S4YC @ Victoria Road

Inspection of S4YC @ Victoria Road Victoria Road Childrens Centre, Neumann Street, Northwich CW9 5UT

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Staff get to know children at the nursery very well. They form lovely relationships with them and are highly alert to their individual needs and routines. Staff recognise that new babies need more support and provide lots of physical contact. Babies form attachments to their key person quickly which helps them to feel safe and secure. Staff help children to learn about good behaviours, such as sharing and turn taking. They provide opportunities for children to practise these skills, for instance when taking turns choosing a song to sing. Children demonstrate a great deal of patience when their friends need more support to take turns. Staff help children to develop an understanding of one another's differing needs from an early age. This teaches children about differences and being inclusive.

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The provision is good

Staff have a good understanding of what they want children to learn and adapt the curriculum well for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The curriculum for physical development is particularly well implemented and children truly flourish when in the outdoor areas. Their imagination comes to life as they use cardboard boxes to recreate things they are familiar with, such as baby cots. Children cleverly use large sheets of paper as blankets to cover one another during their game of 'babies'. They are motivated learners who are well prepared for the next stage of their development.

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need to do better?

n The provider met their legal responsibility by notifying Ofsted of a significant event whereby the risk assessments for the premises were not carried out effectively. Since the event, leaders have taken swift and efficient action, such as reviewing policies and implementing more robust checks of the environment, to prevent a reoccurrence and keep children safe. n Leaders plan a broad and inclusive curriculum which is sequenced well across the different age groups. They use children's assessments and interests to plan learning experiences that build on their existing skills. Staff have a good understanding of the curriculum intentions and adapt their teaching to support children's unique learning styles. This helps to ensure all children make good progress. n Overall, staff implement the curriculum well and children have a lovely attitude to learning. However, at times, the organisation of the pre-school room is not

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need to do better?

well thought out. Although staff split children into smaller groups to learn, they do not consider how background noise and the noise levels from each group effects the others. For example, some children listen to a story while others listen to music. This hinders children's attention and prevents them from concentrating consistently. n The curriculum for communication and language development is well embedded.

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need to do better?

1 July 2025 Staff working with babies incorporate songs, such as 'five little ducks' into their water play activity. Toddler age children confidently select 'song spoons' and sing the corresponding songs with actions. Children eagerly ask questions and are keen to chat back-and-forth with adults and their friends. Older children use words, such as 'abracadabra' when creating magic potions. All children are developing lovely, fluent speaking skills. n The procedures for supporting children with SEND are strong. Leaders implement targeted learning plans for children who have fallen behind and make timely referrals to outside agencies. Additional funding is used effectively to enhance the provision and narrow the gaps in children's learning. Children with SEND are very happy at nursery. They make good progress and are well prepared for the next stage in their education. n Staff promote children's literacy development well. They engage children in

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need to do better?

activities, such as 'squiggle while you wiggle'. This teaches children to practice moving their arms into different shapes in the air, before then copying these movements onto paper using chalks. This strengthens children's large and small muscles in preparation for early writing. n Leaders have secure arrangements in place to support children who are transitioning to school. Teachers from schools visit children in the nursery to observe them where they are most settled. Nursery staff attend visits to school and provide teachers with information that will support them when settling children into reception. This helps children to feel excited about school and promotes their social and emotional well-being. n The staff team work well together to share good practice and disseminate what they learn from training. Leaders carry out supervision meetings and provide staff with some general targets for improvement. However, not all staff know

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need to do better?

their own individual targets and are unsure of how they can improve their skills further. Consequently, there are some gaps in knowledge which creates some inconsistencies in the quality of education across the team.

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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 review the organisation of small-group times in the pre-school room, including the noise level, to help children build their attention skills more effectively n provide staff with continuous feedback on their performance and targets for improvement to help strengthen their skills and knowledge further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2750652 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10408539 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 84 Number of children on roll 103 Name of registered person S4YC Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07814389469 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

S4YC @ Victoria Road registered in 2023 and is situated in Northwich. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery is open 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.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. 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 Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. 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

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

1 July 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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