Ash Park Childcare Services Ltd

Inspection of Ash Park Childcare Services Ltd The Stables, Marage Road, Thirsk YO7 1UN

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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 are happy and settled in this small, friendly nursery. Staff promote warm, caring relationships and children become increasingly confident. For example, they approach staff readily to have their needs met. Older children happily interact with visitors, sharing their thoughts and ideas. They are excited to talk about what they saw on their walk to the local fire station, or what they did at their weekly forest school session. Children enjoy their learning. They are encouraged to be imaginative and particularly enjoy role play. Children are well-prepared for their future move to school.

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The provision is good

Staff create a well-sequenced curriculum that children access freely, according to their level of understanding. For example, younger children learn to talk about the police car and fire engine that they are playing with. Older children correctly work out an individual's profession from the job description read from their favourite book. They learn how to call the emergency services to summon help by calling 999. They also know that four and five added together make nine.

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The provision is good

Children are very well behaved. Although confident to communicate their own thoughts, children are used to listening to adults and heeding what they say. Group time is used successfully to discuss how children are feeling and to reinforce rules. This helps children to follow routines that promote their learning, development and well-being. Older children use terms such as 'kind hands' and 'listening ears' as they play.

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need to do better?

n There have been changes at the staff and management levels. However, this has had minimal impact on children's care and learning. The owner has maintained good oversight of the provision throughout the changes. Procedures to deputise work well in practice, and staff are deployed effectively. There is a useful range of staff qualifications and experience in each room. This means that there are always positive role models for newer or unqualified staff in all areas. n Staff get to know children and their families very well. They establish which children might need extra support from other agencies. They quickly implement plans to support children's communication skills. For example, they teach simple sign language so that children can make themselves understood as they play with their friends. n Staff effectively promote children's language. Children love books, stories and rhymes. Babies crawl to choose their favourite book. They enjoy the feel of the

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need to do better?

pages and colourful pictures. Toddlers confidently choose their favourite song and join in with the actions until they know the words. Older children remember the text in well-known stories and chat about the books with their friends after

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need to do better?

5 November 2024 lunch. n Staff work well with parents. Parents are pleased with the information they receive about how their children have spent their time. They receive regular observations and photos to inform which areas of learning are being covered. However, children's next steps are not always as focused as they could be so that learning can be consistently reinforced. For example, staff do not routinely share which song children are learning, or which sound, word or sign they need to practise. n Staff promote children's good health. Younger children confidently follow well- rehearsed routines for washing their hands before lunch and wiping their faces afterwards. Older children understand the importance of washing the germs off their hands. They enjoy the home cooked meals. They develop their physical skills and independence as they chop fruit and serve their own lunch. Staff remind children to drink water to keep their bodies and brains hydrated.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide a well-planned environment and good quality open-ended resources. This invites children to explore freely and engage fully with the learning opportunities. Older children have free access to outdoor play and learning throughout most of the day. Children learn about their community through regular outings to the local library, fire station or nearby parks. However, outdoor play is not consistently provided for all age-groups. For example, younger children do not access outdoor play as often as the older children.

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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 improve younger children's access to outdoor play and learning n consider an even more focused approach to children's language development to help speed up their progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2807931 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 10368769 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 70 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Ash Park Childcare Services Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01845526771 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Ash Park Childcare initially registered in 2021 and re-registered as a limited company in September 2024. It is situated in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. It operates from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year, except for bank holidays and two weeks at Christmas. Government funded early years education is provided for eligible children. There are 11 members of childcare staff employed. Of these, one holds a qualification at level 2, five hold a qualification at level 3, one holds a level 6 qualification and one has qualified teacher status.

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Inspection activities

n This inspection was carried out as a result of a risk assessment following information received about the provider. n The provider, deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum in each of the rooms. n The inspector and the provider carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity. n The inspector spoke with several parents, staff and children 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 looked at a sample of documents and records. This included evidence of the suitability of staff working in the provision and a range of other documentation required for the safe and effective management of the provision.

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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

5 November 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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