Curious Kittens Day Nursery (Kings Road)

Curious Kittens Day Nursery (Kings Road) City College Plymouth, Kings Road, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 5QG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31 May 2016 25 April 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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The provider and staff team have a clear drive, overall, to make continuous improvements. The staff team works together very well, constantly reviewing the effectiveness of its practice, to identify areas for development.  Overall, the quality of teaching is strong. Staff know their key children very well and plan interesting and stimulating activities that provide good challenge, to build on what they know and can do. Children make good progress in their learning.  Partnerships with parents are effective. Staff regularly provide detailed information to enable some consistency in children's development, and routinely invite parents to contribute to this, such as when setting next steps in learning.  Staff consistently make excellent use of a range of strategies to help children understand the expectations and boundaries. Children demonstrate exceptional behaviour, and form strong friendships with their peers using superb social skills.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The provider does not always make the best use of assessments of children's learning to reflect on particular groups of children, to evaluate the impact of staff's teaching and sustain outstanding outcomes for children.  Staff do not routinely share detailed information with other settings that children also attend, to enable them to promote continuity in their learning.

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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 monitoring systems even further to track the progress of individual and groups of children more effectively, to support all children to make even better progress  establish stronger links with other settings that children attend, to promote greater consistency in promoting their learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed the learning environments, and observed staff's interaction with children during planned activities and spontaneous play.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the provider and deputy manager.  The inspector took account of the views of children, their parents and staff, through discussions.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider and deputy manager at an appropriate time during the inspection.  The inspector sampled documentation, including children's learning records, staff suitability checks and risk assessments.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The provider and staff have a robust understanding of child protection issues and the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child's welfare. Staff carry out daily safety checks to review the suitability of the premises, to minimise significant hazards and risks to children. The provider monitors staff practice effectively overall, to ensure that all children receive good care and support. For example, they hold regular team meetings, and complete routine observations of staff's practice to assess the quality of teaching and outcomes for children. Staff make good use of their training to make changes to the learning environment and quality of teaching. For example, they now plan frequent opportunities for children to learn about nature and how to keep themselves safe, as they explore the woods.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff frequently record observations of children, to demonstrate their ongoing achievements. Children are excited and highly motivated to learn, and show creativity in their play. For example, they find different props to use as eye patches as they pretend to be pirates, and their friends write them 'messages' in bottles, to request they return the stolen 'treasure'. Staff interact very well with children, and use their skills effectively to promote children's listening and speaking skills. For instance, they often use signs as they talk, and consistently pause to allow children time to think about and give responses to questions. Children are self-assured in suggesting their ideas and trying them out, as they learn to solve problems. For example, children consider how to cut fruit, first choosing to try scissors and, when this is unsuccessful, deciding to use a knife.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff frequently reward children's efforts and achievements with highly enthusiastic praise, and children build very high levels of confidence and self-esteem. Staff teach all children to solve problems independently and play well together, to help them learn excellent social skills. For example, babies know to share toys with their friends. Children benefit from an extensive range of learning experiences, show great curiosity and thoroughly enjoy exploring with their senses. For instance, children smell, feel and look closely at fruit as they make flavoured water to drink. Children learn the importance of leading healthy lifestyles, such as when practising brushing a large set of teeth.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress from their starting points and are ready for the move to school. For example, they competently count and recognise shapes, such as inside a piece of fruit when they cut it in half. Older children show extremely high levels of independence, make choices and use trial and error to test theories with confidence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 117108 Local authority Plymouth Inspection number 825145 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 48 Number of children on roll 74 Name of registered person City College Plymouth

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 25 April 2012 Telephone number 01752 305345/ 01752 305872

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reference number

Curious Kittens Day Nursery (Kings Road) registered at the present site in Devonport, Plymouth, in 1996. The nursery is open on weekdays between 8.15am and 5.30pm for 50 weeks of the year. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. A staff team of 12 works with the children, all of whom hold childcare qualifications to level 3 or above. There is one member of staff who holds early years professional status.

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reference number

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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reference number

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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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

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

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