The Valley Nursery School

Inspection of The Valley Nursery School Wheelgate House, Trevowah Road, Crantock, NEWQUAY, Cornwall TR8 5ES

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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 Good

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive at this exceptional nursery. Children are deeply involved in their learning, displaying constant enjoyment and motivation when they play and learn. They have access to an abundance of activities and experiences that help them to make excellent progress. For example, experienced staff support children to think critically and discuss potential solutions about how to thicken their blend of water and spices. Staff skilfully extend learning by asking children to recall previous discussions about building materials. Children excitedly share what they had learned about how cement was a 'magic glue'. They use their knowledge to consider what ingredients they could find as a potential alternative to solidify their fragrant creation.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is exceptional. They listen to and happily follow instructions. Staff have high expectations and are excellent role models. Children display high levels of respect and kindness towards others. For example, children spontaneously help with tasks that others find tricky, such as holding a paper cake case steady, so their friend can successfully spoon the mixture inside.

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The provision is outstanding

The manager and staff are highly qualified and work exceptionally well together. Their teaching is exemplary and is worthy of being shared with others. They make excellent use of the extensive range of exciting and well-resourced indoor and outdoor environments. Staff and children show absolute joy in playing and learning together.

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need to do better?

n The dedicated and passionate manager inspires staff to be reflective practitioners. Together, they analyse what each child needs and question how their curriculum can be adapted to help children more. Staff are extremely confident and competent to apply each child's interest to other options and continually add to the learning environment. For example, after an engaging story time, children excitedly find straw, sticks and small bricks to build houses. They take big breaths and blow to find out which ones will fall. Staff show a keen interest in children's conversations and support them to link words and ideas in their play. n The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) is an excellent advocate for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff work successfully with other professionals and parents. Together, they develop finely tuned plans and children with SEND achieve the best possible outcomes. Early

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need to do better?

years pupil premium funding is used well to support disadvantaged children. n Hands-on experiences encourage learning and provide a context for new words to be explored. For example, staff model how to use a mortar and pestle.

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need to do better?

30 January 2024 Children are keen to share their ideas about the purpose of these tools. They talk about 'mixing', 'mashing', 'stirring', blending', 'bashing' and 'to make it go crumbly'. Staff's sensitive questioning invites children to elaborate. Children become more confident to use a rich range of vocabulary and language structures. n Children gain a love of stories, songs and nursery rhymes which offer fun ways to explore the sounds and patterns of words. These are integral to the curriculum, rhythm and routine of the day. Children choose to read stories for themselves. They listen, enthralled, as adults read stories to them. Children choose books from the 'library cart' by the front door to share with their family. This helps parents to further embed children's learning at home. n The manager has an excellent oversight of the nursery. High priority is given to the staff's well-being and professional development. Together, they continually

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need to do better?

strive for improvement. Staff share their research, learning and ideas with each other to inform practice across the nursery. The success of the investment in training is clear to see. Staff demonstrate excellent levels of confidence, pride and expertise as they showcase their teaching abilities. n Partnership with parents is exceptional. Parents report that there is excellent communication from the nursery and that they feel very involved in their child's learning. The nursery goes above and beyond in offering advice and support to families. n Children's well-being and safety are of the highest importance to the manager and staff, who place children at the heart of everything they do. The nursery receives very positive feedback from local schools about children who have moved from the nursery and how they were exceptionally well prepared for the transition to school.

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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 103008 Local authority Cornwall Inspection number 10311926 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 34 Number of children on roll 49

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Name of registered person

Wheelgate House Child Education and Development Centre Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01637 830680 Date of previous inspection 16 April 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The Valley Nursery School opened in 1988. The nursery is a registered charity and operates Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round. There are 11 members of staff employed to work with the children. All childcare staff have relevant early years qualifications and the manager holds qualified teacher status. The nursery receives funding to provide early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 nursery 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 spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while at the nursery. 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 carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. 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.

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Inspection activities

n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation 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

30 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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