Life Bank Nursery at Kensington Children's Centre

Inspection of Life Bank Nursery at Kensington Children's Centre 23 Quorn Street, LIVERPOOL L7 2QR

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

The provider and managers have taken swift action to address the weaknesses identified at the last inspection. All staff are suitable to fulfil their roles and demonstrate good knowledge and understanding to keep children safe from harm. Children arrive excited and eager to see their friends. On arrival, staff greet children and ask how they are, and children run into the setting with confidence and delight, ready to start their day. All children access environments that are planned effectively and promote their learning through play. Babies and toddlers inquisitively explore heavy duty plastic trays using all their senses. Older children make smoothies to learn about keeping themselves healthy.

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The provision is good

Support for children who speak English as an additional language is effective. Staff are highly qualified and skilled and have excellent partnerships with professionals and parents. Together, they plan the best ways to meet children's needs, both in nursery and in readiness for their transition to school. All children make good progress and are developing their skills for future learning. Children behave well throughout the nursery. Staff teach children to be polite and help them to learn to respect each other. Children take turns, share and show kindness to their friends and adults.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff are committed to improving their own practice through professional development. All staff receive targeted training and ongoing, constructive feedback. The manager is proactive and works above and beyond in her campaign to improve children's oral health. As a result, staff access specialist toothbrushing training to teach children and their families good oral health routines. All staff feel well supported by the management team. n Children learn about their diverse community and the world around them through exciting, well-planned events. For example, children learn about African culture and traditions. They celebrate Africa Day with Ghanaian dancers, acting out the story of 'Handa's Surprise'. During 'Safari month', children handle snakes, lizards and geckos. They learn about their habitats, which they later recreate. Children are beginning to make sense of the physical world and their

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need to do better?

own community. n Overall, children's communication and language development is promoted well. For example, staff introduce new vocabulary, such as 'crunch' and 'stamp', as young children play with their dinosaurs in the cereal. Older children learn the names of the ingredients and utensils as they make their own smoothies. However, there are occasions when staff do not model the correct pronunciation of words. At lunchtime, children hear the word 'narna' for 'banana' when they are given their dessert, which can be confusing for children with growing

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need to do better?

19 July 2023 vocabulary. This does not ensure that children learn the accurate pronunciation of all words. n Babies are cared for in a calm and relaxing environment. Staff are kind and caring and inform babies of their personal care routines. Babies are asked if they would like to have their noses wiped, or if they would like to have their nappies changed, which promotes choice and independence. n Staff support children to learn about keeping healthy. Children enjoy home- cooked, healthy meals and snacks, with a wide range of fruit and vegetables. They drink water frequently. Children learn to take care of their teeth and enjoy being active in the garden. These activities support them in forming healthy habits for their futures. n Children have lots of opportunities to develop their mathematical knowledge and skills through exploration and play. When making smoothies, staff introduce the concept of 'half' when the children cut their fruit into two pieces. Children

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need to do better?

independently count down from five to zero before launching their rocket. Furthermore, staff support children using mathematical language to correctly stack blocks in order of shape and size. This means that children are developing their skills well, which supports their next steps in learning. n Parent partnership is excellent. Staff and parents undergo professional training together with their local primary school to learn about how best to support their children. Staff hold daily conversations with parents about their child's day, and planned parent meetings are organised. Parents say that they are extremely well informed about their child's learning and development, and they are highly complimentary about the love and care their children receive.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children are safe and secure at this setting. The premises is kept clean and tidy. Risk assessments are conducted to help ensure that any risks to children are minimised. All staff have secure knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. All staff clearly demonstrate their understanding of signs of potential harm and abuse that would make them concerned, and they know how to report their concerns. The safeguarding lead ensures that staff receive ongoing training so that their knowledge of safeguarding is current and up to date.

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should:

n encourage staff to support children's growing vocabulary by modelling the correct pronunciation of words.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY376559 Local authority Liverpool Inspection number 10296115 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 78 Number of children on roll 116 Name of registered person Sure Options Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0151 300 8420 Date of previous inspection 21 February 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Life Bank Nursery at Kensington Children's Centre registered in 2008. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8am 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 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 Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during snack time. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector

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Inspection activities

about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn.

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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

19 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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