The Family Tree Day Nursery

Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Shefford The Old School,east Lodge, Ampthill Road, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5BH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 December 2015 Not applicable

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Some staff do not always swiftly reduce or remove hazards when they arise while children play. These present a risk to children's safety.  Children's learning is not always extended. On occasions, staff do not have sufficient awareness of children's level of engagement during self-chosen play.  Managers have not yet fully developed systems to monitor the progress made by different groups of children to ensure they make the best possible progress.

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It has the following strengths

 The owner has established robust procedures to ensure the staff she recruits are suitable to work with children. New staff have the relevant experience and qualifications for their roles.  Staff provide a wide variety of stimulating activities that encourage children and babies to explore and learn. For example, staff support older children as they experiment with different objects in the water tray, while babies investigate different textures and light.  Managers and staff effectively work in partnership with other professionals to support disabled children and those with special educational needs. Staff routinely use signs to help all children communicate with adults and children alike.  The caring staff gather information from parents to help them continue to provide key routines that babies and very young children have at home. This helps children to feel settled in the nursery.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure all staff take all reasonable steps to make sure that children in their care are not exposed to risks. 05/01/2016

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 ensure children's learning is consistently extended throughout the day, including times when children select their own equipment and activities  enhance the monitoring systems used to assess children's development to clearly show the progress different groups of children are making.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities both inside the nursery and in the garden. She spoke to children and staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the owner and manager of the nursery.  The inspector looked at evidence of the suitability of staff working with children. She looked at a range of documentation, including the safeguarding procedures, complaints and accident records.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records and discussed planning methods with senior staff.  The inspector took into consideration the views of parents spoken to on the day of inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a clear knowledge and understanding of the robust procedures that managers have put in place to identify and report any concerns of child abuse. However, staff do not always accurately identify areas of risk and manage them effectively. For example, toddlers are sometimes temporarily exposed to unnecessary trip hazards in the garden. Managers demonstrate they know what information needs to be passed to Ofsted. The motivated owner and manager have quickly established effective ways to help them evaluate all areas of the setting. They reflect and act upon feedback from parents and visiting professionals. Quality is monitored by the head office of Monkey Puzzle Nurseries, which contributes to the action plans that the owner and manager put in place. Managers have established effective induction methods and continue to supervise staff and support their professional development.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff regularly take children to play and explore in the neighbouring woods, helping them to learn even more about the world around them. Children and babies experience good quality interactions with staff, who happily sing to babies and children, helping to gain their attention and enhance their learning. Staff plan a selection of activities that cover all areas of development and ensure that children's next steps in learning are incorporated in them. However, children's learning is not consistently extended throughout the day. There are times where some staff are not fully aware of the levels of engagement children have during self-chosen play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children play and learn in a warm and welcoming environment. Babies receive plenty of cuddles to reassure and comfort them. This contributes to their ability to quickly settle and explore their room and garden. Staff teach children to be kind to each other which contributes to the good behaviour that children display. Staff work with parents and share information about children's care and education with them. Each key person makes sure that communication methods remain open at all times. Staff ensure that children's health needs are met. Fresh, nutritious meals are prepared each day and children's allergies and intolerances are carefully managed. Staff ensure they follow clear procedures to safely give prescribed medicines to children when it is needed. Parents sign forms that record when any medication has been given. Children do not always keep themselves safe, because of the occasional hazards, particularly in the garden.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children make steady progress in their learning and development. As children grow, they are taught new skills that will help them when they move on to school. They are able to dress themselves and can recognise letters and numbers. As yet, managers have not fully developed effective monitoring systems to help them ensure that all groups of children, given their starting points, make good progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY489726 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 1033608 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 49 Name of provider More Than Talking Limited Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01462 337273

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Setting details

Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Shefford was registered in 2015. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one who holds Qualified Teacher Status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for the time between Christmas and New Year and bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery offers early education funding for two-, three- and four-year-old children and supports disabled children and those with special educational needs.

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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

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Setting details

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