Hopscotch Nursery

Inspection of Hopscotch Nursery B H F Priory Centre, Pontefract Road, Barnsley S71 5PN

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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 enjoy the time they spend at the nursery. They form happy and positive relationships with kind and caring staff, who know them well. Children display a strong sense of belonging. Staff are attentive and respond warmly to children's individual needs. For example, they provide them with cuddles when needed and reassurance and praise throughout the day. There are clear procedures for settling children and building relationships with parents and carers from the very beginning. For example, the youngest children follow routines from home to ease their transition. This helps children to feel safe and secure within the nursery.

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The provision is good

Children show they enjoy being at the nursery. There are lots of smiles and laughter as they play together. Staff encourage children to develop their own friendships. They offer lots of warm praise and celebrate children's achievements. Staff have high aspirations for children and plan a clear curriculum designed to teach children a range of skills. This supports children's next steps in learning. For example, staff encourage children to be independent from the earliest days by making choices. Children consider risks and their safety during their play. Children show increasing confidence in managing their own needs.

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need to do better?

n The provider is committed to providing a curriculum that enables children to smoothly move on to their next stage in education. On entry to the nursery, staff gather information from parents to find out what children already know and can do. They use this information to plan for children's next steps in learning. Staff use regular assessments to quickly identify gaps in children's progress. They use additional funding effectively to provide targeted resources and experiences that some children require to learn and develop. n On the whole, staff support children's communication and language well. During most activities, they talk to children, ask them questions and listen to their responses. Staff read stories with expression and children listen attentively and predict what might happen next. However, as listening and joining in stories is children's choice, many children do not choose to take part. This limits the

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need to do better?

learning opportunities that good-quality storytelling offers to children to extend their growing vocabulary and understand the context of a story. n Staff support children to develop their mathematical skills well. They plan activities that enable children to explore different mathematical concepts, such as counting and comparing size and capacity. Children eagerly count and use numbers during their everyday activities. For instance, when reading a story, they count how many legs the odd pet has and compare this to how many legs they have. This helps children to make good progress in their mathematical learning.

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need to do better?

24 February 2025 n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is a strength of the nursery. Staff have a detailed understanding of what children need to learn next and what their specific targets are. Regular meetings with families ensure that all information is shared and referrals to external agencies are made at the earliest opportunity. There is a separate soft-play room, where children can spend time or need time to regulate their emotions. Children with SEND make good progress. n Staff build excellent relationships with parents. They provide an inclusive environment where all children and their families are welcomed. Staff ensure that parents are kept up to date about children's ongoing care and the progress they make. Parents comment positively about the quality of the care and education their children receive and the family support that has been invaluable to them.

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need to do better?

n The provider takes time to identify any training needs that staff may require through discussion and observations of their practice. This ensures that staff have the skills and knowledge to provide a quality learning environment for children. n Safe recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that only suitable people work with children. However, the nursery's induction procedures are not robust enough to ensure that new staff quickly understand all their new roles and responsibilities thoroughly. This includes, room specific tasks such as personal care routines and food and milk preparations.

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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 ensure that all children have daily opportunities to listen and take part in good quality storytelling, songs and rhymes to support their growing vocabulary and communication skills n strengthen induction procedures to provide staff with the skills and knowledge to carry out their roles and responsibilities thoroughly.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2773017 Local authority Barnsley Inspection number 10389890 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 74 Name of registered person Hopscotch Early Years Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07368856165 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Hopscotch Nursery registered in 2024 and is located in Barnsley. The nursery employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, two staff hold a childcare qualification at level 6, one member of staff at level five and 10 staff at level two and above. The nursery opens all year round, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. It offers government funded childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at the nursery. 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 carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity with the deputy manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. 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

24 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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