Youngstars Nurseries (Leigh)

Inspection of Youngstars Nurseries (Leigh) The Small Village Hall, High Street, Leigh TN11 8RL

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children form strong bonds with the kind and nurturing staff. They confidently leave their parents and run into the pre-school, ready to start an exciting day. Staff greet children with smiles and hugs before they settle quickly at their favourite activities. Children meet their friends and, before long, they are happily playing together in the stimulating and safe environment.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations and ambitions for all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They realise that some children were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and did not gain the social and communication skills they might have. To help develop these skills, children enjoy high-level interactions with staff, who model empathy and understanding. They help children develop strategies to help them form strong and respectful friendships. Children learn to overcome difficulties and successfully manage their own behaviour.

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The provision is good

Children are highly motivated, engaged and focused when they play. They demonstrate perseverance and critical thinking skills when they build with the construction toys, stack bricks or make bird's nests in the play dough. They relax in the calm environment with staff who know them well. Children gain the skills they need to become successful learners, now and in the future.

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need to do better?

n The new leadership team work successfully together to create a caring and supportive pre-school. The manager is a reflective and enthusiastic professional who confidently leads a team of equally dedicated staff to make positive changes to the environment and teaching. Staff understand her vision for continuous improvement and are incorporating new ideas into their practice. However, some teaching strategies, such as those around developing children's independence skills, are still to become fully embedded into all staff practice. n All children, including children with SEND, benefit from a well-planned curriculum and make progress in their learning and development. Staff design stimulating activities and learning opportunities to support and extend children's interests and skills. They work well with parents and other settings that children attend to ensure continuity across children's care and development. Children are given

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need to do better?

time to practise and consolidate what they have learned. n Staff place a strong emphasis on building children's literacy skills. For example, books are placed where children play, such as alongside the train set, to stimulate their interest. Children happily sit with staff while they read stories together. Staff develop themes and ideas from favourite books to help children understand plot and character. Children use props from stories to develop their

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need to do better?

22 March 2023 own imaginative play. Children and parents love to borrow books from the pre- school's lending library to continue their learning at home. n Staff value children's emerging writing skills and expertly develop their confidence to become future writers. For example, even young children spontaneously use notebooks to 'write' down their own ideas while they play. Staff proudly display children's 'writing' across the pre-school to develop children's growing sense of identity and self-esteem. n Children enjoy exercise and physical activities, inside and outside, to develop their movement, balance and coordination. They enjoy dancing while they sing and following instructions to build pretend cars from large construction sets. Staff challenge children's abilities by providing paint and play dough to further extend their small physical skills. n Staff speak clearly and give children new words to express their feelings or to

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need to do better?

describe their world. For instance, children look at pictures and learn the names of insects, such as 'dragonfly' and 'stag beetle'. Staff quickly identify children who have potential gaps emerging in their language skills. They work with parents and other professionals to swiftly put in place interventions to provide children with the skills they need to become successful learners, including when they go to school. n Staff celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of the children. For example, children's families, homes and friends are reflected in photographs, books and toys. Children learn to care for and respect one another. For instance, they make sure everyone has a turn when they are cutting vegetables. They demonstrate patience and delight in each other's success at accomplishing the difficult task.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff have a good knowledge of their responsibility to safeguard and protect all children. They know the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. They know what to do should they have concerns about a child or if an allegation is made about anyone working with children. Leaders follow safer recruitment processes to ensure the suitability of all staff. All staff regularly update their knowledge to keep children safe. For example, they know how to respond if they suspect a child is being exposed to extreme views or radicalised behaviours. They take steps to ensure that all children play in a safe and secure environment.

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should:

n support staff to fully embed new teaching strategies consistently in their practice to further extend children's learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2625879 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10280923 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 25 Name of registered person Youngstars Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07545181325 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Youngstars Nurseries (Leigh) registered in 2021 and is in Leigh, Kent. It operates using the name Scribbles Pre-school and is part of the Youngstars Nurseries Ltd company. The pre-school is open from 8.30am to 3pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from 8.30am to 1pm on Wednesday and from 8.30am to 12pm on Friday, term time only. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. There are six members of staff, of whom 4 hold qualifications at levels 2 or 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the pre-school 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 pre-school. 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 manager completed a learning walk and a joint observation of a group activity with the inspector. n The inspector spoke with staff, parents and children at suitable times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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 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.

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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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