Smart Start Day Nursery and Pre-school

Smart Start Day Nursery Smart Start Day Nursery, 22-23 Overcliffe, GRAVESEND, Kent, DA11 0EH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 March 2015 13 June 2011

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Good 2

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is good

 The use of the space in the nursery is very good, and carefully planned. Every area benefits the children in their learning and development.  The outdoor area is extremely well resourced and children can learn and develop in a stimulating and exciting varied environment.  Staff have an excellent knowledge of children, their background and their needs and what they most enjoy doing. Children feel secure and valued.  Staff give children's well-being outstanding attention and commitment, and they are developing in their personal, social and emotional skills extremely well.  Staff provide a strong foundation for children to develop in their independence.  The provider ensures all staff receive good support, and values their work and dedication.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The monitoring processes are not fully secure in ensuring all assessments are of the same high standard.  Not all staff understand fully how to make the best use of the experiences available to ensure all children have consistent opportunities.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 strengthen the monitoring processes to ensure there is more consistency in the quality of assessments for children throughout the nursery  ensure all staff are consistently making the most of every opportunity to ensure children make best progress.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector talked to the provider and members of staff.  The inspector sampled records and documents.  The inspector spoke to parents to gain their feedback about the nursery.  The inspector observed and talked to the children and carried out a joint observation with the manager.

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who attend. This is good

Overall, staff are very effective in their teaching and provide good learning opportunities for children. Staff ensure that children improve their personal, social and emotional development by enabling then to enjoy activities together and on their own. There are a wide range of resources and experiences, both indoors and outside, that children can access to extend their learning. Most staff are skilled at asking children questions and give them time to think about their answers. Children engage in meaningful conversations with staff and other children, to further develop their communication skills. Babies have plenty of space to crawl and learn to walk indoors. Staff use the well planned and resourced outdoor area to extend children's learning about the world around them. However, not all staff make best use of all opportunities to promote younger children's learning. Staff use various activities to promote children's knowledge of numbers and problem solving. This

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who attend. This is good

helps to prepare them for starting school. Children are progressing very well in all areas of learning. The development records clearly represent the observations carried out and show how effectively children's next steps are promoted.

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outstanding

The carefully planned layout and excellent staffing arrangements mean children feel safe and secure when at the nursery. Children settle quickly and are extremely happy at the nursery. They know staff well and look to them for comfort and guidance. The outdoor environment contains an exciting and interesting range of activities and resources; set in stimulating, individual areas where children can enjoy playing and learning. For example, a mud kitchen and sensory garden. Staff show they are excellent role models and children's exemplary behaviour reflects this. The experienced cook provides a varied and carefully planned menu. All the food is freshly prepared and cooked. Children, even young ones, are able to confidently serve themselves at meal times. Staff provide excellent opportunities to further promote children's independence.

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provision is good

The provider and staff confidently use the numerous policies and procedures to keep children safe. Robust recruitment procedures ensure new staff are suitable. All staff are encouraged to gain qualifications to improve their teaching skills further. Effective self- evaluation processes enable the managers, staff, other agencies, parents and children to identify areas where the nursery can improve further. However, there is inconsistency in the monitoring of children's records between different rooms. Parents have opportunities to speak with the key person and managers every day. This means they are kept informed of their children's learning and achievements.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY345517 Local authority Kent Inspection number 828495 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 79 Number of children on roll 149 Name of provider Smart Start Childcare Services Ltd Date of previous inspection 13 June 2011 Telephone number 01474 332 255

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Setting details

Smart Start Nursery registered in 2007, and is located in Gravesend, Kent. The nursery employs 33 staff, 27 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications, to at least level 2. The manager and other leading staff are qualified to level 6 with five other staff at level 5. The nursery receives funding for two, three and four year olds.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted 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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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Setting details

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Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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