Mi Nursery

Inspection of Mi Nursery 69 Preston New Road, Blackburn BB2 6AY

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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 demonstrate that they are happy and feel safe at the nursery. Staff are caring, greeting children with friendly smiles. They create a calm and welcoming environment, helping children to feel settled and secure. Children who are new to the nursery receive extra support and emotional comfort, helping them to build strong attachments with staff from the start. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and model respect and kindness. Children learn to take turns, share resources and understand the impact of their actions. Staff support children to manage their own behaviour and to help keep each other safe. For example, older children wait for their younger friends on the stairs. This helps to build children's independence and sense of responsibility.

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The provision is good

Children show resilience and curiosity in their play, exploring activities with confidence and interest. The curriculum is well planned and helps children to experience a wide range of activities. Children build knowledge, skills and understanding across all areas of learning. Staff support children to persevere with tasks. For instance, children learn how to use plastic hoops and climbing equipment proficiently. This supports children's confidence and helps them to develop positive attitudes towards learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff deliver a curriculum that is well sequenced and builds on children's existing knowledge and skills. For example, children develop the small muscles in their hands in readiness for early writing through 'dough disco' activities. This ensures that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, build firm foundations for learning and are well prepared for school. n Children benefit from regular stories and rhymes. Children who speak English as an additional language are supported well. Staff use repetition and gestures along with key words in children's home languages. This builds children's vocabulary, supports communication and helps to develop their listening and attention skills. n Children enjoy a wide range of physical play. In the garden, they use climbing equipment, bicycles and scooters. Staff encourage children to try new challenges, such as learning to use the plastic hoops. This helps children to

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need to do better?

develop their confidence and coordination. n Staff use rich mathematical language during play. Children count objects and the number of jumps and steps they make. They learn key contextual vocabulary, such as over, under, in front and behind, as they navigate obstacle courses. These playful experiences help children to apply early mathematical concepts in meaningful ways and prepare them well for their future learning. n Staff encourage curiosity by asking children what might happen if they spray

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need to do better?

21 August 2025 coloured water on the floor, for example. Children notice the changes, such as the red and blue turning purple. This supports children's developing language and problem-solving skills. n Children learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles through daily routines and activities. Staff use snack times to teach children food preparation skills and to make choices. This helps to support children's overall well-being and encourages healthy habits. n Staff provide interesting experiences by keeping chickens in the garden, first introduced through a hatching programme. Children help collect eggs and use them in cooking activities, such as making omelettes. This helps them learn where food comes from, which embeds their understanding. n Routines are well established, helping children learn independence skills such as washing hands and pouring drinks. However, children are sometimes moved on

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need to do better?

too quickly from activities they are deeply engaged in during these key times. This limits the time they have to consolidate their learning and fully develop their concentration skills. n Children benefit from regular outings in the local community, including visits to the park and the shops. These outings help to develop children's understanding of the world around them. As a result, children talk confidently about what they have seen and learned. For example, they remember the food items they purchased from the shops. n Parents are actively involved in their children's learning. Staff provide regular updates regarding their children's development. Staff provide guidance on weaning, toileting and school readiness. This helps parents to reinforce learning at home and provides consistency of care. n Leaders provide staff with effective coaching and training. Staff learn consistent approaches through induction and supervision sessions. This helps to continually

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need to do better?

improve the quality of teaching and ensures that children benefit from supportive interactions with skilled staff.

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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 strengthen the organisation of activities and daily routines to support children to engage more deeply in all learning opportunities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2738149 Local authority Blackburn with Darwen Inspection number 10399784 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 64 Number of children on roll 64 Name of registered person Daycare Centres Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07753234119 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Mi Nursery registered in 2023 and is located in Blackburn. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold a relevant childcare qualification at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery offers government funded places for childcare and early education.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the nursery and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. 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 Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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 inspector and manager carried out joint observations of group activities. 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

21 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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