Willow Tree Day Nursery Biddulph

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement Leaders have put risk assessments in place, but these are not always fully effective in minimising all risks to children. However, once risks are identified, such as trip and slip hazards to toddlers, leaders take action to ensure the environment is safe for children to play in. Nevertheless, staff are kind and caring.

Children are mainly happy and settled. Staff sensitively support children who are not as well settled, giving them comfort and reassurance. Staff have a good understanding of children's interests and use these well.

For example, they encourage less-confident children to participate in activities using their... favourite toys. Overall, leaders are ambitious for every child to make progress, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff skilfully adapt activities as appropriate to ensure that all children have access to the same opportunities.

For example, staff use simple sign language to ensure children can understand instructions effectively. Staff are clear and consistent across the nursery with behaviour management strategies, as a result, overall, children behave well. They use lots of praise to encourage and strengthen good behaviour and teach children strategies to share.

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

The provider has failed to notify Ofsted of the required information within the expected notification timescale. This includes changes in the address of the premises, and seeking approval to operate from those premises, where appropriate. Although this was only temporary while maintenance work was being carried out, it is still a breach of the requirements.

Staff demonstrate a clear intention for children to have a wide range of learning opportunities. However, they do not always have a good enough understanding of how the environment indoors influences children's learning. For example, loud noise levels from some staff and children hinder other children's attention and focus.

This has an impact on children's ability to learn effectively.Children have plenty of opportunities to exercise. For example, they climb large equipment and ride on toys outside.

Children build hand strength as they squeeze play dough and use tools to make marks with paint. They learn to access their drinks outside and remain hydrated on hot days. Older children pour their own water from small jugs indoors.

This helps children develop their muscles and balance and learn how to stay healthy.Staff use children's interests when planning activities and responding to their play. For example, some older children are extremely interested in planets.

Staff provide books and resources with interesting information that children discuss as they draw and create planets with different features. This ensures that children engage and are curious to find out more.The youngest children sit together at mealtimes and demonstrate good social skills, and feed themselves from a very young age.

However, children sit waiting at the tables before staff are ready. This can sometimes lead to children waiting for periods and they become frustrated and restless while they wait for their food and drink.Parents are pleased with the nursery and speak very highly of the staff.

They receive regular communication about their children's experiences via daily feedback and an online childcare system. Parents are happy with the support they receive from staff and how settled their children are at the nursery.The manager ensures that she uses additional funding appropriately to further support children's learning and development.

For example, she uses funding to allow staff to work on a one-to-one basis with children and provide the interventions they may need.Staff benefit from individual supervision meetings and regular training. For example, staff attend specific baby training to extend their knowledge on how to care for this age group.

Staff have attended training on sign language to help them further support children's communication and language skills. This has had a positive impact, as some children now use simple sign language as part of their communication skills.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage, the provider must: Due date strengthen staff understanding of the risk assessment procedures to swiftly identify and rectify any minor hazards in the environment where children have access 07/06/2024 ensure that procedures are in place to provide Ofsted with all necessary information about significant changes.07/06/2024 To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nensure the organisation of the environment and planned activities indoors, meet the needs and engagement of children, particularly concerning reducing noise levels nimprove the organisation of lunchtime routines so staff are fully prepared, and children do not have to wait unnecessarily.