Ducklings Day Nursery

Ducklings Day Nursery Ducklings Day Nursery, 4-8 Wood Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2DU

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 February 2016 22 November 2011

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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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The quality of teaching is consistently good and, at times, outstanding. Staff provide children with opportunities to develop their skills across all areas of learning.  Staff regularly use sign language along with spoken language to communicate with children. This has had a positive impact on all children's ability to express themselves, particularly those who speak English as an additional language.  Children's behaviour is exemplary. Staff value and provide excellent opportunities for each child to share their views and ideas. Staff consistently praise and encourage the children, which builds their self-esteem and confidence.  Staff have highly effective working partnerships with other early years professionals and outside agencies. This helps to ensure a coordinated approach is in place to help every child achieve their full potential.  The robust key-person system effectively supports children's emotional well-being and

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This provision is good

helps them feel safe and secure. Caring staff are exceptionally sensitive to the individual needs of every child and their families.  The newly appointed manager has a precise awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the nursery, setting clear goals for improvement. Staff work exceptionally well as a team and are highly committed to constantly providing the best experiences they can for the children in their care.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The precise monitoring of the progress of different groups is not yet embedded in practice to help close any gaps in children's learning at a faster rate.  Staff do not yet make the best use of the outdoor learning environment, particularly for those children who learn best outdoors.

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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

 focus even more sharply on the analysis and tracking of the progress that different groups of children make, to target any differences in children's levels of achievement  continue with the plans to enhance the excellent outdoor environment in order to enrich children's all-round achievements further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff interaction with children during their activities. She spoke with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector viewed a range of documentation, including policies and procedures and children's records.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, including self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. All staff thoroughly understand child protection issues and have a secure knowledge of safeguarding legislation. Children's health, welfare and well-being are significantly enhanced by the consistent implementation of robust policies, procedures and practice. Staff use a range of effective techniques to help parents support children's learning at home. The manager demonstrates superb leadership skills. Together with the providers she ensures the staff team is exceptionally well led. Staff use training and supervision sessions to improve their teaching practice and have opportunities to observe each other. The providers, manager and staff constantly evaluate their own performance. They continually implement improvements in their relentless pursuit of excellence.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The well-qualified staff have a thorough understanding of how children learn. They make careful observations of children's achievements and accurately assess their next steps in learning. Staff provide activities that excite children and spark their imagination. Toddlers eagerly participate in an activity to make play dough. Staff skilfully introduce early mathematics, helping children to count how many spoons of flour, oil and salt are needed. Staff expertly adapt their approach to meet the differing needs of children, increasing or decreasing the level of challenge so all children build on their current level of ability. During circle time, pre-school children enjoy stimulating discussions about their planned visit to the museum. Staff use good questioning techniques to encourage them to think about what they might see and what they need to do to stay safe. Literacy skills are exceptionally well promoted. Pre-school children display high levels of confidence as they

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

identify their own names and sound out the letters within them.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff provide exceptional support for children and their families. Where families are separated, effective communication with all involved in the child's life ensures a continuous approach to their care. The nursery also signposts parents to additional support services. Babies' personal and social development is outstanding. Staff help babies to fully communicate their needs from a young age and provide weekend baby sign language classes for families with young children. A highly stimulating sensory room is accessible to support all children's emotional well-being and sensory development. Children have outstanding opportunities to learn about diversity and value people's differences. They enjoy performing a dragon dance in their local community to celebrate Chinese New Year. Children develop an excellent awareness of the need for a healthy lifestyle. Their physical skills and independence are superbly promoted throughout the

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

day. The views of pre-school children are encouraged and valued. Their comments are displayed in their playrooms, which helps to create a strong sense of belonging.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those with additional needs, make good and often rapid progress in their learning from their starting points. Children are very well prepared for their next stage in learning and for moving on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY356408 Local authority Wirral Inspection number 873531 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 73 Number of children on roll 47 Name of provider Carol Elizabeth Butler and Neil Thomas Butler Partnership Date of previous inspection 22 November 2011 Telephone number 0151 632 6622

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Setting details

Ducklings Day Nursery is one of four nurseries run by a private partnership. It was registered in 2007 and operates in Hoylake, Wirral. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round, except bank holidays. There are 10 members of staff who work with the children. Of these, eight hold an early years qualification at level 3 or above and one holds level 2. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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