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Early years · Report card

Pool House Under 5's Nursery

Inspected 11 Nov 2025 · URN 502191

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Summary

No overall grade in this frameworkSafeguarding met

Sandra Hamilton

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Achievement verified

    Expected standard

  • Behaviour, attitudes and routines verified

    Strong standard

  • Children's welfare and wellbeing verified

    Expected standard

  • Curriculum and teaching verified

    Expected standard

  • Inclusion verified

    Expected standard

  • Leadership and governance verified

    Strong standard

  • Framework verified

    Report card

  • Group verified

    Pool House Under 5's Nursery Committee

  • Inspection datesingle source

    11 Nov 2025

  • Inspectors verified

    Sandra Hamilton

  • Postcode verified

    PR2 7BX

  • Name on report verified

    Pool House Under 5's Nursery

  • Safeguarding verified

    Met

  • URN verified

    502191

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.

  • AchievementExpected
  • Behaviour, attitudes and routinesStrong
  • Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected
  • InclusionExpected
  • Leadership and governanceStrong

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

+74Very positivemore positive than 52% of reports of this type

In line with other reports of this type.

Praiseconsistentlyenjoystrongrespectfulthriveeffectiveeffectivelylove
Criticismgapspoornot yetconcernsnot secure

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsSafeguardingAbout the inspectionLeadershipWhat needs to improve positive critical
  • Findings1326w+76
  • Leadership85w+64
  • Safeguarding51w−11
  • What needs to improve96w+33

Strengths

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Concerns

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Next steps

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What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
9
Words of findings
1,558
about usual (typical 1698)
Reading level
Hard
Flesch 44, typical 43
Average sentence
16 words
Next steps
3
typical 3
Hedged sentences
1%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 63%Leadership 4%Safeguarding 2%What needs to improve 5%About the inspection 25%

Full report text

Pool House Under 5's Nursery

Unique reference number (URN): 502191 Address: Kidsgrove, Tanterton, Preston, PR2 7BX Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 23/04/2001 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: Pool House Under 5's Nursery Committee

p.1

Safeguarding standards met

The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.

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How we evaluate safeguarding

When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:

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How we evaluate safeguarding

Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

The nursery is a very happy place. Children have warm, mutually respectful relationships with everyone in the setting. Children are able to recognise their feelings and manage them well. Children are consistently considerate and calm. A sense of kindness permeates as leaders have embedded a respectful culture in which children thrive.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Children benefit from a wide range of opportunities that develop their character. For example, looking after the outdoor allotment and being involved in organising stay-and-play sessions that celebrate differences. Staff take every opportunity to explore with the children the impact of their behaviour on themselves and others. As a result, children, including those new to the setting, show high levels of self-awareness and a real desire to focus on their learning. Children take pride in their achievements and the achievement of their friends. They are confident to share and celebrate their talents and interests from home. These interests are then extended through visitors into the setting, such as animals from a local farm, or by attending community events, such as firework displays. Children are motivated and interested learners.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Tailored adjustments for children who need support to understand their emotions have a demonstrable impact. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are involved in planning their day and choice of lunch. This means children are practising their communication and decision-making skills. Consequently, all children quickly develop a sense of belonging, learn to risk assess their own play and behave very well. Leaders work effectively with families to ensure they understand the importance of regular attendance. They take swift and thoughtful action if needed.

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Leadership and governance Strong standard

Leaders and those responsible for governance demonstrate consistently high standards to establish and sustain high-quality education for all the children at the setting. Since the last inspection, leaders have reviewed the curriculum. They have carefully considered what they expect children to know and remember in communication and language and mathematics. Mathematics is now taught explicitly, staff promote children's love of books and provide quality experiences for the children. Such improvements are celebrated and lead to deeper levels of thinking, learning and involvement from the children.

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Expected standard

Leaders use their systems for monitoring and assessment to give staff quality feedback and inform children's next steps. This allows gaps in children's learning and development to be quickly identified and appropriate interventions put in place. Staff are supported through observations and supervision meetings to identify strengths and areas for development. A wide range of training is available to staff to develop knowledge and skills further.

p.3

Expected standard

The leadership team is ambitious for every child. The team regularly reflect on practice and evaluate how it can be enhanced. For example, the new, experienced manager has already identified weaknesses in the promotion of children's oral health. Leaders accurately monitor attendance and prioritise actions that address significant barriers to learning, working thoughtfully and closely with families, where needed. Those responsible for governance hold leaders to account and effectively support the provision for disadvantaged children, those known (or previously known) to children's social care and/or those who face other barriers to learning and/or well-being.

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Achievement Expected standard

Typically, children achieve well from their starting points. Gaps in all children's learning are closing consistently, in particular for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. All children gain skills that will prepare them for their move on to school. They develop their motor skills effectively, building their strength and coordination in a newly resourced outdoor environment. They practise using tools to mix dough and make marks using paints and chalks. Older children create patterns and shapes with increasing independence and control.

