Alphabets Private Day Nursery

Inspection of Alphabets Private Day Nursery 37 Poplar Grove, Sale, Cheshire M33 3AX

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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 happily separate from their parents at the door and enter the friendly and welcoming nursery. They are eagerly invited with smiles and hugs from their key person or familiar staff. This helps support children's emotional needs and they demonstrate that they feel safe and secure.

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The provision is good

Children are very familiar with the routines and respond well to instructions and guidance given to them. This is because staff are consistent in providing children with clear instructions and boundaries throughout the day. For example, younger children are reminded not to throw sand. Older children listen to stories that highlight the importance of sharing and taking turns. Staff are good role models and have a calming and respectful attitude towards children. In turn, children's behaviour is good.

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The provision is good

A wide range of exciting and stimulating activities that cover all the areas of learning are available to children. Babies explore with multiple sensory activities. They watch intensely as sand trickles off their hands and use their fingers to make marks in foam, paint and talcum power. Toddlers and older children manipulate dough as they stretch, knead and pull it into the desired shape. This extends children's concentration and strengthens their hand and finger muscles in support for their early writing skills.

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need to do better?

n The well-structured and dedicated management team are very clear in their roles and responsibilities. Managers work together and have an accurate account of what they are doing well and areas for future improvements. This great teamwork helps to ensure that they are providing high-quality care and learning opportunities to children. n Staff say that they feel supported by the managers and describe their team as 'one big family'. Their emotional well-being is closely monitored. Regular supervision meetings and observations of staff practice are carried out and any training needs are identified. As a result, staff turnover at the nursery is very low. Staff display a dedicated and positive attitude towards supporting children in achieving the best outcomes. n The curriculum is well sequenced and ambitious. Staff get to know the children well and plan a range of exciting activities that supports their next steps in

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need to do better?

learning and current interests. As a result, children show a great desire to learn more and are making good progress. n Overall, children's communication and language are well supported. For instance, they sing songs and rhymes and access a wide variety of books. Staff provide younger children with a narration of what they are doing and introduce

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need to do better?

22 February 2023 new words, such as 'swish and snip'. This supports children's growing vocabulary and their understanding of words and sounds. Yet, occasionally, some staff do not give children the time to think through questions that are asked and are too quick to solve problems for them when they occur. This prevents children from building on their critical thinking skills. n Good hygiene procedures are in place. For example, staff wipe children's noses and remind them to wash their hands. Furthermore, children are offered a well- balanced menu with nutritious meals and snacks. However, staff do not promote children's understanding of why good hygiene, regular drinking and healthy eating are important for their bodies. This prevents children from having a greater awareness of the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle. n Communication with parents is good. Staff provide daily information of how their

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need to do better?

child's day has been. Parents are well informed about their children's development and ideas are given of how they can further support this at home. They speak highly of the staff and thank them for helping their children 'blossom' and providing them with the best educational start to life. n Staff promote children's independence well. For example, children choose what they want to play with, serve themselves food and learn to use tricky utensils, such as tongs to pick up spaghetti. These skills help support them in readiness for school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff ensure that the premises are safe and secure. They carry out ongoing checks of the environment throughout the day. This is to ensure that there are no potential hazards or risks to children. Staff have a good understanding of their role and responsibilities in safeguarding children. They explain the signs and symptoms of abuse that they would look out for. Staff discuss the policies and procedures to follow if they had any concerns about children's welfare. They attend safeguarding training and refresh their knowledge regularly. This helps them to keep up to date with any current safeguarding updates.

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should:

n consistently develop children's critical thinking skills by allowing them the time to answer questions that are asked and think through problems for themselves n strengthen children's understanding of why good hygiene practices are used and the effects that healthy foods and drink has on their bodies, in order to teach children the importance of leading healthy lifestyles.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 310364 Local authority Trafford Inspection number 10276702 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 47 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person Brookes, Valerie Ann

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reference number

Telephone number 0161 973 5231 Date of previous inspection 28 July 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Alphabets Private Day Nursery registered in 1994 and is located in Sale, Cheshire. The nursery employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, 14 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7am until 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for 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 managers and has taken that into account in their evaluation. n The deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Staff spoke to the inspector during 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 carried out joint observations of a group activity with the quality lead manager. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery and other key documents on request.

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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

22 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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