Willow Nurseries Limited

Inspection of Willow Nurseries Limited 1 Royal Croft, Liverpool L12 2BJ

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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 and staff have created a happy and safe environment for children. Children's laughter and conversations reverberate throughout the setting. Staff know the children well and take the time to build relationships with parents. This effective partnership with parents helps children to feel settled from the beginning of their attendance. For example, staff share ideas with parents on how to support children's communication and language development at home. This supports children's ongoing learning effectively. The manager and staff consider the needs of all children and provide a curriculum that sparks their interest. As a result, children develop a thirst for learning.

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The provision is good

Staff have created carefully crafted book areas, which entice children to read. Children enjoy reading with their friends. They frequently call them over to read a favourite story together. The extensive range of books is reflective of diversity, including different cultures and beliefs. Special events, such as Chinese New Year, are celebrated to help children to understand that people have different beliefs. This further supports children's awareness of their community and the wider world.

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The provision is good

Children have opportunities to undertake various tasks, which keep them motivated and give them a sense of importance. For example, pre-school children relish the opportunities to set the table at mealtimes. Younger children help to pass the bibs to their friends. Children beam in delight when they are praised for their actions. Staff actively encourage children to be independent. Babies learn to feed themselves with a spoon. Older children put on their coats and see to their own personal needs. This supports children's confidence and self-esteem effectively.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff have created a balanced curriculum and have clear intentions of what they want children to learn and how. Staff skilfully adapt activities to meet children's learning needs. For example, toddlers explore large ice balls in the water tray. They use various tools, such as hammers and saws, to help break down the ice. By the time they reach pre-school, they are able to use tools skilfully to extract ice from small moulds. This helps children to build on their learning in a sequential manner. n The support for children's emotional health and well-being is impressive. Children learn about how the different parts of their brain function and the impact this has on their emotional health. For example, staff teach children how to use various breathing techniques to help them when they are feeling sad. This helps children to regulate their emotions. n Staff have some systems in place to help children to understand the setting's

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need to do better?

rules. However, staff do not consistently support children to understand the

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need to do better?

26 March 2024 expectations of behaviour. For example, when children disagree over a toy, staff remind them to use 'kind hands', which does not always resolve the issue. This does not help children to fully understand the impact of their behaviour on others. n Staff are keenly aware of the importance of children becoming skilled communicators. Staff ask pertinent questions that help children to think critically and predict what will happen next. Children enjoy hearing and using new vocabulary, such as 'ascend', 'descend' and 'mountain peak', as they climb up and over the climbing frame. Babies hear lots of repetition of words, such as 'splash, splash, splash' as they play in the water. These activities support children's acquisition of language. n The curriculum for physical development is strong. Staff provide lots of opportunities for babies to crawl and pull themselves up. This helps babies to develop the skills needed for walking unaided. Toddlers develop the dexterity to

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need to do better?

manipulate the pestle and mortar to grind up herbs. Consequently, children develop confidence in their physical abilities. n Mathematics is firmly embedded in the setting. Younger children are introduced to counting through songs, such as 'Five Current Buns'. Older children count confidently to five. They learn about matching and sorting as they set the table for meals. Children also develop an understanding of mathematical concepts, such as 'half', 'whole' and 'more than'. This helps children to get a good grounding in early mathematics. n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is effective. Staff work in partnerships with parents, teachers, and professionals to ensure that children get the right support. Staff skilfully adapt the curriculum and environment. For example, they have created quiet spaces where children can go when they feel overwhelmed. This helps children to re-engage in their

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need to do better?

learning. Ultimately, children make steady 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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should:

n support staff to help children manage their own behaviour and understand how it affects others.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2727635 Local authority Liverpool Inspection number 10337785 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 30 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person Willow Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0151 228 8081 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Willow Nursery Limited registered in 2023 and is situated in Liverpool. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, four members of staff hold a level 2 qualification, eight are qualified at level 3, and one at level 6. The nursery provides funded early years 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. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector spoke to the children to find out about their time at the nursery. n The inspector reviewed information about staff suitability, including documentation confirming staff have had Disclosure and Barring Service checks. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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 March 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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