Highfield Nursery

Inspection of Highfield Nursery 155 Highfield Road, Blackpool FY4 2HG

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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 are extremely happy and settled at this warm and friendly nursery. They display high levels of self-confidence and self-esteem. For example, they politely greet visitors and are eager to show them their favourite toys and things to do while at the nursery. This, in turn, has a positive impact on their attitudes to learning. All children, including babies, persist at activities for sustained periods. Babies smile and clap as they take part in actions songs and rhymes. Toddlers show determination as they try to build a tower using blocks and cardboard tubes. Pre-school children share their ideas and work together as they paint a 'big red dog'.

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The provision is good

Children behave and are kind and respectful to each other and the staff. This is because staff have high expectations of what they can achieve. For instance, while playing in the water tray, toddlers pass each other resources and wait their turn to have a go with the water wheel. Older children share out the resources at the craft table. When children find there is not enough paper to go around, they quickly get some from the paper tray and hand it to their friends.

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The provision is good

Staff provide a balanced and sequenced curriculum. As a result, all children, including those who are funded and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) develop the skills needed for later learning and school. Children are fiercely independent because staff encourage their self-help skills from a very early age. For example, all children, including babies, serve themselves at mealtimes and make choices about what they eat and drink. Parents are highly appreciative of the staff. They comment that staff 'go above and beyond' for them and their children.

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need to do better?

n In the main, the intended curriculum is implemented well by the staff. All children, including those with SEND, make better than expected progress in their physical, personal and emotional development. However, the curriculum for communication and language is not yet as strongly embedded. Staff, at times, miss opportunities to extend children's language and vocabulary. For example, they often just repeat back to children what they have said, rather than add new words and phrases that help children build their vocabulary and thinking even further. n In the main, the staff's interactions with children are positive and support the next steps in their learning. Staff's constant narrations, praise and encouragement help to focus and maintain children's attention. However, some staff are not highly skilled at adapting their teaching to ensure that quieter or less-confident children have an equal opportunity to be as involved as some of

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need to do better?

31 March 2023 their more confident peers. n Children develop well in mathematics. This is because the staff weave mathematical concepts through everyday play and routines. Staff sing number songs and rhymes with babies. Toddlers are encouraged to count out how many squeezes of a sponge it will take to fill a jug with water. Pre-school children are challenged by the staff to paint shapes on the wall outdoors. n Staff develop strong bonds with children and their parents from the outset, and these continue throughout the placement. Each child has key person who diligently supports their care, learning and emotional well-being. Staff share lots of information with parents about their child's learning and development. In addition, parents attend parents' evenings. These also support children's learning at home. n Staff benefit from regular coaching and supervision with the manager and senior leaders. They have access to a wide range of online learning courses and take

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need to do better?

part in regular peer-on-peer observations of their teaching practice. These go some way to help them further improve their interactions with children. The manager is aware that staff need more targeted support to implement the intended curriculum for communication and language to the highest levels. As a result, she has devised action plans to address this. n Staff say they feel supported and enjoy working at the setting. The 'well-being champion' passionately works with the whole staff team. She provides emotional support and ensures staff are happy and fulfilled in their individual roles. This, in turn, supports staff to have a good work-life balance. n Children love to play outdoors and have opportunities to access the garden areas daily. Older children develop their large-muscle skills as they balance on beams and jump from the climbing apparatus. Toddlers use chalks to draw around their own and staff's feet. Babies experiment with sand and water. They

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need to do better?

practise their hand-eye coordination as they fill and tip water from different- sized cups. n Staff are excellent role models for children. They consistently remind children of the setting's behaviour rules and expectations. For example, they explain to children how it is best to use their indoor voices and not to shout over their friends. Children who struggle to regulate their behaviour are supported by the staff. For example, they take time out with staff to read a book and talk about how they are feeling and discuss ways how staff can help them to feel better.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff take all necessary steps to ensure children's health and safety needs are met. They implement the setting's risk assessment and health and hygiene procedures robustly. All staff, including those who are new and those who are less experienced, have a secure understanding of how to act should they have a concern about a child's welfare or the conduct of a colleague they work with. The setting's premises are secure. There are robust procedures in place for the safe recruitment of staff. There are effective procedures in place for the safe and

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Safeguarding

31 March 2023 efficient deployment of staff.

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should:

n support staff to implement the intended curriculum for communication and language at a consistently high level to better support children's speaking skills and further their vocabulary and understanding n ensure all children are afforded equal time to participate in activities and extend their confidence and critical-thinking skills even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2634430 Local authority Blackpool Inspection number 10281596 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 54 Number of children on roll 82 Name of registered person MiChild Blackpool Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01253401774 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Highfield Nursery registered in 2021 and is situated in Blackpool. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, all year round. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 staff hold an early years qualification at level 3. Two staff are unqualified. The nursery provides early years funding 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 this into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The manager carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the inspector. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do while at the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The provider, manager and area manager joined the inspector in a meeting to discuss the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector spoke to parents 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

31 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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