Little Raccoons Day Nursery Ltd

Little Raccoons Day Nursery Ltd 105a Sandringham Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, WD24 7FQ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 April 2016 7 April 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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

 Experienced staff provide interesting and challenging activities that engage and motivate children, and encourage children to explore their ideas. Children are independent and make good progress.  Children are happy. They are curious and imaginative, and confident to follow their own interests and ideas.  Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents enjoy opportunities to support their children's early writing skills with activities that they take home and children are able to form letters and write their names.  Staff have good relationships with their key children. Children are safe and supported in the nursery and care routines meet children's needs well.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The manager has recently started tracking children's development across all areas and is developing the monitoring of staff assessments of children. She has not fully implemented these systems to make complete, accurate conclusions about the progress of different groups of children.

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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

 extend current systems for monitoring staff assessments of children, and the tracking of children's development to identify any differences in achievement between different groups.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to staff and children throughout the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager of the nursery.  The inspector observed staff and children taking part in activities inside and outside.  The inspector reviewed a range of documentation, including records of staff suitability checks, policies and procedures relating to child protection, and records of children's assessments.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Leaders and managers have made considerable improvements since the last inspection. The manager has a clear vision and effective plans to continue to improve practice in the nursery and outcomes for children. The manager monitors the staff closely and supports improvement in practice through a robust programme of training and supervision. The manager has recently introduced a system to track and compare the progress of different groups of children and the assessments of individual key persons. This is in the early stage of development. Successful links with parents and outside agencies ensure that children's needs are met well, and encourage their success in their future learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of how their key children develop and learn. They make effective partnerships with parents who report that they share information about children's progress regularly. Staff observe children's progress and plan from their assessments to promote children’s good development. There are effective systems in place to ensure that any children at risk of falling behind expected levels of development are supported well. Staff work closely with children, using skilful questioning to encourage their critical thinking and problem solving skills. Enticing and interesting activities such as examining African snails, ensure children are enthusiastic to learn and explore.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff are vigilant about the needs of children in their care, know their key children well and are confident to address any areas for concern. As a consequence, children are safe. Robust settling procedures help children feel at home in the nursery. The environment is very welcoming and child-focused. Children enjoy mixing with different age groups, particularly at meal times, and thrive in the family atmosphere in the nursery. Staff are gentle and supportive role models and enable children to manage their own behaviour effectively. Children mix happily with their friends.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress from their starting points. Children have good language skills and are confident to do things for themselves, including putting on their own coats and shoes. Children's physical development is strong. Younger children develop confident standing and walking skills with staff's sensitive support. There are many opportunities for children to explore their creativity, for example as they draw pictures that representative their imaginative ideas. Children develop their problem solving skills and learn about technology as they use keyboards and fit different sized cogs together. These strong language skills and good levels of independence enable children to be ready for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY432662 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1036457 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 39 Name of provider Little Raccoons Nursery Limited Date of previous inspection 7 April 2015 Telephone number 01923 800 711

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Setting details

Little Raccoons Day Nursery Ltd was registered in 2011. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for three- and four- year-old children.

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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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