Northfields Mirfield

Inspection of Northfields Mirfield Newgate Hall, Newgate, Mirfield WF14 8DD

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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

Staff encourage children to foster friendships and cooperative play, ensuring children feel confident and secure in their interactions. For example, babies take turns to come down a slide and children share resources when doing craft activities. Staff encourage emotional development. This is seen using family photos, a dedicated sensory room and structured sensory activities. This creates a sense of belonging and supports children's sense of self.

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The provision is good

Activities like composting and caring for the setting pet, instil a sense of responsibility and environmental awareness in children. This promotes good citizenship from an early age. The setting demonstrates strong community links and is responsive to the needs of the community. For example, they promote dental hygiene through collaboration with local dentists and offer flexible care for shift-working parents.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy physical play and staff provide encouragement and support for gross motor skills, such as climbing, balancing and outdoor play. Fine motor skills are developed through arts and crafts, food preparation and independent self-care tasks, for example putting on shoes and coats. Staff have strong relationships with children, promoting confidence, independence and secure attachments.

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need to do better?

n Staff focus on fostering positive relationships, independence, physical development and school readiness. They use a child-led learning approach, ensuring children are engaged and motivated in their learning experiences. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to incorporate early language skills, problem- solving, imaginative play and science, helping children develop holistically across all areas of learning. For example, children work on ways to rescue animals trapped in ice. They break the ice using tools and others go and try to 'boil' the ice in the role-play kitchen. n Staff actively engage with children in meaningful interactions, helping to expand their vocabulary and exploration skills. For example, they use story sacks and puppets to develop a love of reading. Babies enjoy singing nursery rhymes and can follow the actions. This supports early language development. n The setting operates a strong key-person system. This allows staff to build close

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need to do better?

relationships with children and support their emotional as well as language development effectively. Children feel confident in the setting and are keen to engage in the activities on offer. n The setting demonstrates a good approach to inclusion and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Appropriate referrals are made when needed, and additional funding is being used effectively to enhance

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need to do better?

7 March 2025 children's learning experiences. This ensures that children who need additional support receive the best possible outcomes. n Parents are positive in their views of the setting and are confident that their children progress well during their time at nursery. They recommend the setting to friends and family and value the information and support they receive about their children. n Staff are committed to fostering communication and language skills, introducing new words and encouraging conversations during activities. For example, older children lead conversations, particularly during meal-related discussions, showing confidence in communication. Babies repeat words during sensory play, demonstrating emerging language skills. However, occasionally, staff ask open- ended questions, but they do not follow up on the responses. This means that that educational opportunities are not maximised. n Staff actively engage with children in meaningful interactions, helping to expand

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need to do better?

their vocabulary and exploration skills. However, they do not always take into account what children already know and can do. Early mathematical concepts are not consistently embedded into activities where natural opportunities exist. n Leaders within the setting are empathetic and effective, with clear systems in place for staff training, recruitment and supervision. Managers are reflective in their approach to staff evaluation. Safeguarding procedures are well embedded and safer recruitment practices are rigorously followed. This ensures that staff are suitable to work with children and the environment remains safe. The setting maintains a strong safeguarding culture, with clear procedures in place to protect children and promote their welfare.

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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 plan more effectively to support and build on children's existing knowledge and skills in communication and language n improve staff understanding of individual children's learning milestones and next steps to provide more tailored support n ensure opportunities for children to develop their mathematical skills are consistently incorporated into activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2739981 Local authority Kirklees Inspection number 10371348 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 49 Number of children on roll 63 Name of registered person Northfields Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01924 763235 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Northfields Mirfield registered in June 2023. It opens each weekday for 51 weeks of the year from 7am to 6pm, except on bank holidays. There are currently 18 members of staff working in the nursery. Of these, 15 have an appropriate early years qualification at level 2 and above, including the manager, who has qualified teacher status. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged from nine months to four years.

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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 curriculum of the setting. n The inspector spoke with parents to seek their views of the setting. n The inspector and quality manager carried out a joint observation of staff interacting with children. n The inspector observed children and staff interactions, indoors and outdoors of the setting. n The inspector spoke to members of staff to get their views of the setting. n The inspector carried out a discussion with leaders and managers of the setting.

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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

7 March 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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