Willow Tree Nursery

Inspection of Willow Tree Nursery Unit 1-4, St Nicholas Business Park, Carlisle CA2 4BA

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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

Staff create a warm and welcoming environment where children feel safe and secure. The key-person system ensures that children are well supported through a settling-in process, which is threaded through the whole nursery. This supports children's emotional well-being and sense of security. Babies develop close bonds with staff, who are attentive to their needs. Older children show confidence and resilience as they approach adults and engage in conversations about their play. Staff are positive role models, and they praise children, which actively promotes children's continued good behaviour.

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The provision is good

Staff implement a curriculum that overall supports children's diverse needs. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) works in partnership with parents and other professionals to ensure that early help and targeted support are introduced early. Additional funding, such as early years pupil premium, is also used effectively to support children's ongoing progress and development.

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The provision is good

Children explore an exciting indoor and outdoor environment where their physical development is promoted well. Children confidently climb up climbing frames and use slides. Staff promote activities that enhance children's development of their large and small muscles and hand-eye coordination. For example, children use tools to make marks on walls and large chalk boards. This prepares children for the skills they require for learning to write when they eventually move on to school.

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need to do better?

n The strong leadership team works alongside the staff to provide an ambitious curriculum for all children. It has a clear vision to continually improve the provision and the quality of practice in the nursery. Staff are provided with continuous professional development, support and training to ensure the continued good quality of education across the nursery. n Children make good progress from their starting points. Staff assess children's development and plan the next steps for their learning following children's interests. Children who are funded and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are provided with support to help them to reach their full potential. For instance, a wealth of sensory play and resources is provided to support children to have calming influences on their behaviours. n The curriculum intent for supporting independence, health and hygiene is for, the most part, promoted well. For example, children learn the importance of oral

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need to do better?

hygiene and confidently brush their teeth after meals. Staff support children in finding their own coats and encourage them to dress themselves when going outdoors. However, there are times during the daily routine, particularly with older children, where a consistent approach in supporting independence and

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need to do better?

18 September 2023 hygiene practice is not as robust. n Staff support children's literacy, communication and language. Children are given time to respond to questions, and they problem solve their ideas. Staff build on what children know and help them to recall past activities. Older children learn about autumn colours and mix paint to create them. They explore the shape of leaves while printing. Babies happily babble while feeling the texture of shaving foam and engaging with staff while reading stories and singing songs. n Overall, staff help children develop an awareness of their local environment and the wider world. For example, children enjoy outings in the local community and learn about some cultural festivals through planned activities. However, the planned curriculum does not enable children to fully explore their similarities and uniqueness. n Partnership with parents is good. Parents value the high level of care each child

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need to do better?

receives. The constant two-way flow of communication supports them to feel included in their child's development and the next steps that are planned for their learning. Parents state that these special relationships and the bespoke support they receive have helped their children to make continued progress in their development since starting at the nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The management and staff fully understand their responsibilities relating to safeguarding children. They have completed appropriate training to ensure that their knowledge of all aspects of child protection and 'Prevent' duty remain up to date. Staff are deployed effectively to meet ratio requirements and supervise children well. The management team follows robust recruitment procedures to help ensure all staff employed to work with children are suitable. Risk assessments and safety checks minimise potential hazards to ensure that children play and learn in a safe and secure space.

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should:

n strengthen staff practice to develop a more consistent approach in supporting children's hygiene practices and independence in daily routines n support staff to increase opportunities in the curriculum for children to develop an increased awareness of their similarities and differences to enable them to understand what makes them unique.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2642286 Local authority Cumberland Inspection number 10304242 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 60 Number of children on roll 135 Name of registered person Sarah Linnett Childcare (CARLISLE) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01228 642 677 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Willow Tree Nursery registered in 2021. The nursery employs 26 members of childcare staff. Of these, 16 hold an appropriate qualification from level 2 to level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays and two weeks over the Christmas period. Sessions are from 7.30am to 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 the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector viewed the provision and explored the safety and suitability of the premises. n The nominated individual and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years foundation stage curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The SENCo spoke to the inspector about how she supports children with SEND. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n The inspector took account of the written statements provided by parents. She spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as staff and child registers, and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

18 September 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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