Willow Park Day Nursery

Inspection of Willow Park Day Nursery 264 Liverpool Road, St. Helens WA11 9RZ

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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

Babies and toddlers have frequent interactions with older children and staff at this small nursery. This supports their eventual transition into the next room. Children who have just moved into the larger playroom listen intently as their older peers sing songs at circle time. They smile as they recognise some of the songs and watch the actions carefully. All children feel safe and secure at this happy nursery. Children have access to mark making throughout the environment. They purposefully explore play dough. This helps them to develop their smaller hand muscles ready for writing. Children busily write with purpose on notepads outside. They also enjoy frequent opportunities for stories. Staff are responsive to children's requests for books and are creating a love of reading. This supports children's early literacy skills in preparation for starting school.

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The provision is good

Children learn to share and take turns. They wait patiently for their name to be called to scrape their plates at lunchtime. Children understand the routine and what will happen next. Within their play, children carefully construct with bricks to build a line. They are accepting of other children walking along their construction. Staff have clear expectations for children's behaviour and regularly support children to remember the rules. As a result, children learn to be respectful of one another.

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need to do better?

n An area of strength for this nursery is the support they provide for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders and staff work closely with parents and professionals to support children. Staff are trained to meet a range of children's specific medical needs. Parents are grateful for this and express that they feel their children are safe here. Staff ensure barriers to learning are identified and responded to swiftly. Children with SEND achieve to their fullest potential. n Leaders have a clear vision for the nursery. They are developing the environment to create more opportunities for child-led play. For example, leaders have enhanced a home corner and role-play area to support children's interests. Leaders express that play is calmer and children are more engaged. However, when staff are following children's lead they do not always extend the learning that is taking place. For example, when a problem occurs within play,

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need to do better?

staff do not always encourage children to think critically and problem solve. n The curriculum is well planned. Leaders have considered what they intend for children to be achieving as they leave to start school. This then cascades down through each age group to ensure effective sequencing. Assessment is completed frequently to identify children's next steps in learning. Staff know their key children well. Any developmental concerns are quickly addressed to ensure that early intervention is put in place. However, not all parents are clear

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need to do better?

7 February 2023 about their children's developmental next steps to further support learning at home. This does not ensure the continuity of learning between the nursery and home. n Babies enjoy exploring their environment. They confidently cruise around furniture, developing their physical skills, and listen intently as they bang shakers on the floor. When babies express that they are tired they are quickly comforted by their key person. They happily settle for a sleep with their comforter as staff sit with them and gently pat their back. Babies have developed secure attachments with their key person, who knows them well. n Communication development is an important area of focus for the nursery. Children receive lots of interactions with staff, who introduce new language frequently. However, less experienced staff do not consistently allow children the time to respond or encourage children to think and make their own suggestions.

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need to do better?

n Children are happy and engaged in a wide range of experiences. They laugh in delight as they run around the garden pretending to be tigers. Children respond to adults as they are reminded to be careful of other children playing around them. Newer children are supported by adults as they develop their confidence to access the environment independently. Children are having fun and developing a positive attitude to learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff complete regular checks, including headcounts when coming in from outdoor play, to ensure that children are kept safe. Leaders and staff have extensive experience of working in partnership with families and multi-agencies to safeguard children. Staff access regular training to update their knowledge on how to keep children safe. They know about the signs and symptoms of abuse and the actions to take if they have a concern about a child who may be at risk of harm. Staff also understand the importance of whistle-blowing and the action to take if they have any concerns about the conduct of a colleague.

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should:

n support staff to further develop their teaching to help extend children's learning during their child-led play and encourage critical thinking and problem-solving n enhance partnerships with parents further by sharing children's progress and next steps to promote continuity of learning at home n promote further children's communication and language skills by allowing children time to respond to questions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY545243 Local authority St Helens Inspection number 10275329 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 29 Number of children on roll 39 Name of registered person Hyland Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07970271223 Date of previous inspection 9 October 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Willow Park Day Nursery registered in 2017 and is located in St Helens. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications, including five who hold qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. 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 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 nominated individual 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 talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The nominated individual and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

7 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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