Appletrees Day Nursery

Inspection of Appletrees Day Nursery Woodlands, Green Lane, Littlethorpe, RIPON, North Yorkshire HG4 3LR

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

Staff provide children with a homely setting in a rural location. They have made wonderful links to the outdoors through well-resourced and exciting outdoor play spaces. Children enjoy playing in a mud kitchen, wet-play area and sandpit, which help them to observe and interact with the natural world around them. Indoors, staff offer children age-appropriate activities and routines when they are encouraged to make choices in their learning. Staff help children to build their confidence and resilience through praise, respectful conversations and nurturing support. Children enter the nursery happily and have good bonds with staff and other children.

p.2

The provision is good

All children are encouraged to take ownership of their play. Staff use children's interests to extend their knowledge and skills. For example, they extend a topic with a trip on the bus into town to the post office and arrange for a fire engine to visit the nursery. This helps children to learn about people who help them in the community. Children have the choice to play inside, outside and in the 'garden room', which is at the heart of the nursery. This allows free-flow access for children to make the most of the opportunities on offer each day.

p.2

The provision is good

The curriculum helps to prepare children for their transition on to school. A dedicated transition manager ensures that children are ready for this next chapter, and staff have made good links with local schools. Staff have high expectations for all children, including those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. All children make good progress.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children have freedom to choose their own interests from the array of resources available. For example, children play with pretend insects and play dough. They make their own bugs out of the dough and compare them to the ones in their books. Children talk about a 'snail', relating this to the book 'The Snail and the Whale', which they have read in nursery. Staff skilfully point out rhyming words. This helps children to make connections and develop their literacy skills. n Staff introduce some new vocabulary and engage in meaningful play with children on their level. This helps children to develop their ability to speak confidently and be curious about the world around them. They are confident to talk to staff who develop children's skills through careful questioning. However, staff do not consistently help children to interact more with each other. n Mealtimes offer children a good opportunity to connect with their key worker

p.2

need to do better?

and strengthen relationships across the setting. Children of different ages sit together and are encouraged to serve themselves. They are helped to spoon their pasta and sauce into their bowls. Children pour their own drinks from a jug,

p.2

need to do better?

7 March 2023 which helps to give them a sense of responsibility. However, staff do not consistently support the older and most-capable children to be completely independent at mealtimes. n The experienced manager has a clear vision for the nursery and values an approach that places kindness and respect at the centre of nursery's ethos. The well-established and supportive staff are keen to create a happy, inviting and nurturing environment where children can thrive. Consequently, children make good progress across the curriculum. n Parents feel that communication is excellent. They praise the kind and caring staff and feel that their children develop well. They say that staff are very accommodating and caring, which helps even the most anxious of children settle in quickly. n Children learn about different festivals, such as Chinese New Year and Diwali. This helps children to widen their understanding of the world and different

p.2

need to do better?

countries. Children and parents also look forward to an annual summer party, when families can come together to play and celebrate the year and their child's achievements. Staff also share their own training sessions with parents. This helps parents to learn more about how to educate and care for their children at home. n Children's well-being is high. They are keen and motivated to learn through play. Children demonstrate high levels of engagement. For example, they wash the toy farm animals after using them to make marks with paint. They carefully dry them afterwards and work together to clean up after their painting activity. This helps children to develop teamwork and cooperation. n Children use the outdoor water-play area to tip, pour and fill the various containers available. Children declare that they are making 'tea pie', and staff encourage this creativity. Children use mathematical language in their play,

p.3

need to do better?

showing their understanding of shape, space and measure. n Children are at the heart of this welcoming nursery. They show very good attitudes to their own learning and have good self-regulation skills. Behaviour is also very good across the age groups of children. Staff encourage children to share, take turns and learn how to focus through some group teaching times. However, staff do not consistently plan precisely for what children need to learn next during some adult-led activities, such as group times before lunch.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff ensure that children are kept safe by keeping their knowledge up to date through regular training in safeguarding. They are confident to identify and recognise risks and the signs of abuse. Staff know who to go to if they need advice or guidance in their role. They are knowledgeable about the policies and procedures in place to keep children safe. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure the suitability of staff. All staff are paediatric first-aid trained.

p.3

should:

n create further opportunities for children to talk with each other as well as with adults n plan adult-led activities more precisely, in order to maximise the impact on all children's development n extend opportunities for older children to develop their independence, such as at mealtimes.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY382392 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 10262962 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person Appletrees Day Nursery Ltd

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01765603644 Date of previous inspection 12 April 2017

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Appletrees Day Nursery registered in 2009 and is located in Ripon, North Yorkshire. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens all year round, from 7.45am until 6pm, Monday to Friday. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with staff and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The inspector undertook a tour and learning walk with the manager, who discussed the curriculum and what staff want children to learn. n The inspector conducted a joint observation of practice with the manager. n The inspector had discussions with staff and the manager. n The inspector tracked the experiences of children in the setting. n The inspector spent time in all areas observing practice. n Relevant documentation was checked and verified. n The inspector sought the views of parents, carers and children at the setting.

p.6

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.6

Inspection activities

7 March 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.6

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.7

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.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7