Choochoos Day Nursery

Choochoos Day Nursery Whitstable and Tankerton Railway Station, Railway Avenue, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 1RB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 April 2016 2 March 2011

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 Children make excellent and rapid progress in relation to their starting points. Observations and assessments of children's learning are very precise, which helps to provide activities and learning experiences sharply focused on what children need to learn next. Children are extremely well prepared for the next stage in their learning.  Partnerships with parents are excellent. For example, there is a frequent exchange of information about children's progress. Staff involve parents in all aspects of children's development and value the contributions they make to progress records, including deciding on the next steps in children's learning.  Children behave exceptionally well. They learn from a very young age to share and take turns. Older children thoughtfully include others in their play. They consider each other's feelings and learn about the differences between themselves and others.  Staff provide extremely exciting and highly stimulating activities in a vibrant and

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This provision is outstanding

enabling environment. Children are confident and lead their play. For example, they choose from a wealth of exciting resources indoors and outdoors.  There are excellent procedures to support children with special educational needs. For example, staff monitor their development carefully and contact relevant professionals in order to seek additional guidance. This extra support and highly effective interactions help to significantly enhance and support children's progress.

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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 even further the range of opportunities for children to increase their independence skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed the main nursery rooms, separate baby unit and outdoor play areas, and observed staff interacting and playing with the children.  The inspector conducted joint observations of practice with the manager.  The inspector held meetings with the provider, manager and staff during the inspection.  The inspector sampled a range of documents, including children's assessment records, policies and procedures, and staff suitability records.  The inspector spoke with staff, children and parents at appropriate times.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The manager has very high expectations of her staff and the children. For example, she provides robust training, support and coaching to extend and further staff's skills, practice and knowledge. The manager quickly recognises when staff need additional support and helps them to develop their practice. This helps to maintain the very high standards of care and learning for all children. There are meticulous procedures to monitor and track children's progress. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have an excellent understanding of what to do should they have any concerns about children's safety and welfare. The excellent procedures for self-evaluation are a particular strength. For example, the manager involves everyone connected to the nursery and develops concise action plans to extend the already excellent standards.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff provide a stimulating and vibrant learning environment. They encourage children to think problems through and learn to manage their own safety. For example, staff help children to think about how to use real woodwork tools safely to hammer nails. Children have great fun, demonstrating high levels of involvement. They talk to staff about the boats they are making. Staff make excellent use of these conversations. For example, they ask children questions about whether they think their boat will float and relate this to children's interests, such as when they have been on boats with their family. This helps to support children's understanding of the world.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children's emotional well-being is exceptionally well met. For example, staff encourage children to talk about their families and bring in special objects and items from home, which they keep in their own special boxes. Staff lead small group discussions, sharing with children items in their boxes. This enables children to recall and discuss aspects of their own lives that are important, which develops their social, communication and listening skills. Children willingly share toys and help tidy up. However, staff do not always fully build on opportunities to extend children's independence skills even further.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children show high levels of curiosity. They are extremely motivated and demonstrate high levels of confidence and interest in their surroundings. For example, younger children carefully and purposefully examine wooden objects, such as eggcups and spoons. They turn them over and around, and try to fit them inside other objects to make sense of them. All children make exceptional progress and are extremely well prepared for the next stage in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY349035 Local authority Kent Inspection number 827621 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 78 Number of children on roll 152 Name of provider Karla Margharita Tabony Date of previous inspection 2 March 2011 Telephone number 01227 280 077

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Setting details

Choochoos Day Nursery originally registered in 2005, and re-registered in 2007. It operates from the old ticket office and waiting room at Whitstable and Tankerton railway station in Kent. The nursery employs 31 members of staff. The owner and manager hold Early Years Practitioner Status and a further 23 members of staff hold appropriate early years qualifications. The provider receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. The provider also provides Early Years Pupil Premium Funding.

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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

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

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