Whitwood House

Inspection of Whitwood House 148b High Street, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 6BW

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

The passionate leaders create a nursery environment, where children feel extremely safe and secure. They develop a strong ethos of 'everybody counts', which means staff at all levels work hard to ensure children's voices are heard and their opinions are valued. This gives children a lovely sense of belonging at the nursery.

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The provision is good

Leaders and staff have high expectations of the children and what they can achieve. They have designed a sequenced curriculum that carefully supports children to build on what they already know and can do. This helps children to gain the skills they need to move up through the nursery rooms and then eventually on to school.

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The provision is good

Leaders implement a robust key-person system. Settling-in sessions are tailored to the individual child. Key persons gather lots of information about children before they start. They make accurate ongoing assessments of the children's development. Children's next steps are well planned for and provide sufficient challenge. Children are making good progress at the nursery.

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The provision is good

The provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is strong. Additional funding is used effectively. Targeted plans are implemented with integrity and, due to this work, children with SEND are making good progress.

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need to do better?

n Overall, interactions are of a high quality. The pre-school room is a strength of the nursery. For example, staff plan an exciting sock puppet activity linked to the story 'Stickman'. They revisit puppet designs made earlier in the week and enjoy seeing their designs come to life. They sew, glue and measure wool for their designs and engage deeply in their work. However, interactions are not consistently of a high quality. At times, staff overload younger children and babies with too much information and do not present language in the clearest way possible, to further extend their skills. n Staff prioritise the children's emotional well-being and help them recognise their feelings and emotions. For example, staff support children to register how they are feeling when they arrive at nursery. They help children understand their feelings and emotions through conversation and visual aids. n Leaders provide staff with regular supervision meetings. They effectively monitor

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need to do better?

staff interactions with the children and follow up by identifying areas for improvement. Staff are supported to further their knowledge and understanding of child development through professional opportunities. Staff welfare is prioritised. leaders implement an open-door policy to ensure that staff can raise

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need to do better?

6 December 2024 concerns about children's welfare and/or possible delays in development in a timely manner. This ensures swift action is taken and referrals are made to professionals quickly. n Leaders have ensured that fundamental British values are embedded throughout the nursery and children know that their voices are heard and respected. For example, children feedback whether they enjoyed their meal to the cook with coloured tokens. They vote on which activities they would like to do next. Staff encourage children to take turns and share their toys. n Staff encourage children to be independent and manage things for themselves wherever they can. For example, they wipe their noses, serve their own lunches and scrape their plates when they have finished. These skills will support children when they eventually move on to school. n Staff prepare children well to move up the nursery and for their eventual move

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need to do better?

to school. Teachers are invited to visit the children in nursery. Staff share relevant information with receiving teachers to ensure continuity and children make the best possible start. n Children's large-muscle development is promoted well. Children play outside in the well-organised garden which is equipt with various apparatus to support children's core strength development. They also enjoy regular trips to local woodlands to explore the natural environment and raise their heart rates. n Parents are very happy with the nursery. They report that the staff feel like an extension of their family. They appreciate how the settling-in procedure is tailored to their child's individual needs. They are thrilled with their children's progress and are grateful for all the information they receive about their children's progress and 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 strengthen the staff's knowledge of language development, to support younger children's communication and language skills to a higher level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY218871 Local authority Leeds Inspection number 10364312 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 54 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Whitwood House Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01937 842198 Date of previous inspection 30 January 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Whitwood House registered in 2002. The nursery employs 14 members of staff. Of these 12 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens all year round, Monday to Friday from 7.30 am to 6pm. It offers the government funded places for childcare.

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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 spoke 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 spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the nursery. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

6 December 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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