Summary
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
Expected standard
- Children's welfare and wellbeing verified
Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching verified
Expected standard
- Inclusion verified
Expected standard
- Leadership and governance verified
Needs attention
- Framework verified
Report card
- Group verified
Dee Mac Childcare Limited
- Inspection datesingle source
5 Jun 2026
- Inspectors verified
Anna Marshall
- Postcode verified
SK15 1PF
- Name on report verified
Grow Happy Childcare
- Safeguarding verified
Met
- URN verified
EY458831
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 routinesExpected
- Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected
- Curriculum and teachingExpected
- InclusionExpected
- Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- They build warm and trusting relationships with children by effectively meeting their individual needs. p.3
- Leaders have high expectations of behaviour and promote positive attitudes to learning. p.2
- Children are welcomed into the setting by warm and caring staff who know them well. p.5
- They guide and use positive strategies to support children to engage in positive ways. p.2
- This ensures that children receive consistency in their care and education, helping them to thrive. p.6
Concerns
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Leadership & governance22
“Leaders have high expectations of behaviour and promote positive attitudes to learning.” p.2Wellbeing & mental health5
“Leaders ensure that the key-person system is effective in supporting children's wellbeing.” p.2
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 9
- Words of findings
- 1,667
- about usual (typical 1698)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 46, typical 43
- Average sentence
- 16 words
- Next steps
- 2
- typical 3
- Hedged sentences
- 2%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Grow Happy Childcare
Unique reference number (URN): EY458831 Address: Unit 1 Rayners House, Bridge Street, Stalybridge, Cheshire, SK15 1PF Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 21/02/2013 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: Dee Mac Childcare Limited
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.
p.1
How we evaluate safeguarding
When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:
p.1
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.
p.1
Achievement Expected standard
Children achieve well and make secure progress from their starting points. They are confident to share their learning and join in activities with joy. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those with barriers to their learning are supported to build secure foundations in their communication and language skills. They learn about taking turns and working together through small-group activities. Children have the opportunity to develop physical skills through using bikes and going on outings. For example, children explore the local parks where they can run and climb, developing their strength and coordination skills. Children's achievement in their learning is celebrated and shared with parents and carers.
p.2
Achievement Expected standard
Children show increasing levels of concentration while engaged in activities, such as play dough, where they explore and develop skills to cut out shapes and roll balls. Children are able to revisit learning to ensure that they embed the skills needed to support them in their next stage of learning. For example, children develop perseverance and resilience when taking part in activities alongside staff, who offer support and encouragement to help them achieve their goals.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Leaders have high expectations of behaviour and promote positive attitudes to learning. Leaders work effectively with parents and carers to ensure that children attend the setting regularly. This involves adapting hours to meet parents' and children's needs so that absences are minimised. Staff provide clear expectations of behaviour for children in the setting. They guide and use positive strategies to support children to engage in positive ways. For example, staff encourage children to think about good choices and praise them using 'high fives' when they help at tidy time.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Staff are positive role models to children. They engage in respectful interactions that promote kindness and care. Children copy these behaviours, acknowledging others' achievements and showing kindness in their play. Staff support children to develop skills such as sharing and taking turns through small-group activities. They support children to focus on their current learning and give positive encouragement when children need support. This encourages children to have positive attitudes to learning and builds their resilience. Staff support all children to make secure progress. They monitor and adapt strategies so that children can participate in day-to-day routines. For example, staff use visual supports such as now and next boards to promote children's participation. They adapt this to now only cards to meet children's level of understanding.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Leaders ensure that staff have a clear understanding of policies and procedures that support children's welfare and wellbeing. For example, new members of staff are supervised when changing nappies to ensure that they follow the correct procedure so that children's wellbeing is promoted. Leaders' ability to effectively risk-assess occasionally impacts on their ability to create a safe environment. Leaders ensure that the key-person system is effective in supporting children's wellbeing. The key person works closely with their key children to meet their individual needs and form secure attachments. For example, when playing with puzzles, children gravitate towards their key person for support and comfort.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Staff create a warm and welcoming place for children to play and learn. They build warm and trusting relationships with children by effectively meeting their individual needs. Staff have respectful relationships with all children, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities or barriers to their learning. They support children to feel a sense of belonging through the warm, responsive relationships. Staff promote children's health and wellbeing by providing healthy meals and initiatives, such as toothbrushing after meals. Children learn the importance of keeping themselves healthy. Staff support children to be increasingly independent to manage their own care needs. For example, staff support children's toilet training so that children become increasingly confident in their abilities.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Leaders have a clear overview of the curriculum. They plan a broad and balanced curriculum, with a particular focus on supporting children's communication and language development, personal and social development and physical development. Leaders and staff find additional ways to support children's physical development, such as regular excursions out of the setting to explore the local community. Leaders and staff regularly monitor children's progress to ensure that all children, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those with barriers to learning, receive the best support to help them make secure progress.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Leaders and staff create a curriculum that builds on what children know and can do. They focus on building children's skills and knowledge through activities, such as toddlers using puzzles to develop their problem-solving skills. Staff understand children's next steps and plan effectively to support children to make secure progress. Staff focus on supporting young children's language skills through songs, stories and conversations during activities and routine times. Young children are supported to feel safe and secure as they mix paints. They have time to explore alongside staff, who comment on their movements to develop their language skills. Staff support children to be ready for the next stage of learning. This includes being ready for school by supporting their independence and their ability to focus and pay attention. Staff support this through short, focused activities, such as parachute games where they match colours. Staff promote a love of books and regularly share stories
p.3
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders and staff quickly assess and identify children's needs. They use effective strategies to assess and monitor children's progress. Staff use this information to create targeted support that meets children's individual needs. For example, staff create tailored next steps to support children's development, such as extending children's vocabulary from one word to two words. Leaders and staff remove barriers to children's learning by being flexible in terms of hours of attendance to meet children's, parents' and carers' needs.
