The Counting House Nursery

Inspection of The Counting House Nursery Ruths Hairdressers, 118 Smithies Moor Lane, Batley WF17 9AN

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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 enjoy their time at this welcoming and nurturing nursery. They form strong attachments with caring and responsive staff, who prioritise their emotional well-being. For example, babies snuggle up to staff when they need comfort and reassurance. Parents say that they appreciate how accommodating the nursery is in supporting children's individual needs and care routines. This promotes consistency for babies and young children and helps them to feel safe and secure.

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The provision is good

Babies and young children develop good social skills. They proudly show the inspector the pom-poms that they have collected using spoons and pegs, developing their small-muscle skills. They demonstrate that they are happy at nursery as they excitedly try to burst bubbles that fill the air. Staff act as positive role models, treating children with the respect that they deserve. Children are encouraged to be polite and kind individuals. For instance, they sing the 'please and thank you' song before mealtimes. Clear expectations for behaviour help to make the nursery a harmonious place to be.

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The provision is good

Children display positive attitudes towards play and learning. They immerse themselves in making marks in sand and experimenting with how cars move quickly down ramps. Children enjoy the activities that are planned for them. For example, they are fascinated as they paint ice, observing the changes as it melts. They say 'again, again' with glee. These positive attitudes help to give children a solid foundation for developing the characteristics of effective learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff observe children's learning carefully to find out what they can do. Staff complete precise assessments and seek parent information to accurately assess children's development. This helps children to make good levels of progress. Planned activities take account of children's interests. Staff focus on promoting children's development in the prime areas of learning. This helps to give children a good foundation of skills before they move on to the next stage of education. n Staff are clear about how to promote children's developing communication and language skills. They place a high priority on reading carefully chosen stories with children. Children listen intently to staff, who animatedly read their favourite books. Opportunities for singing songs and rhymes are plentiful. Children appreciate this and happily join in with some words and actions. Staff skilfully narrate babies' actions as they play. Children hear language that is

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need to do better?

interesting and relevant. For example, staff describe feelings, such as 'cold', and talk about 'mixing' as children paint. This helps to develop children's vocabulary and understanding of words. n Children are supported to become increasingly independent. At mealtimes,

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need to do better?

16 June 2023 babies and toddlers feed themselves healthy and nutritious meals. Even the youngest of children have a go at completing simple tasks, such as putting on aprons themselves. This gives them the independence and confidence that they need to tackle new challenges. n The curious children have exciting opportunities to explore and learn about the world around them. For example, they visit the garden centre to buy flowers for planting and take trips to the local farm to see animals. Staff extend children's interest in transport by taking them on walks to observe different vehicles. The rich set of experiences that children receive helps to develop their knowledge and understanding of the world. n Parents say that their children are happy at nursery. They appreciate the supportive, friendly and approachable staff, and state that they receive a thorough report on their child's day. There are some planned initiatives to

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need to do better?

support parent engagement. However, these are not yet embedded securely enough. This means that parents are not always fully informed about how they can support children's developing skills further at home. n The dedicated nursery manager is a hands-on leader. Regular observations and reflections of staff's teaching help to evaluate their strengths and areas for development. The setting is still in its infancy, having only recently registered. However, the management team has ambitious action plans in place, such as to further develop the outdoor area. This helps to foster a culture of continuous improvement. n Staff benefit from regular supervision meetings and training to enhance their knowledge and skills. Staff receive training that is specific to working with babies and younger children. This positively impacts on the quality of teaching and outcomes for children. For example, staff have recently made changes to

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need to do better?

provide more sensory-based play to spark curiosity and learning opportunities even further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are clear about their responsibilities in keeping children safe from harm. Leaders provide opportunities for staff to update and refresh their safeguarding knowledge. This helps them to be aware of the signs and symptoms that may indicate that a child is at risk of abuse. Furthermore, staff talk confidently about the action they would take if they had concerns about a child's welfare. Robust risk assessments help to ensure children's safety while on outings in the community. Equally, children are well supervised while in nursery, including those who are sleeping or during mealtimes. This helps to promote their well-being and minimise any potential hazards.

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should:

16 June 2023 n further develop how information is shared between a child's key person and their parents to enable children's learning to continue at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2721135 Local authority Kirklees Inspection number 10299285 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 10 Number of children on roll 16 Name of registered person The Counting House Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01924 422805 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Counting House Nursery registered in 2023 and is situated in Batley, West Yorkshire. The nursery employs 17 members of staff who work across the two sites, which are located in close proximity. Of these, 12 hold appropriate qualifications at level 3 or above, and one holds early years teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, apart from bank holidays and a week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm.

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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 that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual and manager about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during a planned activity. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. 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

16 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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