ABC Castle Nursery

Inspection of ABC Castle Nursery 95 Church Street, Leigh WN7 1AZ

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Staff greet children with a hug on their arrival. Children cannot contain their excitement to enter this caring and nurturing setting. Staff are good role models and provide children with clear expectations for their behaviour. Children show kindness towards others and they behave well. They show positive attitudes towards their learning and are inquisitive individuals.

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The provision is good

Staff provide children with a curriculum that builds on what they already know and can do. For example, older children show a keen interest in how houses are built. They talk about the materials that are used to build a house, such as cement. They use this knowledge to enact the roles of builders and use wooden blocks to make models of houses. Younger children enjoy learning through the process of trial and error. For instance, they persevere until they have acquired the skill of operating electronic toys. Babies babble with delight while exploring gloop and shaving foam.

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The provision is good

Staff support children's emotional well-being exceptionally well. For example, they get to know children and their families during the settling-in process. Children feel safe and settle quickly. Staff encourage children to be creative. Children show high levels of creativity while they paint and create collages using cardboard. They learn about different artwork and are excited to draw in the style of different artists. Staff support children to become independent from a young age. Children help to tidy toys away and put their own coats on. This helps to support children in gaining the necessary skills in readiness for their eventual move on to school.

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need to do better?

n The setting has been relentless in its pursuit to raise standards since the last Ofsted inspection. It has welcomed support from the local authority. Self- evaluation is accurate. For example, through reflection, staff have redeveloped play areas for babies to better support their large-muscle skills. Babies show excellent physical dexterity during their play. They are confident to take on physical challenges and quickly develop new skills, such as walking. n Staff use research and their understanding of child development to plan an ambitious curriculum. Activities are purposeful and build on what children already know and can do. This means that children make good progress and get off to a flying start in their early education. n In the main, staff support children's communication and language skills effectively. For example, staff ask children meaningful questions during their play and listen to them with genuine interest. However, some staff do not use the

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need to do better?

correct vocabulary when interacting with children. This does not support children in making even better progress in their communication and language skills. n The setting gives high priority to children's personal, social and emotional

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need to do better?

21 February 2025 development. Staff understand the importance of ensuring that children feel emotionally secure. They teach children strategies that help them to regulate their own feelings and emotions. For example, children take part in yoga and meditation sessions. They learn breathing and relaxation strategies that assist them in keeping calm. Children show respect towards others and behave well. n The setting gives staff's well-being high priority. Their workload is managed well and their morale is high. Overall, effective arrangements are in place to support staff during supervision, training and appraisal sessions. However, the programme of professional development focuses on mandatory training. This means that there are some variations in staff's practice and they are not consistently supported to develop their skills and knowledge further. n The support in place for children with special educational needs and/or

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need to do better?

disabilities (SEND) is excellent. Staff ensure that children with SEND get the support that they need. Intervention plans are monitored with rigour and links with external professionals are rooted in mutual trust and respect. Gaps in learning close and children with SEND flourish. n Staff teach children effectively about similarities and differences between themselves and others. Children look at their reflections in mirrors and talk about what makes them unique. Staff provide opportunities for children to learn about celebrations and festivals. Children relish celebrating Chinese New Year. They learn about cultural traditions, food and clothing. Children develop an early awareness of what life is like in modern Britain.

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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 teach children the correct pronunciation of words, to better support their communication and language skills n refine the programme of professional development for staff, to help to strengthen their skills, practice and knowledge.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY476302 Local authority Wigan Inspection number 10352499 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 51 Number of children on roll 61 Name of registered person Blakeley, Kathryn

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reference number

Telephone number 01942 707767 Date of previous inspection 2 May 2024

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Information about this early years setting

ABC Castle Nursery registered in 2014 and is located in Leigh. The setting employs 14 members of staff, who all hold an early years qualification at level 2 and above. The setting opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm for 51 weeks of the year and is closed for bank holidays. The setting offers government funded places for childcare.

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Inspection activities

n Leaders joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. 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 carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection and their views were taken into account. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

21 February 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.

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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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