical development skills. Babies explore a tray of paint with their hands and fingers and make marks. Toddlers copy staff and learn how to jump using two feet as they jump in muddy puddles. Older children confidently hold pens and pencils, and make snips in paper using scissors. n Staff have attended some relevant training and have, in the past, received robust individual support from the manager. However, this is not as effective at the moment, due to the continued impact on staffing following the COVID-19

p.2

need to do better?

pandemic. As a result, staff do not consistently receive the individualised support they need to raise the quality of their educational practice to the highest levels. That said, teaching is good overall. The provider makes time to ensure that staff well-being is supported and that they have a good work/life balance. n Partnerships with parents and other agencies are strong. Parents are particularly fond of the communication application. This supports children's learning at home and involves parents in the life of the setting. For example, the cook recently shared some menus with parents to support children's eating habits at home.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The provider and her staff team have attended appropriate child protection and safeguarding training. As a result, they have a robust understanding of their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. This includes making timely child protection referrals and allegations management. The setting is safe and secure. There are good systems in place to ensure that children's health and safety are given due consideration. For example, children take part in regular fire evacuation drills. This helps children to be able to act accordingly in the event of an emergency. Most staff hold a valid paediatric first-aid qualification.

p.3

should:

n strengthen current arrangements for staff supervision and coaching to better support staff to develop their quality of education delivery to consistently high levels n review how routines of the day are organised and carried out to better support children's independence and self-help skills.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY452962 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10269463 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 26 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person Poulton St Chads Nursery Ltd

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01253892647 Date of previous inspection 18 February 2020

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Poulton St Chads Nursery registered in 2012. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, eight staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2 to 5. One member of staff is unqualified. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. 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 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 provider, who is also the manager, completed a learning walk with the inspector. The manager talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n Children communicated to the inspector throughout 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 inspector spoke with the provider about the leadership and management of the setting. n The manager and the inspector completed a joint observation together. n The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views.

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

16 January 2023 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