Heather's Day Nursery

Inspection of Heather's Day Nursery James Backhouse Place, Holgate, York, North Yorkshire YO24 4NS

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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

Good settling-in procedures mean that staff get to know the children well and children enjoy spending time at this welcoming nursery. Staff greet them with warm smiles and reassurance as they arrive, and children quickly settle into the daily routine. There is a lovely atmosphere. Staff are very patient with children. They talk to them about any unwanted behaviour. They ask children why they should not do something, and this helps children to reason why. Children respond well to this guidance.

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The provision is good

Children confidently make choices from the exciting toys and activities on offer. Babies explore their environment. They enjoy making marks on paper with paint. Older children enjoy engaging in opportunities for speaking and listening and eagerly gather for a group time. They take turns to describe a toy animal that they pick from a bag. They enjoy giving their opinions on the sounds the toy animal makes, what it eats and where it might live. Children wait patiently for their turn and develop confidence to speak in the group. They receive reassurance from staff, which helps them to feel proud of their achievements.

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need to do better?

n Staff understand how to teach children and know what they want them to learn next. They provide a good balance of free-play activities and adult-guided experiences. Staff are keen to try new ways of working. For example, they have successfully taken on board the new planning for the curriculum that the new manager has introduced. n Management carries out observations of staff to assess their practice. This helps them to identify any weaknesses, that they can address quickly. Staff have opportunities for training to improve their knowledge. Supervision sessions are held regularly to help monitor practice. n Support for children's communication and language is good. Staff narrate what they do and repeat key words for babies. Songs and stories help to develop children's vocabulary, and the children become confident communicators. n Staff skilfully weave mathematical language into all areas of play and learning.

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need to do better?

Children count with confidence and staff introduce positional language. For example, children are asked what a booster seat does for them in the car. Children say it makes them higher. During chase games in the garden staff use language such as, in front and behind. Children begin to confidently use these words in their play. n Children have access to good nutrition while at the nursery. Their dietary and allergy needs are met effectively. For example, senior staff check at the start of the day which children have specific dietary needs. They then check that the planned meals for the day will meet the individual children's needs. This

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need to do better?

26 January 2023 minimises the possibility of children being served the wrong foods. n Children develop confidence and become self-sufficient in caring for themselves. In preparation for school, they learn to take off their own shoes when they come in from outside. They wipe their own noses when needed. At snack and lunch times, they make their own choices as they choose what they want to eat, and they serve their own food. n Staff have a strong partnership with parents. Parents say that they value the sharing of information about their children's learning and that they can feed back what their children do at home. They are happy with the progress that their children make. n Staff provide children aged over two years with a good range of opportunities to explore the outdoor area. Children use their imaginations to build a den and enjoy sitting underneath while they sing familiar rhymes with staff. However, the

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need to do better?

garden area for children aged under two years is not used as effectively to stimulate children's play and learning. n Children learn about oral health. They take part in activities that teach them how to clean their teeth. However, staff have not extended this to involve parents, so that they can signpost them to a dentist if they do not already have one.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of the possible risks to children. They know what to do if they have a concern about a child or a member of staff and the procedures to follow. Their knowledge and understanding is tested frequently. For example, they do quizzes at staff meetings. This helps management to identify if any staff need extra training. Daily risk assessments help to make sure that children are safe in the nursery. Staff and parents follow clear routines for ensuring that children do not enter or leave the building without an adult.

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should:

n extend what is available in the outdoor area for children under the age of two years to make it a stimulating environment for them to play and learn in n consider how to involve parents in children's oral health and help to signpost them to local dentists.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 321475 Local authority York Inspection number 10275679 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 36 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person York Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01904 780277 Date of previous inspection 30 August 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Heather's Day Nursery registered in 1995. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including two members of staff with qualified teacher status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm all year round, except for one week at Christmas and for bank holidays. 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 setting 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 deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with one of the registered individuals about the leadership and management of the nursery. 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 a group activity with the over- two room's senior member of staff. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector.

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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

26 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.

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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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