Sandcastle Nursery & Preschool Ltd

Sandcastle Nursery & Preschool 19 Stourcliffe Avenue, Bournemouth, BH6 3PU

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 February 2016 22 October 2012

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Staff ensure that parents are fully involved with their children's learning. They share information about children's progress regularly. Staff provide tailored activities that help children make good progress.  The manager ensures staff implement robust safeguarding procedures to ensure all children are safe from harm. Staff receive relevant safeguarding training and complete regular risk assessments to ensure children remain safe and secure.  Children are happy and settled, and have good relationships with staff. This contributes to children's good social skills and emotional well-being.  The manager, staff, parents and children contribute effectively to the self-evaluation process to implement ongoing improvements. The staff are reflective of their practice and support each other well.  Partnerships with the local authority and outside agencies are well established. There is a good two-way system for sharing information about children's needs and

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always provide opportunities to encourage children to think, solve problems and develop their ideas independently.  The management of staff performance is not always as rigorous as it could be to ensure all staff take advantage of the professional development opportunities on offer.

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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

 provide more opportunities to encourage children to think, solve problems and develop their ideas independently  monitor performance management more precisely to encourage all staff to access the training and professional development opportunities on offer to develop their knowledge and skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children during activities in all areas of the nursery and in the outside learning environment.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager of the provision and spoke with parents, staff and children.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including assessment records, planning, policies and procedures, and feedback from parents.  The inspector checked evidence of suitability and qualifications of staff working with the children, the provider's self-evaluation and improvement plan.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager uses regular staff meetings, one-to-one sessions, and training opportunities to monitor staff practice well, overall. Partnerships with external professionals, such as speech and language therapists, help staff to implement new ideas for the benefit of children. The manager monitors staff suitability closely and they all attend statutory courses, such as safeguarding and first aid. The manager understands how ongoing training improves the quality of teaching and learning. She encourages all staff to take advantage of professional development opportunities, but some are reluctant. Overall, training is effective. A member of staff who trained in signing now supports others to use it alongside language. This has had a positive impact on all children, including those with additional needs. Staff know what to do if they are concerned about children's welfare. They understand their responsibility to protect children. Safeguarding is effective.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff successfully observe, assess and plan for children's learning and development. The manager monitors children's progress effectively. Staff are patient and listen to the children. They successfully promote children's language development, for example, by repeating words back to them and using accurate pronunciation. However, staff do not consistently use language or activities to encourage children's thinking and problem- solving skills as well as possible. Staff motivate children to learn; for example, they use toy animals as props to keep their interest and prompt discussion while children sing about the animals on the farm. Staff work effectively with others involved in children's development, enabling them to build on what children learn elsewhere.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are happy and content, confidently exploring the environment, working, and playing together well. The staff working with babies are caring and provide a relaxed and calm atmosphere, where the youngest children settle well and feel safe. Staff teach children about the importance of keeping safe and staying healthy. They provide nutritious meals and regular drinking water. Children enjoy fresh air and exercise in the outdoor area on a daily basis. Children learn to manage risks as they carefully cut vegetables.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those with additional needs and those who are learning English as an additional language, are making good progress. They are confident and independent. Children's behaviour is good. They show respect for others and play harmoniously together. They develop the skills they need for their eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY440853 Local authority Bournemouth Inspection number 1028134 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 97 Number of children on roll 82 Name of provider Sandcastle Nursery & Preschool Ltd Date of previous inspection 22 October 2012 Telephone number 01202 424632

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Setting details

Sandcastle Nursery and Preschool registered as a limited company in 2011. The nursery is situated in a residential area close to the Southbourne area of Bournemouth, Dorset. It is open each weekday throughout the year from 7.30am to 6pm. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. There are 16 staff employed to work with the children. All staff either hold, or are working towards, an early years qualification from levels 2 to 5.

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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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