The Orange Tree Day Nursery@ Stoke

Inspection of The Orange Tree Day Nursery@ Stoke 104 Hartshill Road, Stoke On Trent ST4 7LT

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children thoroughly enjoy their time in this inviting nursery. They are happy, settled, and share close bonds with staff. Staff know children very well. Children cheerfully welcome each other and quickly settle into the routines of the day. They are content and approach staff for reassurance. Young babies seek out their key person when they are unsure of new adults. This means they feel safe and secure in their care.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy daily outdoor play, and provision for outdoor learning is extensive. Children delight in mixing 'Gruffalo crumble' in the mud kitchen or digging in the large sandpit. They have various opportunities to practise their physical skills as they balance on beams or climb on the large frame. This also supports children to work together, take turns, and learn to negotiate space.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for all children. Children are kind and polite. Staff gently encourage them to use 'golden rules', such as kind hands and walking feet. Children listen and follow instructions. Mealtimes are calm and structured. Consequently, children are gaining a good understanding of how to behave and use appropriate table manners.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have designed an interesting curriculum, which builds on what children already know and can do. Managers have a clear vision of what they want children to learn. Staff plan a broad range of activities based on children's interests and their next steps. Children make good progress across the areas of learning and are well prepared for their eventual move to school. However, provision and teaching of numeracy skills throughout the nursery are less developed than other areas of the curriculum. n Leaders are approachable and supportive. Staff speak very highly of the ongoing help and guidance they receive through regular supervisions. Staff's well-being is a priority, and leaders provide access to a range of support services should staff need them. The quality of teaching is regularly monitored through peer observations and constructive feedback. As a result, the quality of education is good. However, sometimes, the quality of teaching is inconsistent. Some staff

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need to do better?

answer the questions they ask before children have time to think and respond. This does not always push children to achieve at the highest level. Consequently, not all children make rapid progress in learning. n There is a strong focus on communication and language. Children show a love for books, and staff animatedly tell stories. They skilfully use different voices or whisper to add interest to stories. As a result, children are highly engaged and keen to listen. Children excitedly search for story props in the garden as they act

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need to do better?

26 July 2023 out scenes from 'The Gruffalo'. This helps to build a lifelong love for reading and introduces new words and expressive language. As a result, children grow into confident communicators. n Staff encourage children to be independent. They promote a can-do attitude. This supports children to be keen and inquisitive. Children demonstrate a good attitude to learning, and this builds good habits for their future education. Young babies demonstrate an excellent ability to feed themselves using a spoon. This knowledge builds as they move through the nursery, and children can competently use a knife and fork at mealtimes when they leave to move on to school. n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is strong. The well-qualified special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) uses her experience and training to support staff. She cascades her knowledge to help other staff to implement teaching strategies. Additional funding is well

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need to do better?

utilised for resources and training. Parents of children with SEND speak very highly of the fantastic support they receive. They comment that staff are amazing and that their children love attending the nursery. n Parent partnership working is very strong. There is regular sharing of valuable information through parents' evenings, workshops and via an online application. Staff support parents by providing ideas for how to continue children's learning at home. This helps to consolidate children's knowledge and understanding.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The managers and staff fully understand their role and responsibility to safeguard children. All staff, including those designated to lead on safeguarding, have completed relevant training. Staff know the signs to look for if they are concerned about a child's welfare. They know who to contact if an allegation is made against a member of staff. Staff complete regular risk assessments of the learning environment. They count children in and out of rooms and deploy themselves effectively to keep children safe. Leaders follow robust recruitment procedures and assess the ongoing suitability of staff.

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should:

n build on the already good quality of teaching so that it is at a consistently high level throughout the nursery n enhance provisions for teaching of numeracy, ensuring that children develop a good understanding in all aspects of the curriculum.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY472884 Local authority Stoke-on-Trent Inspection number 10303681 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 65 Number of children on roll 111 Name of registered person Mason, Jacqueline Claire

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reference number

Telephone number 01782 747270 Date of previous inspection 18 December 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Orange Tree Day Nursery@ Stoke registered in 2014 and is in Stoke-on-Trent. It is run by a private provider, who also operates five other settings. The nursery employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. It also provides before- and after-school clubs and holiday care. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year olds.

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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 managers 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 SENCo spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity with the manager.

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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

26 July 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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