Parkway Day Nursery @ Acklam Whin

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children thrive in this nurturing, welcoming and well-resourced nursery.

They show their delight as they rush in, eager to see their friends and start to play. For instance, as they enter, children enthusiastically sing and dance their way around the nursery, engaging others in this activity. Children's behaviour is exemplary.

They show high levels of respect for each other and towards adults. Children automatically say 'please' and 'thank you'. They willingly let children enter their already established play, happy to share resources.

Children show exceptionally high levels of confidence and a can-do attitude... to their learning. For instance, they are determined to put their own coats and hats on before going outside to play. They only ask for assistance when it is absolutely needed.

Parents are extremely complimentary about the nursery. Staff use a variety of methods to share information, including newsletters, stay-and-play sessions and parents' information evenings. This helps to ensure that parents are fully involved in their children's learning and development.

Partnership with the host school and other settings children attend is excellent. Staff from school are exceptionally complementary about the service the nursery offers.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

Children delight in the opportunities they have to develop their imagination skills.

For instance, they work together to build a robot, discussing where to place the different parts. They discuss how many eyes, ears and mouths the robot will need. Children are proud to tell visitors to the setting 'we are doing teamwork'.

Children show exceptionally high levels of concentration and motivation as they spend considerable amounts of time at their chosen activities.Staff make good use of the local area to enhance children's understanding of the community in which they live. They visit local shops where children choose their own purchases and pay for their own goods.

Children show exceptional levels of perseverance to achieve their goals. For instance, they are determined to walk across a balance beam unaided. They allow staff to be beside them but refuse offers of help.

The satisfaction children feel in their own achievements is shown as their faces glow with absolute joy and happiness.Professional development is a high priority. Staff access a wide variety of training to update their knowledge of how to keep children safe and to enhance the opportunities that they offer to children.

Staff encourage children's literacy skills. They willingly read stories to children when asked. Staff are imaginative in the ways they use stories to support children's learning.

For instance, children enthusiastically count the number of steps they need to run away from 'the big bad wolf'.The management team and staff are ambitious, dedicated and highly committed to the ongoing improvement of the nursery. They constantly reflect on their provision to identify targets to support continual development.

Children are skilful communicators who are able to engage in discussions and articulate their ideas with confidence. They are polite and considerate to others. They know that they must wait for their turn to speak and respect what others say.

Staff engage with children in their play and use these opportunities to extend children's vocabulary. For instance, staff talk about 'balance' as children play with scales.The manager and staff make good use of the systems that are in place to help to monitor the progress that children make in their learning and development.

Staff talk with confidence about individual children's interests and plans for their future learning. However, they do not gather detailed information about children's achievements when they first start nursery, to inform the planning of activities from the outset.At times, staff do not sufficiently challenge children's thinking as they play to extend what they already know and can do.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a secure understanding of their responsibilities to protect children. They know the procedures to follow if they have concerns about children's welfare, including protecting children from extremist views.

The management team and staff ensure that the premises are secure at all times and any potential hazards to children's safety are identified and minimised. Robust policies and regular staff training strengthen all aspects of safeguarding practice.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: gather more detailed information from parents about children's capabilities on entry to the setting nidentify where activities can be extended and enriched even further to provide children with a greater level of challenge.

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