Apple Blossom Day Nursery

Inspection of Apple Blossom Day Nursery Northumberland Street, Alnwick NE66 1LT

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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

Children are lively, curious and confident at this friendly and welcoming nursery. Staff build lovely relationships with children. They are caring and kind. Staff ask children each morning how they are feeling. They encourage children to join in a song that describes how they are special and unique. This helps to build children's confidence and self-esteem. Staff remind children of the 'golden rules' that are followed throughout the nursery. These include using manners, not running indoors and being kind to their friends. Staff encourage children to vote for their choice of snack and provide the food that has the most votes. This helps children to learn about fairness and to respect for the views of others.

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The provision is good

Staff understand well where children are in their development and what support they need for their future learning. Their ambitions for children as they move through the nursery are clear. Interactions between children and staff are friendly and warm, such as when children explore with jigsaws and fill toy vehicles with oats. Children are happy and focused as they smash ice with toy mallets and roll toy tractors through soil in the pretend farm. Children grow in their independence. Staff encourage them to serve themselves at lunchtime, pour their drinks and learn to use cutlery safely. Children learn how to use buttons and zips and go to the toilet independently. Managers have put a number of policies and practices into place since the last inspection to improve hygiene routines and support children to manage their own personal needs.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children's learning well. They provide clear instructions and model new skills. Staff use scrapbooks to remind children of their learning experiences and achievements. They update and share information about children's progress as children move from room to room or on to school. n Overall, there is strong support for children's developing language. Staff introduce new words through stories and songs. However, at times, staff do not organise group times to provide all children with opportunities to take their turn in discussions and to express their own ideas. n Staff repeat back the words that children say to show them they are understood. However, staff do not consistently organise daily routines or use the space to develop children's listening skills further. For example, at times, noise levels reduce the ability of children to hear conversations or instructions. n Staff plan good support for children's physical development. Children stretch as

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need to do better?

they play parachute games, roll toy cars and paint on large rolls of paper. Staff encourage children to move and dance to help them get ready to learn. They use yoga techniques to soothe and calm children and help them to relax. n Staff plan opportunities for children to develop their coordination. For example,

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need to do better?

11 March 2025 children use a range of tools, including hammers and tweezers. They cut dough with scissors and explore with magnifying glasses. n The nursery works well with other professionals in health and education to support children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff follow strategies using objects, pictures and sign language to help children, who may need additional support, to communicate. n Staff help children to learn about life outside the nursery, such as through trips and outings to the library, church and parks. The nursery welcomes visits from local police officers and farmers to help children to learn about their roles in the community. n The nursery works closely with parents and carers. Staff set challenges for them to try at home, such as small science experiments or choosing favourite books for children to bring in. Managers invite parents to use the nursery's learning

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need to do better?

library and to attend special events, such as a Mother's Day lunch. n Staff make parent packs to help provide them with advice on topics such as healthy eating or supporting children when moving home. Parents describe the nursery and its staff as happy, positive, inclusive and friendly. n Staff support each other and work very well together as a team. Managers provide good support to staff through meetings, training and observations of their practice. Parents are asked to vote for a 'staff member of the month'. This helps to support staff's well-being. n Managers gather the views of parents, and staff reflect well on experiences for children in order to drive continuous improvement. They consult with parents and staff on how best to use additional funding the nursery receives.

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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 consider how better to deploy staff during group times, in order to provide more individual support for children's learning n review daily routines and the use of space in order to reduce noise levels and support children's listening skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY536113 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 10350125 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 84 Name of registered person Apple Blossom Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01665 510241 Date of previous inspection 23 April 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Apple Blossom Day Nursery registered in 2016 and is located in Alnwick. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, 12 staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one who holds early years teacher status. One member of staff is working towards level 3. The nursery opens all year round, from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday. It offers government funded childcare.

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Inspection activities

n Managers discussed with the inspector how the nursery organises and plans the curriculum and experiences for children. The inspector viewed the space used by the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact on children's learning. The inspector and manager evaluated an activity together. n The inspector discussed with managers how they help to keep children safe. This included evidence about first-aid training and the suitability of those working on the premises. n The inspector held discussions with the managers and staff. She took into account the views of parents.

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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

11 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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