Whitehall Nursery School

Inspection of Whitehall Nursery School 15 Elphinstone Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 2EE

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children arrive happily at this friendly setting. They enter eager to play with their friends and explore the activities set up for them. Staff work hard to ensure they provide a range of motivating opportunities for children based on their needs and interests. For example, children enjoy exploring sea creatures in the water tray, using fishing nets to scoop them out. They talk with staff about how many they have and the different colours. This helps support children's developing mathematical and communication skills well. Staff have successfully prioritised children's speech and language development.

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate focus and engagement when exploring the outdoor environment. Older children play well together, discussing different toppings for their play dough cakes. Where younger children need support in their play, staff are kind and encouraging. This helps support children's positive attitudes to each other and their learning. Staff have designed their curriculum effectively. Children benefit from a well-planned environment which supports their engagement and focus. Children assist staff in setting up obstacle courses and sweeping paths to help which enhances their social skills. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well. All children make good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n Leaders, managers and staff have worked hard to improve practice and provision significantly since the last inspection. They have adapted the learning environments and their curriculum to ensure children are challenged and engaged in their learning. Staff have undertaken extensive training to develop their knowledge and skills. Leaders and managers have an effective oversight of the setting to support staff in their roles. n Staff foster children's positive behaviour by frequently praising them, which supports their self-esteem. Older children help their friends adjust their sun hats when getting ready to outside. Younger children willingly share crafting materials while creating artwork together, promoting their social skills. n Children are well-acquainted with the setting's routines. The staff engage positively with the children and have a good understanding of their needs. However, there are instances where staff perform tasks for the children that they

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need to do better?

can try themselves. For instance, staff often wipe children's noses and faces, and open their lunches for them. This does not fully support children's emerging independence skills. n Staff work hard to develop learning environments that suitably challenge children's thinking skills. Older children enjoy working together to make a balancing beam with crates extending their physical skills. Younger children

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need to do better?

1 July 2024 engage in thoughtful discussions with staff when sharing stories in the newly enhanced story area. n Children benefit from opportunities to develop their understanding of how to keep themselves healthy. Staff provide ingredients for children to take home to make nutritious meals with their families, to support their understanding of a balanced diet. During calm and relaxed lunchtimes, children talk about healthy eating, demonstrating their understanding. n Staff promote children's mathematical skills well. Staff encourage children to extend their number knowledge when playing hopscotch together outside. Staff patiently explain to children how to check they have counted correctly using their fingers to identify which numbers come next. Children excitedly join in to count their jumps. n Staff support children's vocabulary effectively. Children eagerly discuss with staff their experience of seeing the 'Red Arrows' over the weekend. Staff offer further

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need to do better?

explanations about 'chinooks' to enhance children's understanding. A variety of books and stories are made available to the children to foster a love of reading. n Children with SEND make good progress. Staff use funding effectively to purchase specialised toys and visual aids to help children develop concentration skills. Staff access a range of support to ensure children and their families are well supported. Staff ensure children have smooth transitions to school. n Leaders and managers are evaluative and reflective of their practice. They are committed to providing good quality care and education. They access effective support from the local authority to help enhance their knowledge and skills and take on additional training and qualifications. Staff are well supported in their roles and work well together as a team. n Communication with parents is good. Parents are supported well with ideas to help their children's learning at home. Parents express their thanks for the

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need to do better?

support they get as parents and how approachable staff are. They appreciate the opportunities they get to join in with 'parent days' to meet other parents. They talk of the good progress their children have made in their behaviour and 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 to develop a more consistent approach to helping children develop their independence skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 109333 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 10334404 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 15 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person White, Rosemary

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reference number

Telephone number 01424 436642 Date of previous inspection 5 February 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Whitehall Nursery School registered in 1982. It is located in Hastings, East Sussex. It is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9am until 3pm, term time only. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The setting employs three members of staff, two of whom have qualifications at level 2 and above. The manager holds a recognised early years qualification at level 4.

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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 joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individuals about the leadership and management of the setting. 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 Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

1 July 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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