Child First Northampton

Inspection of Child First Northampton Moulton Lodge, Moulton Way North, Moulton, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN3 7RW

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children thrive in the warm and welcoming nursery. Staff guide children to develop their independence skills from the moment they walk in. They cheerfully greet every child as they enter and encourage children to put away their belongings. Children's physical development is well supported by staff. They take children for walks where children practise climbing and balancing as they clamber through the on-site woodland. Staff promote children's understanding of nature through first- hand experiences. Staff teach children to care for plants, grow vegetables and look after wildlife. Children confidently share knowledge they have previously learned as they talk about the tadpoles in the pond and the life cycle of frogs.

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The provision is good

Staff provide an engaging environment and offer warm interactions supporting children to feel safe and secure. Babies happily practise scooping and pouring with sand to develop the hand-eye coordination needed to use cutlery at mealtimes. Staff model good behaviour helping toddlers learn to take turns with instruments as they experiment with sound. Staff promote a positive attitude to learning. For example, staff offer lots of praise and encouragement, helping children persist with the tricky task of sticking clay to a tree. These experiences support children to make good progress in their learning and development.

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need to do better?

n The manager and her team have implemented a broad curriculum that builds on what children already know and can do. This means that learning is purposeful, and it matches children's level of development. Staff plan activities that guide children to make connections and remember what they have previously learned. Staff use stories that children know well during play. For example, staff prompt children to recall key phrases from a book as they build their own beanstalks adding branches and leaves to dough. Books are an important part of the curriculum and are used throughout the nursery. In addition, staff have created a book-lending library to support reading at home. n Overall, the quality of teaching is good. Most staff interact with children very well, offering challenge around the children's interests and abilities. However, at times staff do not fully engage with children during their self-chosen play. This

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need to do better?

can result in children losing interest and not fully benefiting from the learning experiences on offer. Although managers have targeted professional development to improve staff practice, this is not yet reflected in the consistency of staff interactions throughout the nursery. n Staff use assessment effectively to identify gaps in children's learning. They take swift action involving other professionals and work with parents to develop individual support plans for children who need them. Targets and tailored interventions are implemented to support children's next steps in learning

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need to do better?

31 July 2024 ensuring children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make rapid progress. n Staff have built strong partnerships with parents. They communicate through daily conversations and share photos, observations and home learning ideas through an online application. Parents are highly complimentary of the care provided to their children and feel well informed about their child's learning and development. n Staff plan transitions to support the smooth move from one room to another. For instance, children are accompanied by their key person while they become familiar with the new room and the daily routine. This helps children to feel safe and secure and to settle quickly. Those children who will be moving on to school are well prepared. Staff invite school teachers in to help children become familiar with them and plan activities that develop school readiness skills. n Children learn good hygiene and self-care skills. Staff teach even the youngest

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need to do better?

children good habits as they wash their hands before meals and wipe their own faces afterwards. Older children learn about the importance of dental hygiene. Staff use games and activities to support their understanding of oral health. n Staff plan enriching experiences for the children to help them learn about the world they are growing up in. For example, they visit the local care home where children take part in activities and story times with the residents. Furthermore, children benefit from special visitors. For instance, children learn about fire safety when the fire brigade visits. These valuable learning experiences further promote children's personal development.

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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 focus professional development opportunities to ensure all staff consistently offer high-quality education.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY342823 Local authority West Northamptonshire Inspection number 10337226 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 130 Number of children on roll 188 Name of registered person Child 1st Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01604 790 440 Date of previous inspection 22 August 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Child First Northampton registered in 2006. It employs 34 members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. Two staff hold qualified teacher status and early years teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors Charmaine Cayton Stephanie North

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspectors viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspectors completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspectors spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspectors talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspectors about how they support children with SEND. n The inspectors observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

n The inspectors carried out joint observations of group activities with the deputy manager. n The inspectors spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspectors 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

31 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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