Beal Vale Pre-School Nursery

Inspection of Beal Vale Pre-School Nursery Beal Vale Primary School, Salts Street, Shaw, OLDHAM OL2 7SY

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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

Parents and children are warmly welcomed as they arrive at the caring and nurturing preschool. Children cannot contain their excitement as they rush to see their friends and favourite toys. They benefit from a stimulating environment that is thoughtfully designed to capture their interests. They explore natural materials and open-ended resources that spark curiosity. For instance, they forage for herbs and use them to create pretend recipes in the mud kitchen. As a result, children deepen their understanding and awareness of their world through many imaginative experiences.

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The provision is good

Effective key-person arrangements ensure that children receive personalised support. Staff nurture children through warm, positive interactions. This helps children to become sociable and form strong relationships. For example, they sit together on deck chairs while singing popular nursery rhymes, and they read stories with adults and each other. Children show growing confidence as they invite visitors to join in their bird-watching games. They feel emotionally safe and secure.

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The provision is good

All children, especially those with communication and language delay, are supported very well. They quickly begin to copy what they hear during play. For example, children point to different small-world vehicles and say 'digger' for the first time. Staff celebrate these efforts with smiles and cheers, helping to build children's self-esteem. Children are well prepared for the next stage in their educational journey.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have established a clear, well-sequenced and ambitious curriculum for all children. They consider children's starting points and plan enriching experiences children may not have at home, such as pretending to visit the beach or caring for hedgehogs. These fun and stimulating experiences help children make excellent progress across all areas of development. n Children's language development is supported well through storytelling and role play. Staff read stories enthusiastically using props. Children eagerly join in, using actions and repeated phrases to retell the stories. In the sand tray, children described a plant root as 'spider webs' before learning and using the new word 'roots'. As a result, children's vocabularies expand, and their communication skills flourish. n Staff routinely extend children's mathematical development through play. For example, younger children match cereal boxes in the home corner, and older

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need to do better?

children sort different-sized lolly sticks. They are introduced to accurate mathematical language. These experiences deepen children's understanding of shape, measurement and counting. Children are developing a love of

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need to do better?

8 May 2025 mathematics. n Staff provide many opportunities for children to be independent. For instance, at mealtimes, children pour drinks, choose their own resources and sweep up spillages of sand. However, staff do not consistently support children to think and act for themselves. At times, they step in too quickly or use cautionary language such as 'be careful' rather than encouraging children to assess risks or solve problems. This limits children's opportunities to build resilience, confidence and critical thinking. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those in receipt of additional funding are supported well. Leaders spend funding thoughtfully to develop outdoor areas and provide targeted resources, particularly for early reading and language skills. Staff work closely with external professionals, such as speech and language therapists, to ensure all children receive the support

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need to do better?

they need to make fast progress. n Staff promote healthy lifestyles effectively. For instance, children have colour- coded plates to help staff manage allergies, and they collect their individual meal cards before sitting at the table. These routines help children learn how to keep themselves healthy and safe. n Children are generally well behaved, polite and helpful. When unwanted behaviour occurs, staff respond swiftly. However, they do not always help children understand how their actions affect others or support them to resolve conflicts independently. As a result, children are not consistently learning how to manage their behaviour effectively. n Partnerships with parents are a real strength. Parents and carers speak highly of the setting. Staff communicate regularly through the digital app and involve families in home learning activities, such as cooking and speech games. This shared approach supports children's development well.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with local schools are very good. The on-site headteacher praises the positive impact the pre-school has on children's readiness for school. Transitions are thoughtfully planned. Staff work closely with teachers to find out what children need to learn and share detailed information. This ensures that children feel confident and well prepared for their next stage.

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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 consistently promote children's independence by allowing them

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should:

8 May 2025 time to think and take appropriate risks n support staff to help children understand how their behaviour impacts others so that they begin to resolve conflicts independently.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY395429 Local authority Oldham Inspection number 10380363 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 34 Number of children on roll 45 Name of registered person Network Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07799253485 Date of previous inspection 6 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Beal Vale Pre-School Nursery registered in 2009. The pre-school is independently owned and operated by Network Nurseries Limited within Beal Vale Primary School in Shaw near Oldham. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff, four hold a relevant childcare qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens from 9am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time only. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises n The leaders joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. 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 The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents and carers during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

8 May 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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