Almond House Nursery

Inspection of Almond House Nursery 9 Forest Road, Huddersfield HD5 8EU

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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 quickly settle in this welcoming, bright, well-equipped nursery. They are met by smiling staff, with whom they soon develop close bonds. Children play outdoors each day, in all weathers. They develop their physical skills when they climb, balance and ride bicycles. Pre-school children have regular opportunities to learn in a forest-school environment. They explore the natural world around them. They learn to assess risk when they cross the road, and find out which natural items are safe to collect, and which are not. In the main, children benefit from a well-designed curriculum that supports them to develop the skills they need for the next steps in their learning.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children. They give children clear boundaries and teach them to be kind and respectful. Children are encouraged to manage disputes amicably. Unwanted behaviour is managed sensitively. As a result, children are beginning to manage their emotions and behaviour and to understand the impact their actions have on others. They behave well. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) enjoy good levels of support. Staff work closely with other agencies to ensure these children make good progress.

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need to do better?

n Staff know the children and their families well. They find out about children's interests when they start nursery. Managers plan a curriculum designed to help children build on what they already know and can do. However, the curriculum is not always communicated well to staff. As a result, they do not consistently challenge children to help them make the best possible progress. For example, mathematics is a focus for pre-school children, but not all staff promote mathematics through children's play and learning. Nevertheless, children make good progress from their starting points. n Partnership with parents is strong. Parents describe the setting as 'a family'. Information is frequently shared with them about their child's development, and they feel fully included in their child's learning. Parents are supported to continue their child's learning at home. They say their children frequently surprise them with things they have learned at nursery. Parents greatly value

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need to do better?

the staff, who help them to access appropriate agencies when they have difficulties. n Managers use additional funding well to support children with SEND. For instance, they have purchased a 'tactile board' and books, to help children who enjoy learning through touch and feel. Staff promote communication well with children who struggle to communicate verbally. They sit at their level and make sure they have their attention before speaking. They respond to children's physical gestures and model language, introducing them to new words from

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need to do better?

8 June 2023 favourite stories, such as 'mermaid' and 'jellyfish'. n Staff support children to develop a love of reading and to practice their early writing skills. Older children use pencils and clipboards to record what bugs they can find in the outdoor environment. Staff encourage them to practise familiar letters by drawing them in sand with their fingers. Children have free access to a wide range of books both indoors and outside. Babies enjoy listening to staff, who demonstrate rhythms in text, and use intonation to bring characters to life. n Staff promote children's communication and language well. Those working with toddlers model words, such as 'magnet', 'fishing', and 'squishy' during children's play with water. They encourage babies to babble and imitate sounds. Staff engage older children in discussions during their play. For instance, children pretend to be bitten by a snake. Staff ask them what emergency service they

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need to do better?

might need, and how long do they think the ambulance will be. Children demonstrate a broad range of vocabulary. n Children learn about the wider world and the diverse community they live in. They and their parents take part in a variety of charity events. Children visit the local woods and spend time in their community when they visit the local museums and library. Staff promote good hygiene and healthy lifestyles with children. They encourage children to become independent in self care, ready for the move to school. Babies learn to feed themselves with spoons and to use cups with lids, while older children learn to use a knife and fork. n Managers place a strong focus on staff's well-being. Staff say they feel well supported through regular coaching, supervision and team meetings. Managers encourage them to pursue further training to keep their knowledge up to date.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a secure knowledge of their role in keeping children safe from harm. They have a suitable understanding of when to share information, and that they must maintain confidentiality when doing so. The management team ensure that staff complete regular training so that they can identify children at risk of abuse. Staff know the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child or an adult. Managers ensure ratios are always met, and staff are deployed well so that children are supervised and kept safe. Staff implement effective risk assessments to check that the environment and equipment is suitable for children's play and learning. Staff share information with parents straight away if any accidents occur.

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should:

n sharpen the implementation of the curriculum, so that older children are consistently challenged to build on what they already know and can do and they

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should:

8 June 2023 demonstrate this through deep engagement in their learning and high levels of concentration.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2709242 Local authority Kirklees Inspection number 10286538 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 50 Number of children on roll 67 Name of registered person Triangle House Private Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01484 426002 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Almond House Nursery registered in 2016. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine staff hold early years qualifications. The nursery opens from 7am until 6.15pm, from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for Christmas and bank holidays. 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 manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. They discussed how the staff organise different aspects of learning. n Children spoke to the inspector about activities they enjoy when they attend the nursery. n The inspector considered parents' feedback and discussed working with different families with the provider. n The inspector observed teaching. She talked to the provider about how they evaluate the provision. n The inspector carried out joint observations of activities with the manager. n The inspector observed staff practice and held discussions with staff members about the work that they do.

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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

8 June 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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