Apple Blossom Day Nursery

Inspection of Apple Blossom Day Nursery Northumberland Street, Alnwick NE66 1LT

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

The management team has not ensured that the highest levels of hygiene are maintained across the nursery. There are weaknesses in practice, particularly during toileting routines, that have not been identified. This impacts on children's good health and prevents the nursery from obtaining a good standard overall.

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The provision requires improvement

Despite these weaknesses, children enjoy the time they spend in the nursery. Staff support many aspects of children's learning and development well, overall, including how children develop independence. This is particularly evident during lunchtime periods where even the youngest children develop skills such as peeling bananas. Older children show great skills in serving their own food and use jugs to pour themselves a drink. Children are encouraged throughout the nursery to develop their self-care skills, such as blowing their own nose. However, they do not always benefit fully from the early education opportunities available to them. Staff do not always help children to develop a deeper understanding of hygiene practices and encourage them to take part in routines such as handwashing.

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The provision requires improvement

Children behave very well throughout the nursery. Staff provide gentle, consistent reminders of expectations that children respond well to. This is evident when staff support two-year-old children to share equipment when exploring paint using brushes and diggers.

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need to do better?

n Children's good health is not fully supported. On the day of inspection, staff were not consistently vigilant enough to ensure that toilet facilities were clean before other children used them. Appropriate steps to prevent cross- contamination were not taken to prevent the spread of possible infection. However, when this was drawn to their attention, staff were attentive and took appropriate action. n The management team does not monitor staff practice well enough to identify inconsistencies in how some policies and procedures are implemented. Practices, such as thoroughly cleaning nappy changing mats after each child, are not consistent across all rooms and impact on children's good health. n Staff do not consistently model good practice and help children to understand the benefits of handwashing, such as after having their nappy changed. Children do not develop a deep enough understanding and a positive attitude towards

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need to do better?

these procedures and how this supports their personal development. n Staff working in the room for children aged from birth to two years support them well, overall. High expectations for children's communication skills are evident throughout the room. This is illustrated when staff sit alongside children as they play with small vehicles. They model the words 'red tractor' and children try to

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need to do better?

23 April 2024 say this back. n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who are disadvantaged is strong, overall. This is particularly evident in the two- and three-year-old room when children access the outdoor garden. Superb support is provided for children to join in with games such as those with a large parachute. Children shake the material vigorously and shriek with delight when they run underneath with staff. Funding is used very well by staff to provide intervention groups and support children's individual needs even further. n Older children benefit, overall, from quality interactions from highly qualified staff. They thoroughly enjoy playing games in small groups where they learn about teeth. Staff model words, such as 'molars', to support children's understanding. Children respond well to instructions and requests from staff. For example, when staff ring the hand bell, they know to tidy up.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with parents are strong. From the moment they arrive with their children, high-quality information is shared between parents and staff. Children are happy to say their goodbyes and hold staff's hand to go to their rooms. Children's learning is supported further at home with initiatives such as challenges to complete. n Staff report high levels of well-being and feel well supported in their role. They feel the manager's 'open-door' policy works well and they can share anything they feel they need to. Parents are involved in praising staff efforts. For example, they are able to put nominations in for particular staff members who they feel are worthy of additional recognition for their work.

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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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Due date

improve hygiene routines to avoid cross- contamination and prevent the spread of infection, to support children's good health. 29/04/2024

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should:

23 April 2024 n strengthen monitoring to ensure that policies and procedures are implemented consistently across the nursery to raise the quality of the provision further n help children to develop a deeper understanding of how to look after their bodies and manage their own personal needs.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY536113 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 10335530 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 84 Name of registered person Apple Blossom Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01665 510241 Date of previous inspection 19 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Apple Blossom Day Nursery registered in 2016 and is located in Alnwick. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one with early years teacher status. The nursery opens all year round from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday. 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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. 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, or 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. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager.

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Inspection activities

n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector through emails received.

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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

23 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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