Media City Nature Kindergarten

Inspection of Media City Nature Kindergarten Thrive Childcare & Education, Unit 3 Central Park, 3 Ohio Avenue, SALFORD M50 2GT

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 blossom in this caring and nurturing nursery where their needs always come first. Children arrive happy to start the day as they are greeted by the warm- hearted staff team. All children are well supported to develop their independence. Toddlers serve their own breakfast and babies confidently feed themselves. Pre- school children are skilled at putting on their shoes and coats before they play outside. All children show great confidence as they explore the sizeable inner city oasis of the nursery's outdoor space. Babies become accustomed to the feel of grass and soil. Toddlers dig for insects, carefully capture them in containers and observe them before letting them go. Pre-school children clamber onto tree trunks, demonstrating their balance as they walk end to end before leaping to the ground. Children create their own obstacle courses which challenge their coordination. They keep trying even if they find it difficult. All of this helps to ensure that children's

p.2

The provision is good

Children receive lots of support in regulating their own emotions. They learn different strategies to help them recognise how they are feeling, such as finding materials which soothe them. They make use of areas of the nursery to become calm, with older children being able to then talk to staff about how they feel. Children enjoy being creative. They use their imagination when playing with dough to create meals, saying 'I've made a strawberry pancake'.

p.2

need to do better?

n The nursery has been through a period of significant change and improvement in the time since the previous inspection. The manager has led this change from the front to ensure the nursery has returned to providing a high quality of care for children. At the core of this change has been the development of a precisely targeted curriculum that best meets the needs of all children. The manager has successfully embedded the nursery's culture of placing the needs of children at the centre of everything the staff team do. n Staff understand precisely how to progressively develop children's independence and the seed of this starts with the very youngest. Children are highly independent which contributes to smooth transitions between rooms as children progress through the nursery. This focus ultimately supports children to be well prepared for their eventual move to school. n Children are considerate and conscientious individuals. They mirror the kind

p.2

need to do better?

behaviours of the staff team. Children take turns and share well. They play with their friends, creating their own imaginative activities. Children concentrate well on the activities provided by staff and are challenged in their learning. For example, children experiment mixing colours, recalling what the outcome will be. n Staff across the nursery support children's language development well. They

p.2

need to do better?

13 February 2023 regularly read to children and enthusiastically sing familiar songs with them. This ensures that children are exposed to an ever-expanding vocabulary. There are though some instances where staff do not always model their own speech well. This means that children do not always hear words pronounced correctly. n Staff receive extensive training, coaching, mentoring and feedback to strengthen their practice. Staff working as apprentices are highly valued and receive the support they need in order to balance their studies with their employment. Staff talk about the strong team ethos in the nursery and how supportive the leadership team are. n Parents, particularly those of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are united in their praise for the nursery and say their children, 'cheer when we arrive at nursery'. They talk passionately about the progress children make, the caring staff team and the 'family feel'. They explain

p.2

need to do better?

how staff see the unique needs of their children and provide them with all the support they need. n The manager and staff highly value and celebrate the diversity of their team and that of the children and their families at the nursery. Staff help children feel welcome by communicating with them in their home language. Staff ensure that they gain valuable information about children's unique cultural heritage, which they include in the curriculum taught to children. This helps children develop a true sense of their own identity.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Leaders ensure that safeguarding is a priority at the nursery. They are highly trained and knowledgeable, with a keen understanding of the prevalent risk factors in the local community. Leaders work closely with other agencies to ensure that any concerns for children are immediately shared. This helps to keep children safe. The staff team are equally knowledgeable and receive regular training to keep their safeguarding knowledge up-to-date. Staff understand and are alert to a wide range of possible risk factors and potential indicators of abuse. They know the procedures to follow in order to report any concerns. Should they have concerns about the conduct of a colleague they are equally clear about how to report this. Importantly, staff are unwavering in their stance to escalate their concerns should they feel leaders have failed to take action.

p.3

should:

n develop staff practice so that correct speech is consistently modelled to children.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY436473 Local authority Salford Inspection number 10275938 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 134 Number of children on roll 118 Name of registered person Thrive Childcare And Education Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01618720663 Date of previous inspection 24 July 2017

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Media City Nature Kindergarten registered in 2011. The nursery is located in the Media City area of Salford. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 5, six at level 3, 3 at level 2. Six members of staff are unqualified. The setting opens all year round, from Monday to Friday, with the exception of Christmas and New Year bank holidays. Sessions are from 7:30am until 6:30pm. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports a number of children with SEND.

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 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 The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. 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 manager. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability

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

13 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.

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