Palacefields Daycare Centre

Inspection of Palacefields Daycare Centre Palacefields C J School, Badger Close, Palacefields, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 2QW

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Staff create a calm, friendly and nurturing environment for children. As a result, children are happy and thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery. They arrive excited to spend time with their peers and staff. Staff create strong bonds with children. They stay close to children and provide lots of cuddles and reassurance, which helps them to feel safe and secure.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. They are kind and caring to their friends. For example, pre- school children give aprons to their peers before they begin playing in the water tray. Staff are positive role models and have high expectations of all children. They teach children to take turns and share the resources. Toddlers wait patiently for their turn to choose a nursery rhyme puppet out of the bag, during their singing activity.

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The provision is good

Staff teach children about different emotions as they read books. For example, they talk to toddlers about how characters may be feeling. Pre-school children use emotion bags to discuss how different activities make them feel and they discuss the reasons why. Children take part in yoga sessions and relaxation activities. This helps children to regulate their emotions.

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need to do better?

n Staff create a broad and balanced curriculum for all children. They identify the prior experiences children arrive with. Staff have a secure understanding of where children are up to in their development. They plan appropriate next steps in children's learning by focusing on their current interests. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress from their starting points. n Children show positive attitudes towards learning. Staff plan a range of exciting activities for children. Toddlers take turns to add ingredients into the bowl and mix them together, as they make their own play dough. Pre-school children paint the planets in the solar system and confidently talk about the features of different planets. These opportunities help to develop children's listening and attention skills as they participate in group activities. n Overall, children's communication and language skills are promoted well.

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need to do better?

Children join in singing nursery and action rhymes. They also repeat familiar phrases in books as they listen to stories together. However, the curriculum for communication and language is not always implemented consistently throughout. For example, staff do not always model the key vocabulary that they want children to learn. This does not help children extend their vocabulary further. n Staff promote diversity well. They teach children about the different cultures of

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need to do better?

6 February 2024 those children that attend the nursery. Staff discuss the dynamics of different families. They celebrate what makes each other unique. This helps children to learn about the similarities and differences between themselves and others. n Children's physical development is promoted well. Toddlers use spoons to scoop up the rice, as they fill metal teapots. They use spades to dig in the soil, as they make an environment for the dinosaurs. This helps to build children's small- muscle movements. Pre-school children ride around on tricycles and scooters. They climb over and under equipment on the obstacle course. This helps to develop children's large-muscle movements. n The special educational needs coordinator is skilled at supporting children with SEND. She works collaboratively with parents and professionals to ensure staff are meeting the needs of individual children. Children with SEND benefit from

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need to do better?

knowledgeable staff, who get to know their unique needs well. n The manager completes regular staff supervisions. She prioritises staff well- being and staff comment on how valued and supported they feel in their job roles. Staff access a range of professional development opportunities. This helps to develop their practice further, which has a positive impact on children's care and learning. n Parent partnerships are strong. Parents comment on how friendly and supportive staff are. They praise staff for keeping them up to date on their children's development. Staff also share activity ideas with parents so they can continue their children's learning at home. This helps to provide continuity in children's learning and development.

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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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should:

n support staff to effectively implement the curriculum for communication and language.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 303479 Local authority Halton Inspection number 10317161 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 30 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person Palace Fields Day Care Centre Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01928 755374 Date of previous inspection 18 May 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Palacefields Daycare Centre registered in 2006. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery opens all year round, from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Care is also provided for school-aged children from 8am to 9am and 3pm to 5pm. 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Parents, staff and children shared their views with the inspector. 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 of an activity and evaluated the effectiveness together. n A sample of documentation was reviewed by the inspector.

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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

6 February 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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