The Rocking Horse Club

Inspection of The Rocking Horse Club Walton Lane, Nelson, Lancashire BB9 8BP

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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

Staff create a warm and welcoming environment for children and their parents and carers. Children demonstrate that they feel happy and secure as they enter their rooms with enthusiasm. Staff provide effective settling-in visits that build over time to help children to make a smooth transition from home to the nursery. A well- established key-person system supports each child.

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The provision is good

Staff have developed a curriculum that is purposeful and well suited to the needs of all children. Older children engage in a well-resourced water play activity, which includes dolls, brushes and clothing. Staff plan this activity to be rich in opportunities for imaginative play and for children to learn about personal hygiene and self-care. Staff model extended language related to body parts and germs. This supports children's understanding of health and hygiene effectively in a meaningful and age-appropriate context. Younger children demonstrate growing independence as they engage in sand play. They confidently choose tools, using scoops, jugs and containers to pour and fill with purpose. As they experiment with transferring sand, they show focus, control and perseverance.

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate positive behaviour and a sense of responsibility as they help to tidy up the environment. Staff use consistent routines, such as shaking a tambourine, to signal tidy-up time. This supports children's understanding of transitions and expectations. Children respond well to putting resources away. They show cooperation and respect for their environment and each other.

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need to do better?

n Children's communication and language development is a central focus of the curriculum. Staff carefully plan activities to support children's progress in these areas. They closely monitor children's development, so they can make timely adjustments to meet children's individual needs effectively. This contributes positively to children's development and helps all children to make progress. n Staff support children's communication and language development through engaging storytelling and meaningful interactions. Staff use books and storytelling sessions to introduce new vocabulary. They model rich language and ask open-ended questions, giving children time to think and respond. Children show a keen interest in stories, often retelling them using props and their own words. This helps to build children's confidence and expressive language skills. n Staff skilfully embed mathematical concepts into children's play. During a

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need to do better?

dinosaur-themed activity, staff introduce mathematical vocabulary, such as 'tall' and 'small', and encourage children to count the number of spikes on the dinosaurs' backs. This approach promotes children's early numeracy skills and supports them to make meaningful connections between their play and

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need to do better?

27 June 2025 mathematical learning. n Children benefit from a well-resourced and spacious outdoor area that staff use to promote children's physical development across all ages. Children engage in a variety of activities. For example, they confidently build with large wooden planks, developing their balance, coordination and core strength. They practise throwing and catching balls, which enhances their hand-eye coordination. Additionally, children use large paintbrushes to make marks on vertical surfaces, supporting their fine motor control and early writing skills. These opportunities contribute positively to children's physical health and readiness for future learning. n Children develop a strong understanding of diversity and cultural awareness. Staff teach them about a variety of cultures and how people may be similar or different from themselves. Staff enhance this learning by taking children on regular visits to places of interest within the local community. They use these

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need to do better?

experiences to broaden children's understanding of the world around them. This contributes to children's preparation for life in modern Britain effectively. n Leaders hold supervision sessions with staff to discuss any development or training needs. They have ambitious plans to enhance staff's teaching practice. However, the programme of training and development for staff is not yet firmly in place to extend the quality and consistency of staff's practice. n Parents speak highly of the nursery and are pleased with the progress their children make. They value the warm, friendly and highly supportive staff team. Regular and effective communication ensures strong partnerships with families, enabling consistency between home and the nursery. This approach supports children's learning and development and contributes positively to their overall well-being.

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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 continue to strengthen the programme of staff training and development to further raise the quality of practice.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 310266 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10388308 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 92 Number of children on roll 69 Name of registered person The Rocking Horse Club - Pendle Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01282 613 437 Date of previous inspection 5 July 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The Rocking Horse Club registered in 2000 and is located in Lancashire. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm on Monday to Thursday, and from 7.30am to 4pm on Friday. The setting provides government funded childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to the staff and children throughout the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with the provider, special educational needs coordinator and the designated safeguarding lead. She looked at relevant documents and checked evidence of the suitability of staff. n The inspector and manager completed a joint observation of an activity, which they then discussed.

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Inspection activities

27 June 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

27 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.

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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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