Barkston Ash Nursery School

Inspection of Barkston Ash Nursery School The Village Hall, Church Street, Barkston Ash, TADCASTER, North Yorkshire LS24 9PJ

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely excited and happy to arrive at this stimulating, safe and welcoming nursery. They confidently separate from their parents as they are warmly greeted by the knowledgeable and experienced staff, who know them well. Children form incredibly close and positive relationships with their key person. This contributes towards helping children to feel safe and secure.

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The provision is outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in this inspirational nursery. Managers are highly motivated to ensure all children get the best start in life. The nursery's ethos is to motivate, inspire and challenge children to achieve. Children demonstrate a positive attitude to their learning and thrive in the well-organised environment. Staff provide a variety of well-structured activities and experiences from a rich and stimulating curriculum. For example, children use binoculars to explore and search for frogspawn in the secret garden pond. Staff skilfully build on this, discussing the life cycle of frogs.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are sociable, friendly and behave exceptionally well. Staff are impressively good role models. They have high expectations of children and use a consistent and fair approach to managing children's behaviour. Children receive lots of praise and encouragement from staff. For example, children are rewarded with certificates for their good behaviour. Staff are particularly skilled in supporting children's emotional well-being to help them feel valued and safe.

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need to do better?

n Staff have an excellent understanding of how children learn. They know their key children exceptionally well and talk confidently about the progress they have made. Staff's teaching methods are precisely aligned to meet each child's individual needs. They guide children through a range of experiences to build on what they already know and can do. Staff skilfully intervene at appropriate times to add value to children's learning and challenge their thinking skills. Children flourish at this highly nurturing nursery. n Managers are highly reflective and keen to ensure high-quality practice is fully embedded. Staff receive regular observations and supervision sessions to identify strengths and areas for development. Staff are enthusiastic about their roles and express that they are extremely happy in their work. They appreciate the well-being support they receive. Managers ensure that all staff receive

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need to do better?

focused and effective professional development. This builds positive working relationships and makes staff feel valued. n Children are highly independent. They confidently hang up their coats, find their names to complete self-registration and change to their slippers. If they need support, staff are close by. Children feed themselves and have mastered the skill

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need to do better?

13 March 2025 of using a knife to spread butter on their crumpets at snack times. Staff support children to understand the need to wash their hands after using the toilet and before meals. n Partnerships with parents are extremely strong. Staff keep parents well informed about children's achievements and their next steps in their learning. Children take home activities to support learning at home. Parents have the utmost praise for the nursery and staff. They say that staff go 'over and above' their expectations and provide their children with exceptional care. Staff invite parents to attend stay-and-play sessions and continuously share children's learning with them. n Staff teach children how to lead healthy lifestyles exceptionally well. Children have lots of opportunities to be active. For example, they enjoy moving their bodies in a variety of ways to enhance their fitness. Children's appreciation of

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need to do better?

healthy living is enriched through visits from a dentist and role play to learn about good oral health. Children bring their own packed lunches and staff offer guidance to families in how to provide healthy and nutritious food for them to eat. n Staff provide children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) with a highly inclusive learning environment. Children benefit from targeted interventions where a gap in their learning has been identified. Staff work in close partnership with parents, the local authority and a wide range of other professionals, such as educational psychologists. Managers seek additional specialist training for staff to ensure they are highly skilled and able to provide targeted support. Children with SEND achieve the best possible outcomes. n Staff are highly effective at supporting children's communication and language development. Interactions between children and staff are exceptional. Staff play

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need to do better?

alongside children and reinforce language and narrate what children are doing. They ensure children are immersed in a consistent rich-language environment. In addition, staff attend specialist language training. Children are making excellent progress in their communication skills.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number EY256241 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 10380734 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Barkston Ash Pre School Nursery Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 01937 557 602 Date of previous inspection 20 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Barkston Ash Nursery School registered in 2003 and is located in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, one holds a qualification at level 5 and two hold qualifications at level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8am until 3.30pm. The nursery offers the government funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. 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

13 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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