Blue Skies Private Day Nursery

Inspection of Blue Skies Private Day Nursery 184 Crewe Road, Alsager, STOKE-ON-TRENT ST7 2JA

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

The manager and staff know that children learn best when they feel safe and secure. Children's laughter and conversations echo throughout the nursery. Staff are kind and place children at the centre of everything they do. Babies seek out staff for reassurances when they feel unsettled. Staff are nurturing and give babies the comfort they need. As a result, babies settle quickly. Exciting learning opportunities ignite children's interest and thirst for learning. For example, children learn about farm animals from real hands-on experiences. They enjoy caring for the lambs and talking to the farmer. This helps children to gain a greater insight into the world around them.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They use effective methods to praise and reward children. This helps children to learn positive behaviours, such as sharing and taking turns. Furthermore, children demonstrate positive attitudes to learning. Staff support children to understand their own feelings and emotions. As a result, children are confident and have a sense of pride in their achievements.

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The provision is good

Songs and rhymes are a constant throughout the nursery. Staff and children spontaneously burst into songs. For example, when children are washing their pretend babies, staff sing 'wash, wash, wash your face'. This provides great opportunities for children to develop their speaking skills as they join in with songs. Children learn to be independent. Babies learn to feed themselves with a spoon. Older children help to set the table and learn to serve themselves. This supports children's confidence and self-esteem.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff have worked together to revitalise the curriculum. The new curriculum is carefully sequenced and enables staff to plan an exciting range of learning opportunities around children's interests. As a result, children are actively engaged in their learning and make good progress. n The manager and staff recognise the importance of children attending the nursery on a regular basis. They work in partnership with parents to ensure that children are regular attenders. However, on a small number of occasions, staff do not fully consider how to support children who are absent for long periods of time. This means that some children do not receive their full education entitlement. n The manager has made significant improvements since the previous inspection. She strives to make further improvements and has a clear development plan for the nursery. For example, she has plans to develop the outdoor play area to

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need to do better?

enhance the outdoor curriculum for children. All staff attend regular training, which has contributed to the improvements at the nursery. The manager also

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need to do better?

24 April 2024 supports them to gain higher qualifications and has effective systems to supervise staff. However, there is little support provided for the manager to help ensure that she maintains the good-quality provision for children. n There is a strong focus on supporting children's communication and language development. Staff are skilled communicators who engage in meaningful discussions with children. For example, staff ask children pertinent questions about the process for planting broad beans. This provides opportunities for children to use new words, such as 'compost', 'trowel' and 'scoop'. Overall, children become confident communicators. n Children relish the opportunities to re-enact stories. Toddlers are enthralled as they wade through the water and giggle in delight as they throw the flour in the air to represent a snowstorm. They repeat the narrative, 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt', as they move through the story. These lively activities have a positive

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need to do better?

impact on children's early literacy. n Mathematics is firmly embedded and is carefully woven into all activities. Children count with confidence and understand that zero has a place value. Younger children learn about numbers through songs, such as 'Five Little Monkeys'. Children also develop an understanding of mathematical concepts, such as 'short' and 'long'. They competently match and sort the plates and cutlery as they set the table for meals. Consequently, children develop positive attitudes towards early mathematics. n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is effective. Staff work harmoniously with parents and professionals to monitor and assess children's progress. They make swift referrals to other agencies when they identify gaps in children's learning. Verbal and visual aids, such as pictures, help children to make choices and have a voice. These well-timed interventions

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need to do better?

help 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 tighten the support for the manager to help sustain and maintain the improvements across the nursery n strengthen the systems to ensure that children receive their full educational entitlement.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY343285 Local authority Cheshire East Inspection number 10294051 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 31 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Woodcock, Sheridan

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reference number

Telephone number 01270 883893 Date of previous inspection 3 May 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Blue Skies Private Day Nursery registered in 2007. It is located in Alsager. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7am to 6pm. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued 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 The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector spoke to the children to find out about their time at the nursery. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

24 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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