The Academy at Almondbury

Inspection of The Academy at Almondbury 211 Southfield Road, Huddersfield HD5 8RJ

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Caring and nurturing staff greet children and families warmly at this welcoming nursery. Staff form positive relationships with children. Children are settled and happy. Babies show confidence in the care of their key person. They wave and say, 'Hi' to visitors. Managers create a home-from-home environment that allows children to make choices in their learning. Children access the resources independently. They have a positive attitude to their learning. Babies enjoy scooping the sand and watching intently as it falls. They count one, two, three, and say ready, steady, go, as they wait for the sand to fall. Children are focused and engaged. They become independent learners. Staff teach children to be considerate of others and help their friends. They teach children the rules of simple playground games. Children follow the rules and wait patiently for their turn. Their behaviour is good.

p.2

The provision is good

Managers plan trips and outings to give children a range of opportunities and experiences. Children learn about the environment and the importance of recycling. This helps children to develop an understanding of the world around them. Staff create books about children's activities and trips. This helps children to revisit their previous learning. Staff build on what children know and can do. Children remember and talk about their past experiences. They make good progress and are ready for their next stage in their development.

p.2

need to do better?

n Managers have a good understanding of the community they serve. They plan a curriculum that is tailored to meet the needs of all children who attend. Staff constantly review and adapt this to ensure they meet the individual needs of children. The curriculum is ambitious and gives children the knowledge and skills they need in life. Children are well prepared for their move on to school. n Staff read and sing with children throughout the day. They teach actions to the songs, as they sing the rhymes. Young children excitedly join in. Babies enjoy looking at board books. Older children lay on their tummies looking at books, as they tell the story to their friends. Children enjoy visits to the library. Staff provide a lending library for families to use. Children enjoy stories, songs and rhymes. n Staff are positive role models. Overall, staff support children's communication and language skills well. Staff speak clearly and remodel sentences back to

p.2

need to do better?

children, using the correct pronunciation. They comment on what children are doing. Staff repeat key words as they play with children. Children make good progress in their communication and language development. n Children enjoy healthy snacks and meals. They develop their independent skills. Children learn to serve their own food and pour their own drinks. Staff

p.2

need to do better?

5 June 2025 encourage children to use a knife and fork. Mealtimes are a sociable time. Staff teach children good hygiene routines from an early age. Babies learn to wash their hands before eating. Older children learn to wipe their own noses and to wash their hands afterwards. This supports children's good health. n Staff complete the progress check at age two. They share this with parents. Managers work closely with the local authority to share information with health visitors where needed. They use additional funding effectively to support children's needs. For example, they purchase resources and offer children experiences to support their knowledge and understanding of the world, such as trips to the theatre and a local pet shop. This helps children to develop an understanding of the world around them. n Managers implement a supervision system to support staff development. However, this does not always focus on how staff can improve their individual

p.2

need to do better?

teaching practice. Managers have identified the need to support staff to develop their skills. However, this is not yet embedded to ensure staff have the training, coaching and support to improve their teaching to a consistently high level. n Managers and staff develop positive partnerships with parents and carers. They share information with parents daily, through an online app and during parent meetings. Parents find the online app useful to keep up to date with their child's learning and development. Parents appreciate the experiences their children receive while attending the nursery. They comment their children feel safe and happy in the care of staff.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n strengthen supervisions to provide staff with targeted coaching and training so that they can develop their practice to a consistently high level.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY449174 Local authority Kirklees Inspection number 10403535 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 43 Number of children on roll 71 Name of registered person Porterbrook Nurseries Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01484 307211 Date of previous inspection 26 February 2020

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The Academy at Almondbury registered in 2012 and is situated in the Almondbury area of Kirklees. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds a qualification at level 6, one holds a qualification at level 5, eight hold a qualification at level 3 and one holds a qualification at level 2. The nursery opens Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery offers the government funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during a craft activity. 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 observed the interactions between staff and children. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

5 June 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6