Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Altrincham

Inspection of Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Altrincham Mere House, 34 Market Street, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 1PF

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Staff provide children with a lovely experience at the nursery. They get to know children very well and form strong bonds with them. New babies receive personalised settling-in sessions which help staff learn about their needs and interests. Staff recognise that new children need more support and offer them a wealth of cuddles and reassurance. Promoting children's happiness and emotional well-being is a real strength at the nursery. Staff manage children's behaviour well and sensitively support them to understand what is acceptable. Children remind each other of key rules, such as 'not banging the chicks cage'. They have a good understanding of what is expected of them at nursery.

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The provision is good

The curriculum for communication and language development is seamlessly threaded throughout the different learning experiences. Staff recognise the importance of promoting children's language and spend a lot of time narrating and singing to them. From the baby room upwards, children hear a broad range of interesting vocabulary. When engaging in discussions about the nursery chicks, children use the word 'incubator' to describe where the eggs hatched. For children who need more support to communicate, staff use some basic sign language. This provides all children with lots of opportunities to practise their communication skills in their preferred way.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are very knowledgeable and have a good understanding of the different ways that children learn. They plan a broad and well sequenced curriculum that supports children to make good progress. Leaders consider what children will need to know before they start school. They adapt their curriculum appropriately to support the different age groups in working towards these skills. Children build on their existing knowledge and are well prepared for the next stage in their learning. n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is well embedded. Robust procedures for assessing children means that gaps in learning are identified swiftly. Leaders are pro-active in their approach to early intervention and implement additional screening tools to help them. Timely referrals to outside agencies are made and staff implement targeted support for children while they wait for outside input. This helps children with SEND to make

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need to do better?

good progress from their individual starting points. n Overall, children have a lovely attitude to learning. Toddler children have some attention skills beyond what is expected for their age. They concentrate intently as they learn to use tweezers to pick up minibeasts and engage in learning for long periods. However, at times, staff in the pre-school room do not recognise when quieter children need more support to join in with what is on offer to

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need to do better?

30 April 2025 them. Consequently, some children spend too long not engaged in play and learning. n Mathematical development is carefully threaded throughout the curriculum. Younger children learn to count on rote from one to five. Older children can recognise numerals beyond 10. Staff support children to recognise and create their own patterns during creative activities. This builds children's confidence with mathematics and develops some of the skills needed for their eventual move to school. n Generally, the organisation of the nursery routines is good. Children get to know the daily routine well and staff use visual timetables to help them know what is happening. However, transition times in the pre-school room are not always well executed. For instance, staff prepare children for outdoor play next to children who are having a quiet story. The noise level is high which is distracting and hinders children's learning experience.

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need to do better?

n Children demonstrate lovely levels of independence. Children serve their own meals and carry their plates. They use knives and forks accurately to cut up food and feed themselves. Children pour their drinks from small jugs and require very minimal support. They tend to their own care routines, such as washing their hands and using the bathroom. Children are confident and eager to complete tasks for themselves. n Parents are happy with the quality of care provided. Leaders involve parents in children's learning from the beginning and throughout their time at the nursery. They use an online application with a translate function to ensure all parents can access information. Parents value the communication and eagerly take part in home learning activities. This provides continuity in children's care and learning. n Staff feel valued and well supported by leaders. They receive ongoing coaching and access training appropriate to their roles. Leaders recognise that staff learn

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need to do better?

in different ways and plan bespoke professional development based on their individual needs. This helps staff to provide strong and consistent care and education to children.

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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 support staff to recognise when quieter, or less confident children need more encouragement to engage in play and learning n review the organisation of transition times in the pre-school room.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY553670 Local authority Trafford Inspection number 10379508 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 59 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person CC Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07739343512 Date of previous inspection 17 June 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Altrincham registered in 2017 and is situated in Trafford. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, 12 hold early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery offers the government funded places for childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The leaders and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the registered individuals about the leadership and management of the nursery. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. 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

30 April 2025 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

30 April 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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