Willow Tree Daycare

Inspection of Willow Tree Daycare Willow Tree Daycare, Lee Lane, Millhouse Green, Sheffield S36 9NN

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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 arrive happily at this warm and welcoming nursery, where staff greet them individually with genuine care. They take time to gather important information from parents, ensuring each child's needs are understood and met from the very start. Each child is assigned a key person, ensuring consistency in their care and support. As a result, children settle quickly and form strong, trusting relationships with staff and their friends.

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The provision is good

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery and demonstrate a positive attitude to their learning. Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of each child's individual needs and interests. They create enabling environments filled with stimulating, purposeful activities that ignite curiosity and sustain children's interest. For example, children recall actions to a favourite book, pretending to go on a bear hunt in the outdoor forest area. Staff interact with children warmly and respectfully, fostering a calm atmosphere where children feel happy, safe and emotionally secure.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is positive. They understand and follow the expectations of the nursery. Staff model respectful interactions and use frequent praise to reinforce expectations. Children cooperate well, share resources and help tidy away activities. They show kindness towards their peers and respond positively to gentle reminders. This supportive environment fosters children's confidence, self-control and respect for others.

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need to do better?

n The provider has reviewed and strengthened the setting's safeguarding and accident policies and procedures. She has trained all staff to ensure these procedures are implemented more consistently. Staff now have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in maintaining children's health and safety. n Children's independence is consistently promoted. They learn to manage their own care needs, such as toileting and washing their hands, with staff offering gentle guidance when needed. Children are encouraged to make choices about their play, set up the tables for lunchtime and serve their own food. Staff use these opportunities to build children's confidence, problem-solving skills and sense of responsibility, preparing them well for the next stage in their education and eventual move to school. n Overall, staff skilfully support children's communication and language development. They engage children in meaningful conversations, model clear

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need to do better?

speech and introduce new vocabulary during play and activities. Daily story times, songs and rhymes help children develop listening and attention skills.

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need to do better?

12 August 2025 However, some staff allow children to spend longer than necessary with their dummies in their mouths. This limits their opportunities to practise using the words and phrases they are hearing and learning. n Staff actively promote children's healthy lifestyles through daily routines and activities. They provide nutritious meals and snacks, encourage regular handwashing and teach the importance of good hygiene. Children enjoy daily outdoor play, developing physical skills and a love of being active. Staff talk about healthy food choices, and children actively help to plant and grow their own vegetables. This helps children to build positive habits that support their long-term health and well-being. n Partnerships with parents are highly effective. Staff build strong, trusting relationships through regular communication and genuine warmth. Parents receive regular updates on their child's progress, experiences and individual next

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need to do better?

steps, both in person and online. This collaborative approach ensures parents feel valued and well-informed, enabling them to support and extend their child's learning at home. n Leaders are passionate and committed to continual improvement. They provide strong support to the team and promote an open-door policy, which helps staff feel valued and listened to. Staff attend regular meetings with leaders and have access to opportunities that enhance their professional development. However, monitoring of teaching is not yet fully embedded across the curriculum, leading to occasional inconsistencies in teaching quality. For instance, staff sometimes ask younger children questions but do not allow sufficient time for them to respond. n Staff take children's heritage into account when planning activities and make the most of the opportunities provided by their rural setting. For example, they plan experiences around the farming calendar and offer plenty of hands-on learning,

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need to do better?

such as petting horses and observing crops grow and be harvested by tractors. In addition, staff actively promote children's understanding of diverse cultures and communities, helping them learn about people, families and communities beyond their own.

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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 support staff to implement additional strategies for reducing dummy use, further enhancing children's communication and language development

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should:

12 August 2025 n strengthen current monitoring and staff observations to place greater emphasis on improving teaching quality, ensuring it is consistently of a high standard.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2738030 Local authority Barnsley Inspection number 10415286 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 32 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Broadhead, Rachel

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reference number

Telephone number 01226 766919 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Willow Tree Daycare registered in 2023 and is located in Millhouse Green, Sheffield. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and two at level 6. The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. The nursery offers the government-funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children.

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Inspection activities

n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. 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 inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

12 August 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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