Explorers Bootle

Inspection of Explorers Bootle 20 Park Street, Bootle, Merseyside L20 3DG

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

The provider has taken swift and effective action to address the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection. They have recruited several new highly qualified staff to the nursery. Leaders have more time to ensure that staff receive the support that they need to improve their work with children. The provider's arrangements for the key-person system are a strength of the nursery. This has had a positive impact on the quality of care and education that children receive.

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The provision is good

Children settle quickly on arrival and are greeted warmly by staff. They learn how to behave well. This is because staff have high expectations of how children should behave. For example, staff use the nursery's toy potato head to demonstrate to children how to use their mouth for kind words, feet for walking when indoors and hands to share. Children relish being given special duties, such as to be a 'lunchtime helper' to give out plates and cups at mealtimes. They demonstrate positive attitudes to learning.

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The provision is good

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well. Staff and leaders identify children's needs early and liaise with parents and carers to make referrals to external agencies in a timely manner. Leaders liaise with early years experts to break down the curriculum into small steps to ensure that children learn the curriculum well. Children with SEND experience success in their learning.

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need to do better?

n Through its ambition, vision and determination, the nursery has transformed itself since the previous inspection. Leaders engage well with the local authority early years advisers to improve curriculum content and delivery. Leaders' curriculum is well thought out and builds on children's existing knowledge and prepares them well for their eventual move on to school. n Leaders place reading and communication and language at the heart of the curriculum. They provide a collection of books that introduce children to a range of topics, such as difference, rhymes and numbers. Staff read to children often and with skill. Children, including those with SEND, develop a love of reading. n Leaders ensure that any gaps in children's learning are acted upon swiftly. They hold regular conversations with staff about children's learning and development. Leaders share any concerns they may have with parents. Staff and leaders make

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need to do better?

effective use of advice and guidance from external agencies to ensure that children make the progress of which they are capable. n The arrangements to support children who speak English as an additional language are effective. Staff have received training and guidance from the local authority about the use of visual aids, such as timetables. As a result, staff are

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need to do better?

16 July 2025 skilled at using the visual timetables. Children engage in learning of the nursery's daily routine. Leaders have also gone further in their support for children and ensure that children's home language is made a priority to support language development well. n The provider makes certain that additional funding is used well. They purchase resources to support children's individual learning needs. For example, children with SEND benefit from resources to support their language development. Staff help children to use magnifying glasses while searching for bugs. They skilfully ask them questions and listen to them with genuine interest. This helps children to become confident communicators. n Leaders' key-person system is effective. Due to more staff being recruited to the nursery, all children are allocated a key person. Leaders have put useful arrangements in place to ensure that children have a familiar staff member to

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need to do better?

look after their needs should their key person not be available. Consequently, children are settled and happy in the care of nursery staff. n Parents are pleased with the improvements at the nursery. They appreciate the regular communication that they receive from leaders and staff, such as through face-to-face discussions and the nursery's electronic communication system. Parents are fully informed of the progress that their children make and value the guidance to support their children's learning at home. n Supervision for staff is implemented well. Leaders check on the quality of education that staff provide. They give feedback to staff that helps them to know what they need to do to improve their practice. Staff access an online training package for mandatory subjects, such as safeguarding. However, leaders do not focus professional development precisely enough for individual staff. This does not support staff to continuously improve their practice.

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need to do better?

n Mostly, staff support children's knowledge and understanding across areas of learning. However, some staff are not as strong as others in delivering the curriculum for mathematics. They are not confident to provide challenging learning about mathematical concepts for children. As a result, children do not become confident mathematicians.

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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 more precisely so that staff are clearer on how they can further strengthen their practice

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should:

16 July 2025 n strengthen the curriculum for mathematics to help children to become confident mathematicians.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2748335 Local authority Sefton Inspection number 10390023 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 104 Number of children on roll 64 Name of registered person Explorers Nurseries Liverpool Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01519333596 Date of previous inspection 17 January 2025

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Information about this early years setting

Explorers Bootle registered in 2023 and is situated in the Bootle area of Liverpool. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 have appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm. The nursery offers government-funded places for childcare and receives specific 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 the children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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 manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during a physical activity. n Parents shared their views of the setting 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

16 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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