Starfish Preschool & Holiday Club

Inspection of Starfish Preschool & Holiday Club 1,Ward Street, Oldham, Lancs OL9 9EX

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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

Children settle quickly as they arrive, supported by caring and nurturing staff. Staff have good interactions with the children and follow their lead. They support children's interests and allow them to set the pace, while continuing to support their learning. Children benefit from engaging experiences where they can explore. They learn to skilfully navigate the the steps on the slide, realising that they need to take turns. Older children practise their developing physical skills by helping each other to balance and move along the trail. Children enjoy joining in with their favourite songs and rhymes, excitedly showing the actions and joining in the words they know.

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The provision is good

Effective boundaries and routines support children in knowing what is expected of them. This helps them to know what is happening and what is coming next. Children are encouraged to help with routines such as wiping the tables, brushing up after snack and hanging up their own coats. This helps to develop children's independence. Behaviour is good and children know and learn the routines very quickly. The use of visual timetables and robust routines helps them to know what is coming next. Staff use positive reinforcement and modelling to encourage positive behaviour, good manners and respect.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have designed a bespoke curriculum that clearly outlines what they expect from the children at the end of each stage of development. The curriculum is sequenced to build upon children's previous learning. It provides clear guidance on what children are to learn and how it will be delivered so that they make effective progress. n Staff plan opportunities and experiences that support children's individual needs, interests and next steps. Staff have a good understanding of the curriculum, which allows them to implement it into their planned activities. Children make good progress towards their own targets as a result. n Staff support learning by following children's interests and asking questions to enhance their learning. However, sometimes, staff do not provide children with the time they need to be able to explore their own ideas and to respond. Children are also sometimes asked closed or leading questions. This prevents

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need to do better?

children from making the best possible progress. n Circle-time activities provide children with opportunities to learn about sharing and taking turns and to take part in songs and rhyme sessions. However, for some children, these activities do not reflect their individual age and/or stage of development. This is particularly the case for younger children, who find the activities too challenging and lose interest. n The key-person system is well embedded. Staff's interactions are strong and

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need to do better?

17 September 2025 support children to settle and develop strong relationships with their key person. Staff know their key children well, offering effective support for their individual needs and abilities. Staff work closely with parents to ensure a coordinated approach to learning. n Staff have built up good relationships with children and their families. They work well in partnership with parents, ensuring an effective coordinated approach to supporting children's behaviour, care and learning. Staff carefully consider any additional external factors, such as family dynamics and language barriers, and use this to good effect to support individual children. n Staff receive regular supervisions and appraisals. They engage in training and coaching with leaders, which extends their professional development. Leaders and staff work effectively together to address any training needs to support staff in providing high-quality care and learning for all children.

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need to do better?

n Leaders understand the benefits and importance of multi-agency working. They work with other agencies and professionals, such as the local area special educational needs coordinator and speech and language therapists, to provide specialist support to children who need it. They make swift referrals to ensure that children get the help and support they need in a timely manner, so that any gaps in learning are quickly addressed. n Since the previous inspection, the setting's effectiveness has improved considerably. Leaders have, for example, successfully supported staff in developing their skills to deliver the curriculum effectively. They recognise the setting's strengths but also have a clear vision as to what further improvements are needed to help ensure it continues to improve.

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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 provide children with time to think about and respond to questions and explore their own ideas, avoiding the use of closed or leading questions n support staff in providing circle-time activities that are appropriate to children's varying ages and stages of development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2799882 Local authority Oldham Inspection number 10409424 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 57 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person Starfish Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0161 626 9470 Date of previous inspection 14 April 2025

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Information about this early years setting

Starfish Preschool & Holiday Club registered in 2024. The setting employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold an appropriate childcare qualification at level 5, and five at level 3. The pre-school part of the provision opens from 9am until 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time only. Additionally, the holiday club runs during school holidays from 8am until 5.30pm. The setting provides funded early education for children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the setting and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

17 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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