p.3
Needs attention
Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, who receive effective support to ensure that they make secure progress from their starting points. Staff know children well, including those who are disadvantaged, known to social care and who may face barriers to their learning, and they adapt their approach to meet their individual needs, enabling them to achieve. For example, staff use strategies such as items to represent a routine or activity to support children's communication and participation in daily activities. Staff try new strategies to continue to support children's development, and they assess if these are effective. For example, staff use now and next boards to support communication. Leaders and staff have a clear understanding of family circumstances, which enables them to provide specific support to promote children's wellbeing.
p.4
Leadership and governance Needs attention
Leaders do not effectively assess risks within the setting environment. For example, leaders do not ensure that nappy changing facilities are suitable or that the outside area is free from hazards. Leaders do complete risk assessments for excursions to keep children safe. Leaders have an understanding of the setting's strengths and identify some areas for development, such as developing the outdoor area. They follow safer recruitment processes to ensure staff suitability. Leaders effectively support staff wellbeing and mental health through regular staff supervision. They focus on ongoing support to grow professional practice. For example, staff have access to ongoing training that meets their individual needs and the needs of the children attending the setting.
p.4
Leadership and governance Needs attention
Leaders form effective partnerships with parents and carers. They support parents and children through the settling-in period by following children's routines and using familiar ways to settle them. This supports children to settle quickly in the setting and builds trust with parents. Leaders and staff work effectively with parents, sharing children's progress, areas of development and activities at the setting. This ensures that children experience consistency in their care and learning. For example, staff share strategies to support children's language and communication development that parents can use at home. Leaders ensure that children have frequent opportunities to explore the local community, including visits to local parks, the library and shops.
p.4
Compulsory Childcare Register requirements
This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.
p.5
Register
When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:
p.5
Voluntary Childcare Register requirements
This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register.
p.5
Register
When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children are welcomed into the setting by warm and caring staff who know them well. Children have secure relationships with their key person, who they approach for cuddles and comfort, showing that they feel safe. Children do not experience an environment that is effectively risk-assessed. Leaders have not considered risks in the environment and how these could be unsafe for children. Children join in with a range of learning experiences that allow them to explore, practise new skills and revisit learning to build their capabilities. Children are prepared for the next stages in learning. They are supported to reach developmental milestones of crawling and walking or learning the skills and knowledge such as the mathematical skills of sorting and matching.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children are encouraged to play with and alongside others. They develop friendships and play well together. Children observe staff who model kindness and respect in all their interactions. They learn how to engage positively with their friends and work well together. Staff promote positive behaviour and gently guide children to understand expectations. Children respond well to the calm, positive approach. They are included in all aspects of the setting. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or those who have barriers to learning are well supported by staff, who tailor their approach to meet their individual needs. This means that barriers to learning are reduced as children make secure progress from their starting points. Children's attendance is positively encouraged by leaders, who remove barriers to attendance to support children's learning and development.
p.6
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children are supported by staff, who work in close partnership with parents and carers, sharing children's learning and progress. This ensures that children receive consistency in their care and education, helping them to thrive. Children's uniqueness is celebrated. Their progress, no matter how small, is recognised, shared and celebrated, enabling them to flourish.
p.6
Next steps
To meet the requirements of the Early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must take the following action by the assigned date:
p.6
Action Completion Date
ensure that effective risk assessments are in place to assure the ongoing safety of the environment so that staff and children are not exposed to risks. 03/07/2026
p.6
About this inspection
The inspector spoke with leaders, practitioners and the special educational needs coordinator during the inspection.
p.6
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.
p.6
About this inspection
We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. The provider will be able to give parents further information about this.
p.6
Address:
Unit 1 Rayners House Bridge Street Stalybridge Cheshire SK15 1PF
p.7
Address:
Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises
p.7
Address:
Registered person: Dee Mac Childcare Limited
p.7
Address:
Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:00 - 18:00
p.7
Facts and figures used on inspection
This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.
p.7
Exceptional
Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.
p.8
Strong standard
The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.
p.8
Expected standard
The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.
p.8
Needs attention
The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.
p.8
Urgent improvement
The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care.
p.8
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.
p.8
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 .
p.8
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
Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn . Store Street Manchester M1 2WD
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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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