Abbeydale Cottage Nursery

Inspection of Abbeydale Cottage Nursery Abbeydale Road South, Dore, SHEFFIELD S17 3LJ

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Staff are nurturing, and they warmly welcome children when they arrive at this vibrant and friendly nursery. They greet children eagerly and are reassuring and attentive to children's needs. Staff know that children learn best when they feel safe and secure. As a result, they spend time getting to know children and develop positive relationships with them. Staff create a caring and fostering environment in which children can grow and develop. Consequently, children are excited to learn and settle quickly, eager to play.

p.2

The provision is good

Children are curious learners. Staff plan a curriculum that supports children to continuously develop their learning as they move through the nursery. They use children's interests effectively to create activities and experiences for them. For instance, children learn about kindness. They visit their local community care home and sing, make crafts and play parachute games with the residents. Staff uses these visits to enable children to flourish, empathise, make friends and respond to others with respect and compassion.

p.2

The provision is good

Children have lots of opportunities to use their imaginations and be creative. Staff encourage children to develop their writing skills and control over tools, such as using scissors, tweezers and different objects for painting. For instance, children cut grass in the fields and pick up vegetables with tweezers.

p.2

need to do better?

n Managers have designed a curriculum that is based around children's needs. Staff are fully aware of children's interests, and they know what each child needs to learn next. They are led by what children want to do. Staff value and respect children's choices and are committed to providing further opportunities. For example, staff source funding to provide resources that support children's development and next steps in learning. n Staff place a strong focus on children's communication and language. They have enhanced the programme for communication using visual aids, such as Makaton signs and symbols to introduce vocabulary, to help children to make choices and communicate. However, some staff do not fully understand how to apply these strategies. n Partnership with parents and carers is secure and highly effective. Staff keep parents updated about what their children are learning and how they can support their children's learning at home. Furthermore, staff get to know

p.2

need to do better?

children's extended families. They invite parents and family members into the nursery to teach children about their occupations. For example, children are fascinated to hear about the work of firefighters. This supports children's understanding of the wider world around them and how to keep themselves

p.2

need to do better?

16 January 2025 safe. n Managers demonstrate exceptional leadership skills. Although a few of the staff are new, they work well together and there is a strong team spirit. Managers have a clear self-evaluation process in place and aspire for the nursery to be a beacon of exceptional practice. n Children make their own choices and can choose whether to be inside or outside, whatever the weather. They explore the extensive, enclosed field, where they enjoy nature walks and jumping in muddy puddles, giggling with delight. Staff also provide children with opportunities to climb, balance and run freely in the outdoor area. This helps to develop children's large-muscle movements. n Children enjoy counting as they sing number songs. Staff teach children to count how many farm animals they can find and describe how many more scoops of water to fill their container. However, staff do not foster children's knowledge of

p.2

need to do better?

wider mathematical concepts, such as weight, measurement and height, as effectively. n The manager recognises the importance of continuous professional development. All staff receive regular supervision sessions and training to improve their practice and the experiences for children. For example, some staff recently accessed training for forest school activities. This has helped them to provide activities to encourage children to take risks. Consequently, children show high levels of safety in their play, for instance, when cutting holes in the container and filling this with water to make a fountain.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n extend children's knowledge of wider mathematical concepts n support staff to fully understand how to support children's early language and communication, such as when using symbols, to help children to become confident communicators.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY492910 Local authority Sheffield Inspection number 10372146 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 180 Number of children on roll 134 Name of registered person Abbeydale Cottage Nursery Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01142365751 Date of previous inspection 3 April 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Abbeydale Cottage Nursery registered in 2025 and is located in Dore, Sheffield. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery employs 32 members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one member of staff at level 6 and three staff who hold early years teacher status. The nursery provides government funded childcare.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years foundation stage curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the manager, the owners and managing directors about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

p.5

Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector accompanied the children and the staff on a walk to the fields.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

16 January 2025 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6