Elmore Kindergarten - Middlewood

Inspection of Elmore Kindergarten - Middlewood Elmore Kindergarten, 601 Middlewood Road, Sheffield S6 1TN

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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, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), form strong bonds with staff in this warm and friendly nursery. Staff work well with parents to understand children's interests, needs and routines when they start. They use this information well to help children make good overall progress from their individual starting points in development. Children are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including school. For example, they learn to be inquisitive and observant when they proudly identify and count the shoots sprouting from the onions they planted. Children explain that they need 'sunshine' and 'rain' to grow.

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The provision is good

Children feel safe and are well behaved. They rise to staff's high expectations and strive to be helpful and considerate to others. For instance, children enjoy their role as lunchtime monitors. They count out the place settings and help other children to take turns to serve themselves. Children learn to take sensible risks and challenge themselves. For example, they practise balancing and jumping on the climbing frame they made themselves with tyres and wooden beams.

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need to do better?

n Staff promote children's communication and language skills well overall. They sing songs, tell rhymes and play games, introducing babies to keywords and phrases necessary for future learning. Staff talk to children as they play. However, sometimes, staff do not take opportunities that present themselves to help children to fully extend, enrich and recall their vocabulary. n Children are strongly supported to develop a love of reading. Staff share well- chosen books with children throughout their sessions. They read stories well to build children's anticipation and engagement. For instance, children love to lift the flaps as they wonder which animal will turn up next in the story 'Dear Zoo'. Staff provide a useful lending library for parents to share books at home. n The enthusiastic manager inspires her staff team to strive for high standards. She is ably supported by her deputy manager and other senior staff. The

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need to do better?

manager makes good use of training and supervision arrangements to develop staff's skills and knowledge. Staff make good use of their roles and responsibilities. For instance, individual staff take the lead for areas such as transitions and promoting positive behaviour, to develop teaching and learning throughout the nursery. n Staff strongly support children with SEND. They identify gaps in children's learning and development at an early stage. Staff work closely with other professionals, such as speech therapists, to plan children's future learning. They use additional funding well. For example, funding is used to develop resources and to enrich children's personal development and knowledge of the world

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need to do better?

20 April 2023 through visits and trips. n Staff encourage children's development of a healthy lifestyle and positive well- being. Children are very actively engaged in planting and growing activities, and this is reflected in the nursery's gardening awards from the Royal Horticultural Society. Children learn about the importance of keeping their teeth clean and washing their hands carefully. They benefit from the well-planned, nutritious snacks and meals that are provided. n Staff have a positive impact on children's personal development and good behaviour. They work closely with parents to understand children's needs and interests and how they change over time. Staff warmly praise children's achievements and help them to understand and manage their own feelings. For example, children create pictures that express their emotions and are stimulated by the story of 'The Colour Monster'. n Staff promote children's physical development well. For instance, children build

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need to do better?

muscle control in their hands as they peel and carefully place small, shiny stickers to create their dinosaur pictures or shake their musical instruments. These skills support their later writing development. Children are regularly active and love to dance, jump and climb, indoors and outdoors. n Parents strongly recommend the nursery. They appreciate the warm and kind nature of all staff. Parents recognise the care staff take to keep them fully informed about all aspects of their children's learning and progress. Parents are very appreciative of the care and support their children receive. They welcome the regular information on their children's success and progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The designated safeguarding lead supports staff to ensure that they have a full and up-to-date knowledge. She makes sure that staff are trained and that their safeguarding knowledge is regularly reviewed through supervision, discussions, quizzes and staff meetings. Staff have a good understanding of how to care for children and keep them safe. They are aware of changes to children's emotions or behaviour that is suggestive of a concern. Staff know how to record safeguarding information and to whom concerns should be reported. Staff are vigilant and support children to play and learn safely.

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should:

n support staff to take all opportunities to help children extend and recall a wide and rich vocabulary.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2637804 Local authority Sheffield Inspection number 10285699 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 102 Number of children on roll 101 Name of registered person Marshall, Richard Graham

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reference number

Telephone number 0114 2348998 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Elmore Kindergarten-Middlewood registered in 2021 and is located in Sheffield. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including two at level 5. Five members of staff are working towards a level 3 qualification. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.30am 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 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 conducted a learning walk with the manager to review children's learning experiences. n The manager and the inspector conducted a joint observation of children's activities. n The inspector discussed the management and organisation of the nursery with the manager. He reviewed relevant documents. n The inspector spoke to staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector held discussions to seek the views of parents.

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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

20 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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