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Achievement Expected standard

Generally, children learn to express themselves and develop their communication and language well. Children of all ages develop their listening and attention skills effectively. They are interested and engage in the focused group activities that staff provide. Children develop their conversation skills chatting with their friends and staff. They enjoy selecting and looking at books independently, developing their literacy skills.

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Children's welfare and well-being Expected standard

Relationships are respectful, warm and effective in promoting children's well-being and all children have a strong sense of belonging, including those who may face barriers to their learning and/or well-being. Care practices take into account the personal needs of children of all ages, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff teach children to become increasingly independent and help them to understand the risks of using technology and staying safe online. Key persons have an effective understanding of their role and help form secure attachments with children and their families.

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Children's welfare and well-being Expected standard

Leaders and staff ensure children receive nutritious food and drink. They know how to promote children's emotional and physical well-being. Children enjoy daily outdoor play where staff provide support to help them develop their strength, balance and coordination. Staff are aware of the impact of children's poor oral health and there is a programme that supports oral hygiene at home and in nursery. However, this is not yet embedded and children's understanding of the importance of brushing their teeth is not secure. Staff encourage children to take appropriate risks and meet challenges as they play and learn, inside and outside.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

The well-sequenced curriculum is designed to teach all areas of learning. Leaders know and adapt teaching appropriately for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those with barriers to learning and/or well-being. Children's physical development is prioritised from the earliest age. Staff understand the steps to take to help build children's physical strength and skills. Leaders have identified areas in which the curriculum could be improved, such as in teaching children about how to look after their health and well-being, and these are at an early stage of implementation. The curriculum is designed so that staff know what they want children to know next and how they will teach them these things. This helps to ensure children are ready for their next stage of education, including school.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Children enjoy learning outdoors in the nursery woodland area. Staff use the environment well to teach children about number, habitats, materials and weather. Staff support children's communication and language well. They provide ongoing narration of children's play, introduce new vocabulary and encourage meaningful conversations. Children enjoy speaking in small groups about their families and what they have learned. Staff promote a love of stories, rhymes, songs and books throughout the day. They reflect on what children have learned securely and what their next steps are.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Staff use effective strategies to support children with communication needs. Staff ensure that the teaching and learning environment is carefully adapted to meet the needs of all children. They use approaches such as pictures, symbols, photographs and signs. This supports children with SEND to access the curriculum and understand simple instructions. Staff promote children's understanding of the world and other communities through stories, themed stay-and-play sessions and celebrations.

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Inclusion Expected standard

Leaders make informed decisions about how best to spend additional funding that children are in receipt of, to support their next steps and progress. Parents are involved in these decisions. Leaders carefully monitor and review the impact of additional funding. Parents comment on how well the setting identifies and helps their children to receive the additional support they need. Parents have a good understanding of how targeted support plans are helping their children to progress in their development.

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Inclusion Expected standard

Staff receive help from leaders to support all children, particularly those who are disadvantaged, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face barriers to their learning and/or well-being. Appropriate and timely referrals to other agencies are made, when needed. Leaders work in partnership with parents and other professionals to secure support and interventions for children as required. There is a range of training and support to extend staff's knowledge and expertise so they can best support children with gaps in their learning and development.

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Compulsory Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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Voluntary Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children thoroughly enjoy attending this safe and welcoming setting. Interactions between staff and children are nurturing and respectful. Staff create an inclusive atmosphere where a range of children, including disadvantaged children, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or well-being,

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Inspector:

Sandra Hamilton can socialise, relax and play. All children build strong attachments with their key person. Children have consistently positive attitudes to their learning, and play cooperatively with each other in a harmonious and trusting environment. Children have a strong sense of belonging. They manage their own feelings, show kindness to each other, build friendships and thrive. Staff model vocabulary, promote storytelling and provide daily opportunities for children to practise their mathematical skills. Children build new knowledge and remember what they have learned through familiar stories, recalling what happens next, and developing a love of books.

p.6

Inspector:

Staff engage children in meaningful conversations about healthy eating, exercise, rest and screen time. Leaders promote the good health of the children they look after but a well- structured programme for oral health is not yet in place. Leaders have high expectations for children's behaviour. They have consistently thoughtful and positive engagement with parents. There are regular stay-and-play sessions and a diverse range of community activities planned around different cultures and traditions. Leaders have a consistent focus on securing excellence and ensure children are well prepared at times of transition. There is effective engagement with other professionals, when needed, to support children's education and care.

p.6

Next steps

Implement and embed the setting's plans to improve the curriculum, including to promote children's positive oral health so children develop the knowledge and skills they need and lifelong habits for their all-round health and well-being.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with leaders, practitioners, the special educational needs coordinator, nominated individual and trustees during the inspection.

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About this inspection

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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Address:

Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Address:

Registered person: Pool House Under 5's Nursery Committee

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Address:

Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 09:00 - 15:00

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Facts and figures used on inspection

This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.

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Exceptional

Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.

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Strong standard

The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standards expected of them.

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Expected standard

The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standards set out in statutory and non-statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.

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Needs attention

The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.

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Urgent improvement

The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care.

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Urgent improvement

services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

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Urgent improvement

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Urgent improvement

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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