Ladybirds Nursery

Inspection of Ladybirds Nursery Church Hall, St Marys Drive, Reddish, Stockport SK5 7AX

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

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The provision requires improvement

Since the last inspection, the provider has taken steps to improve the curriculum. However, this is not fully embedded. Generally, staff provide a variety of activities and learning opportunities for children to enjoy. However, on occasion, they over- direct children's learning. Therefore, children do not always develop their creativity and imagination skills. Furthermore, staff do not always allow for natural pauses in conversations to enable children to converse with one another and share their ideas. This means that children are not always encouraged to develop their communication and critical-thinking skills.

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The provision requires improvement

Despite the weaknesses, children are happy and settled. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in the nursery. Children learn to be independent from an early age. They confidently put on their coats, fasten them, and help tidy away the resources. Children develop self-care skills. They manage their own toileting needs, help to set the table for snack and pour their own drinks. Children are well behaved. This is because staff are positive role models. Children are polite to staff and their friends. They learn to take turns and share resources. Children enjoy exploring the story of 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. They learn to recognise the different foods and the life cycle of the caterpillar. Children identify letters, numbers and shapes in the environment. Parents are complimentary about the nursery and staff.

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need to do better?

n The new manager and nominated individual are committed to enhancing the quality of education provided to children. Systems for assessing children's learning have improved. Leaders have a curriculum intent in place. However, it is not always tailored to the children's needs. Consequently, staff are not always clear on what the curriculum intent is and what they want children to learn next. Therefore, staff do not always support children's next steps in learning to the highest level. n Staff lack a robust understanding of how children learn. On occasion, staff over- direct the planned activities. For example, during a creative activity, staff tell the children what to do next and where to place items. Therefore, children are not always developing problem-solving skills and a can-do attitude to learning. Furthermore, children are not always encouraged to work things out together as a team. n Staff talk to the children about what they are doing and their interests. However,

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need to do better?

staff do not always give children enough time to respond. Staff quickly fill in the silences. This creates one-sided conversations that do not help children to process their thoughts or converse with one another. In addition, children are not given enough time and space to develop their critical-thinking skills.

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need to do better?

17 April 2023 n Staff use the correct pronunciation of words so that children can develop their vocabulary and learn new words, such as 'longest', 'twist' and 'chrysalis', to describe what they are seeing or doing. Children happily share books with their 'buddy' and tell them the story. Consequently, children develop a love of reading. n Children confidently count to five and beyond. They use mathematical language well to describe what they see. When comparing the lengths of the caterpillars, children tell staff, 'Mine is longer than yours.' Consequently, children develop early mathematical skills. n Staff actively encourage children to try new foods to promote healthy eating habits. Children understand the need for good hygiene practices, such as washing their hands before meals and snacks. They tell the staff this is to get rid of the germs. Therefore, children develop an awareness of how to live a healthy

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need to do better?

lifestyle. n Children become skilled at using a range of tools and resources. They use writing materials, such as chalks, to make marks and are beginning to recognise what the marks represent. Children use various tools to roll and mould dough. These activities help children to develop the muscles and hand control that they need for future writing. n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The special educational needs coordinator works in partnership with parents and professionals to help children get the right support. As a result, children with speech and language difficulties are making progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The nominated individual and manager have a sound understanding of safeguarding and child protection practices. They are alert to the potential signs of abuse or neglect and the action that they should take to help keep children safe. Similarly, staff are aware of the nursery's whistle-blowing procedures and who to report concerns to about a colleague. Risk management strategies have improved since the last inspection. Staff carry out regular risk assessments to ensure that the nursery is secure and remains safe for children to play. Safer recruitment practices are secure, which means that children are cared for by suitable adults.

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should:

n develop the curriculum to support the individual learning needs of children and focus on what they need to learn next n support staff to further understand how children learn, with a particular focus on promoting children's creativity and imagination skills

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should:

17 April 2023 n strengthen the curriculum for communication and language, allowing children time to think critically, solve problems and respond to questions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2600961 Local authority Stockport Inspection number 10266318 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 6 Name of registered person Ladybirds St Mary's Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0161 480 5128 Date of previous inspection 3 November 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Ladybirds Nursery registered in 2020. It operates from St Mary's Church, in Reddish, Stockport. The nursery employs three members of childcare staff, including the manager. Of these, two members of staff hold an appropriate childcare qualification at level 3. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am to 3pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The nominated individual and the inspector had a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to the staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they were doing at the nursery. n The nominated individual and the inspector carried out joint observations of staff's practice. n Several parents were spoken to by the inspector, who 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

17 April 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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