Ladybirds Neighbourhood Nursery

Inspection of Ladybirds Neighbourhood Nursery Halton Lodge Children's Centre, Grangeway, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 5LU

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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

The nursery provides all the children in its care with a supportive, clear and ambitious curriculum. This helps children to be curious, engaged individuals who make good progress in their learning. Staff understand the importance of continuously enhancing the environment, and children benefit from their planning 'in the moment'. For example, staff add a pretend coffee shop to the autumn area when children show an interest in pretending to make hot drinks now that the weather is changing. This allows children to build on their curiosity and imagination and to develop new interests in their own time.

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The provision is good

Leaders understand the importance of providing a language-rich environment. They encourage staff to provide lots of opportunities for children to use key words. This allows children to express their ideas and try out new vocabulary throughout the day. Children have the opportunity to develop their personal skills and confidence as they progress through the nursery. Staff help children to understand the importance of taking calculated risks. For example, staff and children wear puddle suits and slide down the hill on wet tarpaulin. This allows children to explore risks in a monitored manner in the presence of adults. Children learn to behave safely, and to think and respond to risks as they occur.

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need to do better?

n Staff have a good use of spoken language and leaders continually support their work to build on children's communication skills. For example, staff narrate children's play or ask appropriate questions. They provide key vocabulary and try and increase the use of these words within the environment. This supports children to develop and use language effectively within their learning. n The highly motivated leaders understand the needs of the families they support. They work closely with outside agencies to enhance their provision. For example, to promote healthy lifestyles, including oral health, leaders invite parents to take part in activities run by partner agencies. However, leaders do not robustly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of some of the strategies they implement. This means they do not always know the difference these are making to children. n The nursery environment is very well planned. Children settle into new rooms

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need to do better?

and environments extremely well. This is due to a clear, progressive structure and curriculum. Staff follow and implement this effectively within each room. This means that all children understand how to access the environment and make the most of the learning on offer. n The key-person system is mostly used to good effect. Children also have a second key person that can step in when needed. Staff get to know children's personal needs well and they provide effective emotional support. However,

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need to do better?

27 September 2024 information from assessment is not consistently understood by every child's key person. This makes it tricky for them to tailor learning opportunities to help rapidly support progress. n Leaders support staff to continually improve their understanding of ways in which children learn. For example, staff have access to online learning related to their role. This supports staff to stay up to date on current training and issues so that they can provide children with good-quality teaching and opportunities for learning. n Staff set high expectations for children's behaviour and conduct. They support children to understand why rules are in place and are on hand to support or provide further clarity should it be needed. For example, staff explain to children why resources have had to be moved from the table at lunchtimes. This means that children understand the expectations, which helps them to stay safe and to

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need to do better?

learn. n Leaders work effectively to identify and support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. For example, they work closely with parents, implement targets and put plans in place for children while waiting for additional professional support. This means that children continue to progress and any gaps in their learning do not continue to grow.

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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 monitor and evaluate the impact of curriculum strategies more closely, to help maintain high-quality provision for children n support all staff to use assessment even more effectively and precisely target individual children's next steps in learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY279805 Local authority Halton Inspection number 10351340 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 66 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person Pre-School Learning Alliance

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reference number

Telephone number 01138417802 Date of previous inspection 26 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Ladybirds Neighbourhood Nursery registered in 2005. It is independently operated from designated rooms within Halton Lodge Children's Centre in Runcorn, Cheshire. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff. Of these, 14 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year, excluding bank holidays. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery provides government funded places for children aged from nine months to four years.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children 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 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 with the inspector. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.

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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

27 September 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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