Leap Ahead Day Nursery Ltd

Inspection of Leap Ahead Day Nursery Ltd Village Hall, Darton Lane, Mapplewell, Barnsley S75 6AL

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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

Children achieve well in this friendly and purposeful nursery. They make good progress overall from their individual starting points and are well-prepared for the next stage in their learning. For example, babies are supported to build strong relationships with the staff who care for them and develop their confidence and curiosity. They enjoy the feel of the water, for instance, as they investigate how to tip and pour it to make a wheel turn and soak their toy crocodiles. Children find out about the life cycles of different animals as they observe chickens hatch or release butterflies they have seen grow from caterpillars.

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The provision is good

Children learn to play safely and become increasingly aware of the world around them. For example, they are proud to use simple charts to help check there are no broken toys or other hazards in the outdoor area. Staff are positive and warm role models. They support children to be well behaved and kind to each other. For instance, children work together to fill and carry large buckets of water across the playground to use to 'paint' the shed in their role play. They are encouraged to be fit and active. For instance, daily dance and 'fidget finger' activities contribute both to children's healthy physical well-being and the development of hand and arm muscle control to support their later writing skills.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have worked with staff to develop a curriculum that supports the systematic development of the skills, knowledge and understanding children need for their future learning. However, staff do not consistently challenge and support children to achieve their full potential through all their experiences. For example, sometimes, staff focus too much on skills children have already acquired rather than introducing new learning or encouraging them to use their creative thinking and reasoning to deepen their understanding. n Staff build children's communication skills well. They introduce children to a wide range of carefully chosen songs and action rhymes that help build their vocabulary and appreciation of rhyme and rhythm. They regularly revisit them over time to help build lasting memories. Staff join in conversations with children when they play and at snack times and lunchtimes to model and develop their

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need to do better?

speech. n Staff promote children's enjoyment and appreciation of books. They regularly share stories with small groups or individual children. Babies love to handle books with different textures and to lift flaps as they learn to turn pages and look closely at the illustrations. Staff use a core of selected books that build on children's experiences and helps to develop their anticipation and understanding of plots and characters. n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and

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need to do better?

15 July 2025 other vulnerable learners effectively. They identify gaps in learning at an early stage. They work closely with parents and with other professionals, such as speech and language therapists, to decide the best ways forward and to implement their plans. They use additional funding in targeted ways, such as specific staff training, to meet children's needs. n Children's good behaviour and personal development are strongly supported. Staff make good use of books and stories to help children identify and appreciate their own emotions and feelings. Staff skilfully support children who find it difficult to express and manage their own behaviour to make steady and secure improvements. Parents appreciate staff's guidance in helping their children to be happy, confident and sociable. n Leaders are reflective and ambitious for all aspects of the nursery's development. They make good use of professional advice and training to build

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need to do better?

staff's practice and to establish the new curriculum. They are increasingly analysing and evaluating their practice to raise standards further. They strongly support the management of staff's workload and morale is high. n Staff build strong links with parents. They share information on children's progress regularly and offer guidance and support for learning at home. Parents warmly appreciate the care and support staff offer to their children and themselves.

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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 focus professional development on guiding and training staff to ensure children are consistently challenged and supported to achieve their full potential throughout all their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2765702 Local authority Barnsley Inspection number 10410571 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 56 Number of children on roll 76 Name of registered person Leap Ahead Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01226 872424 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Leap Ahead Day Nursery Ltd registered in 2023. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. All of these hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including two staff who have early years professional status or qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides government-funded places, including funding for disadvantaged children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector completed joint observations of children's learning experiences and evaluated the activities. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to children about their experiences as they played. n The inspector spoke to some parents during the inspection and also took account of their views from written feedback. n The manager provided the inspector with relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of 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

15 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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