S4YC @ Little Owls Preschool & Nursery

Inspection of S4YC @ Little Owls Preschool & Nursery Rudheath Youth Centre, Gadbrook Road, Rudheath, Northwich CW9 7JL

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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

The manager has devised a curriculum which supports children to progress from their starting points. Staff allow toddlers to develop their problem-solving skills as they explore how keys fit into locks. Pre-school children learn mathematical language, such as full and empty, as they build sandcastles with staff. All children are making good progress and developing positive attitudes towards learning.

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The provision is good

Staff help children understand their emotions. They make excellent use of stories such as 'The Colour Monster' to help children express themselves. Staff encourage children to share how they feel and why. For instance, children explain that they feel sad 'when they run out of chocolate'. Staff provide children with clear expectations and role model how to be kind to each other. Consequently, children show care to their peers by helping them get their plate ready for snack time.

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The provision is good

Staff are dedicated to providing a warm and loving environment for children. When children start at the nursery, staff form close working relationships with parents. This helps them gather detailed information to help children settle quickly. Staff know all the children extremely well. Children display they feel safe and secure as they explore the nursery happily.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well. Detailed plans have been devised and are regularly monitored to ensure children's individual needs are being met. For example, children who have limited language are making positive progress from the daily targeted interventions staff implement. Children with SEND make good progress from their starting points. n Staff's interactions with children help them to develop new vocabulary. As children explore different objects, they repeat words staff have role modelled, such as stretchy and squishy. During daily routines, staff frequently sing to children to help develop their understanding. However, on occasions, some staff do not always give children enough time to think and respond to questions they ask. This does not consistently enhance children's language skills. n Staff skilfully develop children's curiosity and children eagerly participate in all

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need to do better?

experiences. Room leaders are skilled at supporting children to test out their own ideas. For example, with encouragement children independently investigate how best to fill the trough with soil to plant their seeds. Children persevere and display positive attitudes to learning. n Leaders understand the importance of developing early literacy skills. Children have ample opportunities to develop their small-muscle movements. They squish play dough in their hands and make marks on paper. This helps prepare children

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need to do better?

22 April 2024 for early writing skills. n Staff use strategies to promote reading at home. Recently, they have introduced a 'lending library' for children to borrow books to read with their families. However, staff have not fully considered how to implement the curriculum for literacy within the nursery. For instance, staff mostly choose books to read with the children at random. This does not always help build on children's knowledge and develop a love of reading. n Children are taught how to be respectful to others. Staff provide them with regular opportunities that support skills, such as turn taking. As a result, children show kindness to each other. For example, children happily take turns to fill the wheelbarrow with water to water the plants. n Children benefit from daily opportunities to promote their physical health. They enjoy long periods of time outdoors and get regular access to fresh air. Staff

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need to do better?

encourage children to be physically active. Children develop their strength and coordination as they skilfully learn to throw and kick balls. This helps support children progressing in their physical development. n The manager carefully considers how to use additional funding, such as early years pupil premium. She liaises with other professionals to gain advice on the most effective ways to meet children's individual needs. From this, she has invested in specific resources. This helps narrow any gaps in children's development and enhances their learning experiences. n Partnerships with parents are strong. The manager takes a proactive approach to any feedback she receives. For example, she has introduced an app to improve communication between staff and parents. As a result, parents express that communication now helps them play a role in their child's learning.

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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 with providing consistently high-quality interactions for children to further extend their language skills n provide staff with support to implement the curriculum for literacy to build on children's knowledge and love of books.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2699856 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10334319 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 17 Name of registered person S4YC Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07734705559 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

S4YC @ Little Owls Preschool & Nursery registered in 2022 and is located in Northwich. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above and one holds level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday term time only. Sessions are from 8am to 4pm. 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 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 the area manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children communicated with 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 special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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 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 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

22 April 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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