Cottam Nursery School

Inspection of Cottam Nursery School Sandy Lane, Cottam, Preston PR4 0LE

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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

Children feel happy and secure in this warm and exciting environment. They are welcomed with smiles by skilled staff who know them and their families very well. Staff help new children to settle into nursery. As a result, children create secure relationships with key adults, which helps to support happiness and well-being. Children engage well with the learning environment that staff have skilfully created. They learn new skills as they play happily. Children enjoy coming to the nursery.

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The provision is good

Children show that they love playing in the safe space of the garden. The older children chatter as they share pedal bikes. This promotes their physical development and helps them to develop their communication and language skills. Younger children play outside harmoniously alongside their older friends. Caring staff support new friendships by encouraging children to play together.

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The provision is good

Children have a positive attitude to learning. They behave well because of staff's gentle support and role modelling of positive behaviours. They follow routines such as lining up together to come inside. Older children remember the nursery's rules about how to behave and younger children are patiently guided to learn the new routines. Their personal and social skills are being very well supported through frequent use of praise. This helps children's confidence and well-being to flourish.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff work hard to develop very good parent partnerships. Staff share information via an online communication system, weekly newsletters and parents' evenings. Parents are kept updated about their child's progress and how they can support their learning at home. Parents' comments regarding the care and education their children receive are overwhelmingly positive. n Children benefit from frequent visitors to the setting. They join in football and yoga, which supports their developing physical skills. Staff teach the curriculum to help children learn about the world around them. Children learn through first- hand experiences as they care for the baby lambs and hunt for minibeasts. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are particularly well supported by highly skilled staff who use Makaton sign language. This helps children to communicate. Children are helped to make

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need to do better?

choices using visual cards. This supports them to manage feelings and behaviour. Children make very good progress in communication from their starting points. n Children are encouraged to be more independent. For example, older children pour their own water and carefully butter crackers using a knife as they prepare their own snack. Younger children are taught how to wash and dry their hands. These newly acquired skills help children on their journey to the next stage of

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need to do better?

2 May 2024 their education. n Staff have high expectations of how children should behave. They gently guide younger children to learn to follow instructions, such as sitting together to listen to a story. Children are beginning to learn about the boundaries for behaviour. n The manager recognises the impact of COVID-19 on the development of the children's language and communication skills. There are endless opportunities to develop children's language in the learning environment, including a new reading shed outdoors. Children's vocabulary is increased through interactive stories with knowledgeable adults. This helps them to learn new words, such as 'hatch' and 'chrysalis'. n The manager has developed a progressive curriculum that builds on children's knowledge, understanding and skills as they progress through the nursery. This is reflected well in the learning environment. For example, younger children

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need to do better?

carefully dip small sticks into paint and make colourful patterns; older children learn to pedal bikes with skill and coordination. Children develop their physical skills, both indoors and outdoors. n The curriculum for children's literacy and mathematics is broad. This does not always precisely identify the knowledge and skills that children need to gain at the various stages of development, such as learning about letter sounds. Early reading skills are not well sequenced all of the time and do not always build on what the children need to know for the next stage of their education. n The provider supports the staff's ongoing professional development at all levels. This includes a thorough induction for new staff, regular supervision and opportunities for purposeful professional development. Staff are trained to identify children with delayed language skills. This means that children are identified early and families are offered help from other agencies. Children make

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need to do better?

good progress with communication and language from their starting points.

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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 embed the curriculum consistently across the provision to help children to make the best progress possible in literacy and mathematics.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2665155 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10333095 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 68 Number of children on roll 68 Name of registered person Ludi Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01772728035 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Cottam Nursery School registered in 2021. The nursery employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8am 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 inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children interacted 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 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 a joint observation with the manager. n The manager spoke to the inspector about how they support children with

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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

2 May 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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