The Spinney Day Nursery

Inspection of The Spinney Day Nursery Warrington Road, Hoole Village, Chester, Cheshire CH2 3PA

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision requires improvement

Overall, children are happy and have positive relationships with the staff that care for them. They benefit from a varied curriculum and a range of engaging activities. However, this is not consistent across the nursery. Mostly, children demonstrate positive attitudes towards their learning and enjoy the experiences on offer. For instance, they enjoy exploring the outdoor area and learning about nature as they play. Children learn about the natural environment and demonstrate their knowledge as they confidently identify plants and insects. However, there are some times when leaders do not ensure the curriculum is sequenced. For example, staff do not consistently plan opportunities to help younger children develop their physical skills. This hinders children's progress.

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The provision requires improvement

The provider does not fulfil all of its roles and responsibilities. Staff do not receive effective supervision arrangements or feedback to help improve the quality of their practice. Furthermore, leaders do not always ensure that staff use their assessments effectively to identify any gaps in children's learning and development. This means that parents and carers and staff do not always know what children need to learn next. The organisation of routines is not planned to promote children's independence. There are times when staff do not meet children's needs, especially around sleeping and mealtimes. This causes children to become upset and unsettled.

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need to do better?

n Staff state that they enjoy their work and receive appropriate help to complete their roles. However, recent arrangements for staff supervision sessions are not effective. Staff do not receive coaching to help improve their practice. The provider has not implemented arrangements to strengthen staff's practice in order to further improve outcomes for all children. The lack of coaching and consistent support means that some staff do not receive support to improve their practice and the quality of their interactions. This means that some staff lack confidence when completing their roles. n At times, the assessment of children's learning and development is not effective. Staff do not precisely identify children's next steps in learning. This means that some planned activities do not help children to develop the skills they need to learn next. Additionally, staff do not routinely complete the required progress

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need to do better?

check when children are aged between two and three years. Most parents do not receive clear guidance on how to help their children learn at home. The planned curriculum and support for parents do not consistently prepare children for the next stage in their learning. n Staff do not consistently respond sensitively to each child's emerging needs. Some routines do not help children to feel secure. For example, following

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need to do better?

19 September 2025 lunchtime, when staff put children to sleep, the interactions between staff and children are rushed. At this time, staff do not consistently respond positively to children. This results in a noisy and overwhelming environment, and some children become upset and unsettled. n The provider does not consistently create an environment that supports the intent of a sequenced curriculum. For example, younger children have limited opportunities to independently develop their gross motor skills and core strength. Children who are not yet walking do not routinely have opportunities to pull themselves up to a standing position, crawl confidently or sit in suitable chairs to help develop their coordination. This means that some children do not consistently develop the physical skills that are appropriate to their age and stage of development. n Children benefit from daily experiences of playing outdoors in the fresh air. They

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need to do better?

collect pine cones and acorns to use in their play. Staff help children to learn about the natural environment and how to keep themselves safe in regular forest school sessions. This helps children to develop their understanding of the world and supports their emotional development. n Staff provide books for children to access independently. Children look at the pictures in books and older children turn pages confidently. They talk about the pictures and explain the emotions of the characters. Staff support this learning further by reading stories to children and pointing out what they can see in the books. Staff support children to develop an enjoyment of reading to benefit their literacy skills.

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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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Due date

implement effective supervision and coaching arrangements for staff to help improve their practice and quality of interactions 15/10/2025

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Due date

19 September 2025 complete the progress check when children are aged between two and three years and ensure assessments identify what children need to learn next, and share this information with parents 15/10/2025

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Due date

improve routines to meet the needs of all children. 15/10/2025

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should:

n improve staff's knowledge of the curriculum and child development so they plan the environment and activities to help all children to learn the skills they need for the next stage of their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 305385 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10407701 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 41 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person The Spinney Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01244 348520 Date of previous inspection 16 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

The Spinney Day Nursery registered in 1998 and is located in Chester. The nursery employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. The nursery provides government funded childcare.

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Inspection activities

n Leaders and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the intent of the curriculum. n The inspector spoke to parents, staff and children and took account of their views during the inspection. n Observations were carried out by the inspector to assess the quality of education. n The inspector viewed required documentation, including staff's qualification certificates and first-aid certificates.

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Inspection activities

19 September 2025 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

19 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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