The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre

Inspection of The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre Kingsway, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, NOTTINGHAM NG17 7FH

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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 arrive at the nursery and are greeted by the friendly and welcoming staff. They independently hang their coats on their assigned pegs before exploring the activities that staff have planned. Children build strong and warm relationships with staff. They go to them for cuddles and reassurance. This helps them to feel safe and secure in their care. Staff use books creatively to help children develop their language. For example, children use props to re-enact parts of the book 'The Gruffalo'. They competently turn the pages and use expression as they repeat the rhyming parts, which they remember well.

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The provision is good

Staff support children to learn to do things for themselves. For example, children pour their own drinks and serve themselves at mealtimes. Babies learn to feed themselves. Children wash their hands regularly, and staff take time to teach children the benefits of regular handwashing.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy the time they spend outside. They show good hand-to-eye coordination as they dig and make sandcastles in the sand tray. Children develop their coordination skills further as they manoeuvre ride-on cars and bicycles. Children build an obstacle course using the large construction outside. They check that it is safe before confidently balancing across. The curriculum covers all areas of learning well. Children gain useful skills in preparation for school.

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need to do better?

n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) thrive in this setting. The deputy manager coordinates the provision for children with SEND, liaising closely with families and other professionals. Staff are proactive in accessing early help and swiftly address any gaps in children's learning to help them make the best possible progress. n The manager has recognised that, following the COVID-19 pandemic, specialist services are extremely busy. This means that referrals made for these services are taking longer than expected. Staff in the setting have attended additional training so that they can implement strategies to support the development of children's speech and language. There is a designated language lead in the nursery, who is deployed effectively to work with children who need extra support. This has had a positive impact on the children's communication and language. It has also helped to improve staff knowledge and skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff give children timely reminders about the expectations of the nursery, such as 'kind hands' and 'walking feet'. However, when staff give positive praise to the children, they often comment 'good boy' or 'well done'. This means that children do not know what they have been praised for so that they can continue to show this desired behaviour.

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need to do better?

24 February 2023 n Staff promote a love of reading. There are comfortable chairs for the children to get cosy in and relax. Families are encouraged to borrow books from the nursery library to share at home. This supports children's early literacy skills. n There are effective arrangements in place for supervisions, which includes opportunities to identify training needs. Staff well-being is also a priority. Staff express how they feel supported and valued. n Staff know the children well, and they plan activities based on the children's interests. Staff understand the importance of building on what children already know and can do. During activities, staff engage in conversation with the children and ask some challenging questions. However, occasionally, staff do not adapt their teaching practice to model and demonstrate. This means that, sometimes, when children are presented with new activities, they are unsure of

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need to do better?

what they should do, and they lose interest. n Staff maintain good levels of hygiene and safety in the nursery. Potties and nappy changing mats are cleaned after each use. Milk and food preparation takes place in a hygienic kitchen that has suitable equipment and storage areas. All gates and doors are secure. n The baby room is a strength of this nursery. Staff in this room have enhanced their practice with specific training for bottle feeding and sleeping. Relevant information is shared about children's care and development when they first start. This ensures that attachments are formed and babies' unique needs are consistently met.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a secure understanding of the signs and symptoms of possible abuse and what to do should they have concerns regarding a child's welfare. They understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. The manager ensures that staff receive regular training to keep their knowledge up to date. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that adults working with children are suitable. Risk assessments for the premises are in place. Staff deploy themselves well to supervise the children, and many hold first-aid qualifications to deal with medical emergencies. This ensures that children are cared for in a safe and secure environment.

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should:

n help children to understand why they are being praised for positive behaviour so they develop an awareness of behavioural expectations n provide highly effective teaching that helps children to achieve the best possible outcomes.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY283280 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10263754 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 74 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person The Rocking Horse Child Care Centres Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01623 408330 Date of previous inspection 11 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre registered in 2004 and is located on the site of Kingsway Primary School, Kirkby-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 5 and five hold qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am 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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provision. n The manager, deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. 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 observed the interactions between staff and children. She talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector spoke to some parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

24 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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