Hillside Day Nursery

Inspection of Hillside Day Nursery Hillside Day Nursery, Potterswood, Britannia Road, Kingswood, BRISTOL BS15 8DB

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children of all ages thrive at the nursery. They gain confidence and are well behaved. Full of smiles, babies and children explore the inspiring indoor and outdoor learning environments. They all have very good relationships with the staff, who show genuine warmth and affection towards them. Babies receive sensitive support. Staff give reassuring cuddles when babies are wary of visitors. Staff foster children's self-esteem and show genuine pride when children achieve. Babies develop their mobility. They crawl at speed and develop confidence in their walking skills. Toddlers learn to negotiate steps in the garden, climb and slide, with staff close by to ensure their safety. Older children show their agility as they chase each other through the forest area. They work cooperatively to manoeuvre a trolley over the rough terrain, following verbal guidance from staff to help steer it in the direction they want. They develop their throwing and kicking skills as they play ball

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The provision is good

Staff understand children's individual needs, interests and abilities. They plan and implement a curriculum that provides many rich and varied learning experiences that build on what children know and can do effectively, overall. Children enjoy well-planned group activities that promote their thinking and understanding of the world. For example, staff talk with children about what they see and hear outdoors. Children suggest the names of birds they hear, such as 'seagull' and 'robin'. Staff encourage them to think about what birds eat, and children make clay worms.

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need to do better?

n Staff instinctively extend children's language and thinking skills. They model language, provide a narrative to children's play and introduce new vocabulary. They make good use of songs, rhymes and stories and ask questions to encourage children to share ideas and recall experiences. Staff encourage babies to learn good manners. They help them learn to say 'please' and 'thank you' or to use simple sign language. Older children enthusiastically talk to visitors about their experiences. n Staff promote children's social skills and independence from a young age. For example, the youngest children learn to drink safely from small glasses and to feed themselves. Older children serve their own lunch and pour their drinks. n The managers and staff are very enthusiastic in their roles and ensure that every child has fun in their learning and development. Staff join in children's play and interact well with them but also know when to stand back and let children

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need to do better?

explore and investigate freely. Children develop confidence and are well- prepared to move on to school. Staff want children to develop their early writing skills. They provide mark-making implements and encourage children to draw. Staff show toddlers how to create lines and circles with chalk, and they quickly

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need to do better?

11 March 2025 copy this. Children give meaning to the marks they make with paint and pens. n Staff provide very good opportunities for children to play and learn outdoors. All children enjoy daily outdoor play and scheduled time in the forest area. Staff develop children's interest in nature. For example, they encourage children to search for minibeasts and to describe the texture of trees and leaves. Staff model how to create a waterfall. Children learn to fill the top tier container sufficiently with water to make it tip and run into lower tiers. Children work together to scoop, fill and pour using various utensils. Children dig and transfer mud and bark in toy dumper trucks, supported by staff who introduce positional language and help toddlers describe which truck is 'bigger' and 'smaller'. n The management team has a good overview of where each child is in their learning but monitoring of the effectiveness of the curriculum lacks vigour. As a

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need to do better?

result, they do not successfully ensure that the most able children are fully challenged to extend their learning further. For example, staff know that some children show impressive counting skills and mathematical awareness but do not instinctively introduce more complex mathematical concepts as they go about their play. n Parents praise the support their children receive from staff. They feel well informed about their children's learning and appreciate the regular online updates and photos that give them an insight into their children's experiences.

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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 monitor the effectiveness of the curriculum more closely to ensure every child, including the most able, are suitably challenged to maximise their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY461545 Local authority South Gloucestershire Inspection number 10388239 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 33 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person Hillside Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0117 9604330 Date of previous inspection 3 July 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Hillside Day Nursery was first established in 2003 and re-registered under the current ownership in 2013. The nursery operates from premises within the grounds of John Cabot Academy in Kingswood, South Gloucestershire. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year, except for bank holidays. The nursery provides government funded childcare places. The owners hold early years qualifications at level 4. They are supported by 15 members of staff, of whom one holds an early years qualification at level 6, one has a level 5 qualification, nine hold early years qualifications at level 3 and four are unqualified or working towards relevant qualifications. The owners also employ catering staff and a maintenance worker.

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Inspection activities

n The nominated individual and manager joined the inspector on a learning walk of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. She observed the quality of education being provided for all children, both indoors and outdoors. n The inspector and manager evaluated the effectiveness of a group activity in the forest area. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the manager and directors about the leadership and management of the provision. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. n Parents shared their views of the provision verbally and through written testimonials.

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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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