Merrydale Private Day Nursery

Inspection of Merrydale Private Day Nursery Slaithwaite Community Centre, Bank Gate, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD7 5DL

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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

Children arrive at the nursery happy and smiling. They are eager to see their friends. Staff build strong relationships with children. They engage in back-and- forth conversations with children, who enjoy staff's company. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They explain their expectations clearly to children. Children follow staff's instructions and their behaviour is good. They are respectful of each other. Children feel safe and secure. Staff promote children's self-help skills. Children serve their own breakfast cereals and pour their milk. They put the empty bowls to be washed when they finish. Staff encourage children to put their coats on and do up their zips. Children have good independence skills.

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The provision is good

Staff provide activities to support children's curiosity and exploration. For example, children explore trays containing autumnal resources and pumpkins. Babies paint with apples and staff add scents to play dough. Babies explore these resources with interest. Toddlers use magnifying glasses to search for conkers in a tub of water. Children enjoy playing and exploring. Staff are skilled in questioning children to help them to solve problems. They ask children to think of solutions to problems. For example, as the water runs off the table, staff encourage children to work out how to catch it. Children find a container to catch the water as it drips off the table.

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need to do better?

n Staff read stories to children of all ages. They sing songs and action rhymes. Staff sing with babies, who shake musical instruments and attempt to copy the actions that staff model. They access books independently. Older children listen to longer stories. Staff read with expression and create a sense of anticipation as they turn the pages or lift the flaps. Children develop a love of stories, songs and rhymes. n Staff plan opportunities for children to develop good physical control. Babies prod and poke play dough with their fingers. Staff encourage children to crawl, stand and take their first steps. Children enjoy the outdoor area. They laugh as they run and hop. Children take delight in singing activities and use sticks to tap along to the music. Staff provide activities for children to develop the muscles in their fingers. They teach children how to hold and use scissors. Children develop the skills they need for their move on to school.

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need to do better?

n Staff are respectful of children's needs. They promote good hygiene routines. Staff encourage babies to wash their hands before lunch. They ask them if they can change their nappies. Staff provide older children with tissues to wipe their own noses. They encourage older children to wash their hands after using the toilet and when they cough. n Staff provide opportunities for children to build with a purpose. They share pictures of different kinds of bridges and talk to children about the differences.

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need to do better?

26 October 2023 Staff encourage children to think about how they can build a bridge and what resources they can use. Children have conversations with each other about what they can use and how they can build a bridge. n Staff model number language effectively. They support children to count objects and use the language of size, introducing new language such as 'gigantic' and 'medium-sized'. Children repeat the new words as they play. n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well. They work effectively with outside agencies to provide the necessary support. Staff work well with other settings that children attend. This helps to provide continuity in children's learning. Staff visit children at their other settings. They speak to staff about children's developing needs. n Staff build positive relationships with families. Parents are very happy with the care their children receive. They comment that their children make good

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need to do better?

progress and that the nursery is flexible in meeting the individual needs of families. Staff share information with parents. Parents feel well informed and comment on the good communication they receive. They speak highly of the nursery. n Managers provide supervision sessions to support staff's well-being and development. Staff feel valued and well supported. They have training opportunities available to them. However, managers do not target staff's training and support to extend their individual teaching and address some minor inconsistencies in teaching.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers ensure that staff have attended up-to-date safeguarding training. Staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of how to keep children safe. They can recognise the signs and symptoms when a child may be at risk of harm. Staff follow clear policies should they have concerns about an adult in the setting. They undertake risk assessments to ensure that the nursery is safe and secure. Staff teach children to be safe. They talk about the need to be safe around fires. Staff teach children how to safely carry the long sticks and pieces of wood so that they do not hurt their friends when moving them.

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should:

n target more specific coaching and training for staff to help to raise the quality of education to an even higher level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2680093 Local authority Kirklees Inspection number 10303266 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 46 Number of children on roll 95 Name of registered person Platts, Kellie Jane

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reference number

Telephone number 07889026462 Date of previous inspection 15 June 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Merrydale Private Day Nursery registered in 2022 and is located in Slaithwaite, Huddersfield. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, 12 staff hold appropriate early years qualification at level 3 and two staff hold early years teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. 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 inspector viewed the nursery and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they want children to learn. 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 manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability

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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 October 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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