Heaton Dene Nursery School

Inspection of Heaton Dene Nursery School Heaton Dene Farm, Bolton BL5 3NJ

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children are happy, confident and settled in this inclusive nursery. They form secure attachments with familiar staff, who are warm and responsive to children's individual care needs. They provide a calm, nurturing space where children are safe and secure. Babies cuddle up to staff as they read stories, and older children explore emotions through story books that introduce the concepts of feelings and emotions as they sit quietly in the cosy corner. Staff promote positive behaviour and celebrate children's achievements, helping to build their self-esteem and resilience. Consequently, all children behave well and show a real sense of belonging.

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The provision is good

Leaders implement a well-planned curriculum that builds on what children already know and can do. Staff gather accurate information about children's starting points before they join the nursery. They spend time observing children to carry out early assessments and identify appropriate next steps in learning. Children are confident and engaged, showing positive attitudes towards learning. For example, toddlers show good levels of concentration and perseverance as they develop their hand– eye coordination, carefully attempting to remove the lids from colouring pens independently. All children make good progress from their individual starting points.

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need to do better?

n Children gain a good understanding of what makes them unique. Staff understand how to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff work closely with a range of external professionals to seek the support that children need. They create targeted and suitable activities for children who require additional support. This ensures they are fully inclusive and able to adapt activities and the environment to meet the needs of all children. n Leaders understand their responsibilities and take effective action to ensure the nursery remains safe, inclusive and well led. Staff feel well supported through regular supervision and access to targeted training opportunities. Leaders use additional funding effectively to meet the individual needs of eligible children. Through careful observation and assessment, staff identify areas where children may need extra support, such as with emotional regulation or language

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need to do better?

development. All children in receipt of additional funding make good progress and develop the skills required for their next stage of education, including school. n Hygiene routines are consistently embedded across the setting. Children demonstrate independence in managing their personal care. For example, they confidently wash their hands after using the toilet and understand the importance of disposing of tissues correctly. Furthermore, during a recent walk, staff supported children to explore wheat growing in a nearby field and helped

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need to do better?

1 September 2025 them make meaningful links to the cereal they eat for breakfast. Children develop an awareness of where food comes from and how it helps their bodies stay healthy. This means staff support children well to develop an understanding of healthy lifestyles. n Effective partnerships with parents contribute to children's well-being and learning. Parents value the opportunities to participate in nursery life and extracurricular activities, which support community links and enrich children's experiences. In addition, parents receive support and guidance to help their children's learning at home. For example, staff liaise with parents to put plans in place to support children's development, such as toilet training and ceasing dummy use. n Staff provide a commentary for children's play and engage in conversations with them. They allow plenty of time for children to think creatively and answer questions to build on their emerging skills. However, staff have not yet

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need to do better?

considered how to introduce and reinforce the use of new words to extend children's vocabulary further. Some words that staff use in conversation with the children are basic for the children's age and stage of development. This means, at times, that children's communication and language skills are not fully supported. n Staff have a good understanding of the overall aims of the curriculum and plan activities that reflect children's interests. However, the planned intent for some activities is not always sharply focused on what individual children need to learn next. At times, learning intentions are broad and are not tailored to extend or deepen children's learning. As a result, while children enjoy engaging activities, the impact on their individual progress is not consistently maximised.

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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 consider ways to introduce and reinforce new words to children to increase their vocabulary and enhance their communication and language skills n support staff to ensure the learning intentions for planned activities are clearly defined and tailored to individual children, so that they can more effectively support each child's next steps in learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY546881 Local authority Bolton Inspection number 10399553 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 80 Number of children on roll 120 Name of registered person Hilltop Early Learning Provision Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01942813844 Date of previous inspection 5 December 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Heaton Dene Nursery School registered in 2017 and is situated in Westhoughton, Bolton. It opens Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm, all the year round, apart from bank holidays and Christmas. There are 20 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate qualification at level 6, 18 hold a qualification at level 3 and one holds an appropriate qualification at level 2. The nursery provides government funded education.

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Inspection activities

n Leaders joined the inspector on a learning walk together and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. 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. n Parents shared their views about the setting with the inspector. n The inspector spoke to children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. 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

1 September 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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