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
Strong standard
- Children's welfare and wellbeing verified
Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching verified
Expected standard
- Inclusion verified
Expected standard
- Leadership and governance verified
Expected standard
- Framework verified
Report card
- Group verified
Bellis, Alexandra Jayne
- Inspection datesingle source
19 Aug 2026
- Inspectors verified
Louise Jarvis
- Postcode verified
PR7 4PG
- Name on report verified
Sunny Brow Playschool
- Safeguarding verified
Met
- URN verified
2825584
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 wellbeingStrong
- Curriculum and teachingExpected
- InclusionExpected
- Leadership and governanceExpected
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.
- Children enjoy a warm and nurturing environment, where they feel safe, secure and valued. p.5
- Staff are excellent role models for the children and teach them the importance of kindness, care and respect. p.2
- Children build warm, trusting relationships with their key person and other staff members. p.2
- As a result, children consistently display positive behaviour. p.2
- Children develop consistently positive attitudes to their learning. p.2
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.
- Leaders should continue to focus on supporting and developing staff interactions with children to ensure they are consistently high quality and highly effective. p.6
- Leaders should strengthen the curriculum for mathematics to provide children with more opportunities to excel in their mathematical understanding. p.6
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Communication & language11
“Children make good progress in their communication and language.” p.3Progress & outcomes7
“Children make good progress in their communication and language.” p.3
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 9
- Words of findings
- 1,881
- about usual (typical 1698)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 45, typical 43
- Average sentence
- 17 words
- Next steps
- 2
- typical 3
- Hedged sentences
- 3%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Sunny Brow Playschool
Unique reference number (URN): 2825584 Address: 47 Chapel Lane, Coppull, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 4PG Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 23/01/2025 Registers: EYR Registered person: Bellis, Alexandra Jayne
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
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard
Leaders and staff have embedded clear expectations and a respectful culture. Staff are excellent role models for the children and teach them the importance of kindness, care and respect. As a result, children consistently display positive behaviour. Leaders embed highly impactful routines. For example, children enthusiastically ask for the tidy-up song. They know how to tidy away the resources and where these resources go. Staff give praise and encouragement throughout, and as a result children feel proud of their achievements.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard
Children develop consistently positive attitudes to their learning. They access activities and resources with confidence. They seek out staff and other children to share their learning. For example, children write letters to their friends and post these in the local postbox. They invite each other to splash in puddles, which they do excitedly as they explore the rain together. Staff actively listen to children and are considerate of their needs and age and stage of development. For example, staff follow younger children's routines from home and encourage children to join in group time activities when they feel ready to do so. Children build warm, trusting relationships with their key person and other staff members. As a result, children feel secure and settle quickly.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard
Leaders promote the importance of attendance with families; they are proactive to ensure children attend the nursery and any barriers are identified and addressed. As a result, there is a significant improvement to children's attendance, which has a positive impact on their learning.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard
There is a real sense of belonging in the nursery. Leaders ensure children's welfare and wellbeing are consistently prioritised, and they are highly responsive to the needs of individual children and families. Leaders gather information from parents before the children start, such as sleep times and intolerances, and morning handovers from parents are explicitly shared with all staff. This means children's needs are met daily, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face barriers to learning. Leaders create a safe, welcoming environment where children excitedly access a range of activities, both indoors and outdoors, with confidence.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard
Children settle quickly and develop secure attachments with their key person. Staff have ample knowledge of children's next steps and interests, using these to plan activities and provide resources to promote learning. For example, staff use natural materials in the outdoor area to make a pirate ship linked to the children's interest in sea animals. As a result, children develop social, imaginative and communication skills, along with developing their physical skills as they 'walk the plank'.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard
Children show independence when following the embedded and well-structured routines of the setting, for example washing their hands and finding their drinking cups. They show increasing control in their self-care skills, such as putting on their own coat and independently getting changed after playing outside. Leaders and staff teach children about
p.2
Expected standard
healthy choices and diet. For example, children grow their own vegetables, which they then feed to the nursery pets, and discuss healthy eating at mealtimes and at home. Staff share with parents healthy lunch box ideas and signpost parents to local cooking classes to promote healthy eating at home. As a result, children consistently develop long-lasting healthy habits. Children have regular opportunities to rest, and mealtimes are used to develop social skills, where all children, including the youngest, sit together and engage in conversations about their likes and the food they are eating.
p.3
Achievement Expected standard
All children make progress in their learning, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face barriers to learning. They develop knowledge across the 7 areas of learning and are developing essential skills for the future. Children make good progress in their communication and language. They communicate with staff and other children about the activities they are completing and use their communication skills to ask for help. For example, as children write letters and use stamps, they skilfully ask for help to put their letter into an envelope.
p.3
Achievement Expected standard
Children gain a secure foundation in their physical and personal, social and emotional skills. Children thrive and are suitably prepared for their next stage of learning. Babies and children enjoy exploring and are naturally inquisitive. For example, young children become excited and talk about what they can see, hear and smell.
