St. Aidan's Day Nursery

Inspection of St. Aidan's Day Nursery Harraby Community Campus, Edgehill Road, Carlisle, Cumbria CA1 3SL

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

The care and attention given to every child at this calm and inclusive nursery is exemplary. The highly personalised approach to transition helps children to quickly build loving bonds with the staff, who know them exceptionally well. Staff prioritise children's emotional well-being. They frequently ask children how they are feeling and teach them to understand the feelings of others. Children replicate this in their play as they ask the toy animals if they are scared and offer reassurance that they will be cared for. All children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure.

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The provision is outstanding

Leaders and staff have designed a bespoke curriculum based on their in-depth knowledge of each child's individual next steps. Leaders work closely with parents to create a shared vision of what they intend each child to be able to know and do. Staff consistently make use of their interactions with children to extend their learning. For instance, staff encourage children to consider how tall the bridge they are making will need to be in relation to the size of the vehicles travelling under it. Children confidently make comparisons and predict how many more bricks they will need. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make significant and rapid progress in their development.

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The provision is outstanding

Children consistently live up to staff's high expectations of their behaviour. Staff teach children the reasons that the rules and routines are in place. Children sensitively explain how they help to keep each other safe. Staff expertly support children to develop their resilience. For example, as items get stuck in a net, staff pose questions to encourage children to find out why. Children persevere until they find a solution. Children demonstrate extremely positive attitudes to learning.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are ambitious for all children and are committed to ensuring that every child is well prepared for the next stage of their education. They promote the importance of regular attendance so that all children, including those who are vulnerable, can make high levels of progress and form good habits for future learning. n The provision for children with SEND is outstanding. Leaders are tenacious in accessing support for these children. Staff receive targeted training, advice and support from a range of professionals. They have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that all children's individual needs are met. All children, including those with SEND, access an ambitious curriculum and make significant progress from their starting points. n Staff consistently use their interactions with children to promote their communication and language development. They expertly weave new vocabulary into children's play. For example, staff explain the difference between

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need to do better?

18 January 2024 a spade and spoon as babies use tools to dig in the sand. Staff are highly skilled at using picture cues and actions to support the introduction of language for children who need additional support. This helps children to make rapid progress in their language development and to quickly become confident communicators. n Reading is placed at the heart of this nursery. Children gasp in amazement as staff read to children in a way that ignites their joy of stories. Children ask poignant questions and make connections with other books that they have read. Babies focus intently for long periods as stories are read to them. They confidently turn the pages and point to the pictures. Older children proudly show staff when they identify letters from their own names in the text and the environment. The highly effective curriculum for literacy is embedded across the nursery. n Leaders have a comprehensive overview of the quality of the provision. They are

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need to do better?

highly reflective and relentless in their drive for continuous improvement. This includes ensuring that the environment effectively supports every child to achieve the very best outcomes. For example, the recent addition of a 'sensory shed' alongside targeted training for staff, has had a significant impact on helping children to manage their own emotions. Leaders and staff are dedicated to maintaining and continuing to build on the already excellent provision at the nursery. n Equality and diversity are skilfully woven through all areas of the nursery. Leaders work closely with families to help children to understand and to celebrate the similarities and differences between their own family and others. They actively seek out opportunities for children to learn about cultural differences. Children speak confidently and positively about valuing each other's differences. n Leaders ensure that any additional funding is used to precisely target children's

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need to do better?

gaps in learning. Staff meticulously analyse the impact of this to ensure that all children make substantial and sustained progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY498092 Local authority Cumberland Inspection number 10301494 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 147 Name of registered person St Aidan's Day Nursery Trustees

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reference number

Telephone number 01228586753 Date of previous inspection 29 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

St. Aidan's Day Nursery registered in 2016. The nursery is in Harraby and is one of two privately owned nurseries in Carlisle. The nursery employs 34 members of staff. Of these, 28 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, three at level 5 and three at level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round except for 2 weeks at Christmas. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery supports children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the provider's representative about the leadership and management of the setting. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND.

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Inspection activities

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 joint observations of group activities with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector relevant documentation, including 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 January 2024 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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