Pre-school Learning Alliance Bestwood Childcare Centre

Inspection of Pre-school Learning Alliance Bestwood Childcare Centre The Community Centre, Gainsford Crescent, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG5 5HT

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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 arrive at the setting eager to explore the environment. Staff develop caring relationships with children, including those who have recently started attending the setting. This sees children confidently approach staff to seek comfort and reassurance when needed. Children remain focused for lengthy periods of time as they play with sand. Staff support children to test their own ideas and encourage children to notice what their friends have created. Children enjoy using scoops to dig in the sand, which they then use to fill their sand moulds and buckets. Staff encourage children to talk about what they are doing and ask children simple questions. Children are keen to tell staff they are squashing and patting the sand into the moulds to make a castle. Staff introduce new vocabulary, explaining the sand has become 'compressed'. This supports children's growing language skills.

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The provision is good

Staff are positive role models and encourage children to take turns and share toys with their friends. Children receive praise when they use their manners and are polite to others. When minor squabbles during play occur, staff swiftly intervene and gently work with children to resolve these. This sees children quickly return to their play.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children to be independent. Children are encouraged to get their coats, hang up messy-play aprons, wash their hands and pour their drinks at mealtimes. Older children complete these tasks with little support, acting as role models for younger children. Staff praise children for their efforts and offer help and guidance when needed. n Overall, staff promote children's good health and provide healthy snacks and fresh drinking water for children to access. At snack time, children speak with staff about different fruits and why these are healthy. However, staff do not always deliver clear messages on supporting children's good health. For instance, some staff drink sugary fizzy drinks in front of children, and staff have not yet shared information with families about how to make children's drink bottles as healthy as possible. n Children thoroughly enjoy outdoor play. They use their leg muscles as they

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need to do better?

confidently run up and down slopes, and other children exclaim their delight as they splash in puddles seeing how high they can jump. Children bend and stretch during a minibeast hunt and are supported by staff to safely lift heavy objects to look underneath. This supports children to develop their physical skills. n In general, children listen to staff and follow instructions. For example, children enjoy taking part in group story and song times. Staff encourage children to

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need to do better?

17 September 2025 choose books, which staff read with enthusiasm. Children are encouraged to join in with the story and help turn the pages of the book. However, at times, some children lose focus and wander to nearby toys. Staff initially attempt to re- engage children in the group activity, but this is not pursued. As a result, more children disengage, preferring to play instead. This does not consistently support children to learn what is expected of them. n Staff help children to develop their early mathematical knowledge. For example, children work with staff to build towers from colourful bricks. Staff use words such as 'taller', 'more' and 'less' and encourage children to consider what these look like. During a sorting activity, children confidently name the colours of the keys and sorting bowls before matching these up correctly. Staff extend this, supporting children to continue a simple pattern sequence. This helps children

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need to do better?

learn simple mathematical concepts. n Managers and staff know the children well. They gather information about children through observation, assessment and parental feedback. This helps staff plan activities for children based on their interests and next steps. However, not all activities have a planned intent to support children to progress in their learning. Therefore, some children do not always build on what they know and can do to make the best possible progress.

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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 staff's understanding of how to plan and deliver activities that have a clear intent, in order to build on what children already know and can do n provide children and parents with consistent messages about healthy drink choices to further promote healthy lifestyles n support staff to be consistent in their approach and build on children's understanding of behaviour expectations.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY303708 Local authority Nottingham Inspection number 10413020 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Pre-School Learning Alliance

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reference number

Telephone number 0115 979 7103 Date of previous inspection 10 February 2020

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Information about this early years setting

Pre-school Learning Alliance Bestwood Childcare Centre registered in 2005. The childcare centre employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one holds a qualification at level 2. The childcare centre opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8am until 4pm. The childcare centre provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision 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 the curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection and took their views into account. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The children 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 is having on the children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

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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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