p.3
Achievement Expected standard
Older children use their physical skills to negotiate the outdoor area. They run confidently and are encouraged to use their arm muscles to pour water. Staff give younger children opportunities to use equipment to pull themselves up and develop their walking skills. Children show increasingly high levels of concentration and a 'can-do' attitude during the activities provided. They show perseverance and resilience. For example, they fasten buttons on a doll's clothing and keep on trying when attempting to put on their own socks.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Leaders have an accurate understanding of the curriculum and what they want to teach children. They take action to ensure that all children can access the curriculum, which allows children to learn from different experiences and helps prepare them for the next stage in their learning. The curriculum is typically taught well across all areas of learning and development. Staff plan for children's interests and next steps where children develop their knowledge and skills and build on prior learning. For example, children observe sunflowers, create their own paintings and use vocabulary, alongside staff, such as petals and roots.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Leaders and staff teach children emerging mathematical concepts. However, this is not always consistent as not all staff recognise emerging learning opportunities as they interact with children. Occasionally, some staff are not confident in their teaching, and this means that teaching is not consistently of a high quality. Staff promote children's love of books. They provide activities that link to children's favourite stories in the setting and at home, and children confidently seek out staff and other children to share their favourite books with.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
There is a focus on babies' and children's personal, social and emotional development, and children confidently explore the nursery and make friends. Children sing the 'hello' song together, ensuring that all children are welcomed into the nursery. This includes the youngest children, who use some words and sing along with the older children. Children's physical skills are a priority. Staff provide resources to support children's physical skills and adapt activities to meet the needs of all children. For example, children can access different resources such as large crates, planks and different mark-making resources. This helps them to strengthen the muscles in their legs, arms and hands.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders and staff know children's needs well, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face other barriers to their learning. They work in conjunction with families and professionals to provide appropriate strategies to support children's individual needs. Staff regularly review children's progress and undertake regular observations and assessments to ensure children's plans are updated and shared. This allows staff to identify any emerging gaps in learning, and as a result, children make good progress from their starting points. Staff share strategies with parents to provide a consistent approach at home and in the nursery. For example, staff encourage children to use their communication skills to speak about everyday activities they may do at home, using pictures to support this, and share these activity ideas with parents.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders and staff put strategies in place to support all children's learning and development. For example, they have implemented a listening and attention scheme, which has helped to develop children's communication skills. Leaders and staff work closely with speech and language therapists, health visitors and the specialist teacher. Staff are vigilant, identifying children's needs quickly, which allows for early help to be identified and secured. They ensure children receive the support needed and provide opportunities and experiences to support all children's learning and development. For example, they recognise when children are struggling with their emotions and provide resources, such as books, to support them.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders understand how to use additional funding to reduce barriers to learning. For example, they provide extra sessions for children when needed. This means children are able to attend more and benefit from the learning provided.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders have a sound understanding of the nursery and the local community. They actively identify priorities for improvement and how to make these improvements. For example, leaders have exciting plans for the outdoor area. This is to ensure that children of all ages can access the outdoor area, along with promoting road safety for the children who walk to the nursery. Leaders and the staff team work well together and are enthusiastic about the care and education they provide for children.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders undertake regular meetings with staff, which equips staff to carry out their roles successfully. Leaders ensure that staff receive a range of professional opportunities that reflect children's needs, and staff learn from specialists who work alongside them. For example, staff attend meetings with other agencies, and leaders ensure any training they have undertaken is shared with the team. As a result, staff typically support the children in their learning and development and implement any strategies shared from other agencies successfully.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders have developed an induction and recruitment procedure that ensures staff working with children are suitable. This includes mandatory training, such as first aid and safeguarding. Leaders ensure staff feel valued, and staff learn from each other as they observe each other's practice, reflecting together and implementing new skills in their own practice.
p.5
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Partnerships with parents are effective. Leaders work with other professionals and parents to identify children's needs, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face barriers to learning. They encourage regular two-way communication with parents, which results in parents feeling well informed about their children's learning. Parents speak very highly of leaders and staff and truly value the collaborative approach to support their children.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children are at the heart of everything at this nursery. They are welcomed into the family environment, where respect and inclusion are promoted. Children enjoy a warm and nurturing environment, where they feel safe, secure and valued. They access the different activities available with confidence and excitement and are curious about their learning. There is an emphasis on health and wellbeing. Children talk about the nursery pets needing water and being 'hydrated' and are learning about what they need to be healthy. Leaders and staff prioritise children's welfare and wellbeing. For example, children have regular access to the outdoors and have a designated cosy space where they can retreat to help manage their emotions, recognise their feelings and regulate their behaviour. Children are confident in their independence and build a positive relationship with their key person. Family books and pictures are shared with the children, which promotes a sense of
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
belonging. Children love snuggles with staff members and enjoy sharing books and inviting them into their play.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Every child benefits from staff knowing them well, and they make progress from their starting points. Children access a curriculum that is typically taught well, and their interests are considered. For example, staff use children's favourite books and talk to them about going on holiday. Children excitedly explore both the indoor and outdoor areas. They have access
p.5
Address:
47 Chapel Lane Coppull Chorley Lancashire PR7 4PG
p.6
Address:
Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises
p.6
Address:
Registration date: 23/01/2025 to different resources, and the activities planned are age- and stage appropriate to promote their learning and development. Children follow the embedded and well-structured routines. They run into the setting to join their peers and regularly seek out staff to share their learning or ask for help when needed. Children invite others into their play and enjoy joining in with group time and singing. This supports children to develop social skills and skills for future learning.
p.6
Next steps
Leaders should continue to focus on supporting and developing staff interactions with children to ensure they are consistently high quality and highly effective. Leaders should strengthen the curriculum for mathematics to provide children with more opportunities to excel in their mathematical understanding.
p.6
About this inspection
The inspector spoke with leaders, practitioners, the special educational needs coordinator, children and parents 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. Registered person: Bellis, Alexandra Jayne
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About this inspection
Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:45 - 17:45
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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.7
Strong standard
The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.
p.7
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.7
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
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p.8
Urgent improvement
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p.8
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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