Abc at Atherton's Children Centre

Inspection of Abc at Atherton's Children Centre Meadowbank Primary School & Nursery Education Centre, Formby Avenue, Atherton, MANCHESTER M46 0HX

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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 are safe and happy at this lovely nursery. They form very strong bonds with the staff and each other. Children behave well. They understand the importance of sharing, turn-taking and friendly behaviour. Children remind their friends of the golden rules, such as 'kind hands' when they are a little boisterous. Staff model lovely manners and respectful behaviour, which children instinctively copy. Children are learning about what is expected of them and how to conduct themselves appropriately. These are important qualities needed for their later life.

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The provision is good

There is a strong focus on communication and language development at the nursery. Staff have high expectations of what children can achieve. For instance, young children hear new words, such as 'gigantic' and 'squash', and include these in their independent play with support from staff. Staff extend children's sentences by adding descriptive words to broaden their vocabulary. Children are very confident communicators, particularly pre-school children. They hold lengthy back- and-forth conversations about their home lives, family members and things they enjoy doing at nursery. Children gain a lot of skills and knowledge needed for the next stage in their development.

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need to do better?

n The provider has fulfilled their legal obligation to notify Ofsted of a significant incident relating to safeguarding practice at the nursery. Leaders and staff have taken prompt and robust action to ensure that children are not at risk of a repeat incident. Staff have received a wealth of further training and support to embed their understanding of the nursery policy and procedures. n The manager has a clear understanding of what she wants children to learn. She plans a curriculum that is based on children's interests and adapted to meet their unique needs. Robust procedures for monitoring children's development help staff to swiftly identify and address any gaps in learning. All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make good progress from their individual starting points. n Support for children with SEND and those in receipt of additional funding, such

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need to do better?

as early years pupil premium, is very good. The special educational needs and disability coordinator is knowledgeable and proactive. She implements strategies to support children with SEND while they await referrals to outside professionals. Additional funding is used wisely to benefit the child it is allocated to. This stops children from falling further behind and helps to narrow the gap between them and their peers. n Overall, children show good engagement levels and are motivated to learn, particularly in activities of their own choosing. For instance, younger children concentrate intently for long periods when practising filling, emptying and

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need to do better?

9 February 2023 pouring in the water play. However, there are some occasions when quieter, less-confident children are overlooked by staff. This means they are not consistently supported to engage in play and learning. n Children have a good understanding of the daily routine. They listen carefully for the bell after outdoor play and know they need to wash their hands and sit down for lunch. Children take it in turns to complete tasks, such as helping to set the table. This familiarity and consistency helps children to feel secure and promotes their emotional well-being. n Overall, children are beginning to learn about what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. Staff provide healthy meals and snacks and plenty of drinking water. Children access the outdoor area to get fresh air and exercise their large muscles on the bicycles and scooters. Staff support children to wash their hands at appropriate times throughout the day and discuss the need to remove germs.

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need to do better?

However, not all staff consistently wash their own hands after wiping children's noses. This does not help to reduce the spread of infection and hinders children's good health. n The manager has recently implemented more stringent procedures for supervising and monitoring staff performance. She spends time in the playrooms supporting and observing staff to help extend their skills and knowledge further. However, the feedback she gives to staff is not consistently focused on improving their individual teaching skills. For instance, on some occasions, staff are not fully sure of what children already know during activities and therefore pitch them incorrectly. Consequently, there are some minor weaknesses in the quality of education.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a clear understanding of their role and responsibility to protect children from harm. They are alert to safeguarding issues that are prevalent in the local area, such as neglect and drug and alcohol abuse. Leaders complete additional training which allows them to support families holistically with safeguarding issues, such as grooming and child criminal exploitation. They are alert to different symbols and tattoos that may indicate a family are being drawn into extreme behaviours. Staff understand the procedures for referring their concerns to the relevant professionals. Leaders have robust procedures in place for the safe recruitment of staff.

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should:

n support staff to engage quieter children in play and learning more consistently n strengthen the procedures for hygiene practices, such as handwashing after

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should:

9 February 2023 wiping children's noses n focus the feedback staff receive more sharply on their individual practice to raise the quality of education to a higher level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY367012 Local authority Wigan Inspection number 10277621 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 40 Number of children on roll 57 Name of registered person ABC Pre-School Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01942886111/07495 334584 Date of previous inspection 3 October 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Abc at Atherton's Children Centre registered in 2008. It is situated within Meadowbank Primary School & Nursery Education Centre in the Atherton area of Greater Manchester. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff, who all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, for 38 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8am until 4pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two- and three-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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager gave the inspector a tour of the setting and discussed how the curriculum is planned and implemented. n The inspector observed the quality of education, indoors and outdoors, and evaluated the impact on children's learning. n Discussions were held with the staff, children and parents at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n A leadership and management discussion was held with the providers and manager. Documentation relating to the suitability of people working on the premises was checked. The inspector looked at qualification certificates, paediatric first-aid certificates, polices and procedures.

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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 February 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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