Kirkgate Childcare

Inspection of Kirkgate Childcare The Old School, Kirkgate, Sherburn in Elmet, LEEDS LS25 6BL

p.1

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

p.1

The provision is outstanding

Children are cared for by passionate and dedicated staff in this inclusive nursery. Staff know children extremely well. They skilfully adapt their interactions and routines to ensure those children who need extra support receive one-to-one attention. This contributes significantly to help children form strong attachments with staff. Children learn to regulate their emotions and concentrate for long periods. For example, they listen attentively to staff as they learn about bees and pollen during a group-time activity. Children's enthusiasm for learning is infectious.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

Staff work together to plan an ambitious and flexible curriculum that incorporates the needs of every child. They ensure that children have daily access to a very well-planned outdoor environment, regardless of the weather. Children eagerly engage in a wonderful array of focused and meaningful activities, which develops their understanding of the world outdoors. For example, as children play in water, staff explain the importance of recycling. Staff support children to use nets to separate sea creatures from plastic. Children delight in searching for minibeasts. They put them into their 'minibeast house' that they have created. Children learn about growth as they help to grow tomatoes and herbs.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

Staff are exceptional role models. Their highly effective support helps children to understand how to show respect for others. Children use impeccable manners, and their behaviour is exemplary. Staff provide outstanding support to help children explore and manage their own feelings and emotions. Throughout the day, staff encourage children to think about, and express, how they are feeling.

p.2

need to do better?

n Support for children's communication and language is exemplary. Staff engage in high-quality interactions. They narrate activities and introduce new vocabulary, such as 'symmetrical' as children design and create butterflies using craft materials. Staff seize opportunities during routines to model words and to introduce children to vocabulary in different contexts, such as explaining to children that they are sitting 'opposite' their friend. Staff use sign language to help support children's understanding. These techniques support children to become articulate and confident communicators. n Staff know children and their families extremely well. They use highly effective methods to gather and share information about children's development. Staff visit children and their families in their homes before they start at the nursery. They signpost parents to outside agencies for support and share resources and

p.2

need to do better?

ideas to encourage them to continue their child's learning at home. n Staff create an inclusive environment where all children are confident, independent learners. Their understanding of the importance of partnership

p.2

need to do better?

31 July 2025 working is exemplary. Staff work very closely with a range of professionals and share relevant information. They attend and hold meetings and help implement strategies that support children's progress. This helps to create a consistent approach to supporting children's learning. n Staff provide excellent support for children to become increasingly independent. For example, they teach children how to safely chop their fruit at snack time. Children get more fruit from the refrigerator when this is needed. Daily access to play apparatus allows children time to engage in activities that strengthen their climbing and balancing abilities. This also makes a significant contribution to their mental health and well-being. n Staff encourage children to act and think independently. For example, they encourage children to choose a story for the session. Children make choices and discuss their decisions. This helps to teach children about fairness and

p.2

need to do better?

democracy. Staff deploy themselves very effectively to support children. They understand where and when to support children's learning. n Partnerships with parents are outstanding. Parents appreciate how strong the communication is and how genuinely invested staff are in each and every child. They feel that staff have a genuine passion and that their children make exceptional progress. n Leaders demonstrate a tenacious passion for delivering exceptional care and education to children. Their commitment to excellence is reflected in the outstanding progress that children make. Funding is used to help to significantly improve children's progress in their learning and development and to narrow gaps in achievement. For example, staff attend training sessions to help them to tailor their skills to children's needs. n Staff provide children with a wide range of enriching experiences that enable children's understanding of the community around them to flourish. For instance,

p.3

need to do better?

they visit the local care home, where they sing with residents who have dementia. Children visit the local library, where staff strongly focus learning on children's communication and language and literacy skills. n Staff skilfully support children's mathematical development. Children use a ruler to measure items, such as the size of towers that they build. They discuss numbers and shapes and regularly count, for example, the legs of minibeasts. Staff praise children for their good mathematical skills. This promotes their eagerness to keep learning.

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

Setting details

Unique reference number EY551533 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 10399319 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 22 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Stevenson, Dawn Louise

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 07922038597 Date of previous inspection 27 November 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Kirkgate Childcare registered in 2017. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff, five of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from 7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, for 46 weeks of the year. They close for two weeks at Christmas, the last week in May and for the last three weeks of the school summer holidays. The nursery provides government- funded childcare.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of interactions during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector held discussions with the manager about the design of the curriculum and how it is being implemented. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. She completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and deputy manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their verbal and written views.

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

31 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.

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