Nursery Days

Nursery Days Nursery Days, The Street, Upchurch, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7AJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 June 2016 4 August 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

 Staff provide a stimulating and exciting environment, both indoors and outdoors, for children. They plan activities that interest children and motivate them to learn. Children of all ages make good progress from when they started at the nursery.  Management and staff follow effective systems to record and review accidents to reduce any potential hazards to children.  Children who require additional support in their learning thrive in the nursery. For example, staff work well with parents and other professionals to support their individual care and learning needs and ensure they are fully included.  The management team accurately reflects on staff practice. It implements changes and arranges staff training to improve the quality of the provision and teaching skills.  Relationships between staff and parents are strong and parents speak positively about the nursery. Staff routinely, from when children start, encourage parents to share

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This provision is good

relevant information about their children's development and well-being.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always provide opportunities that encourage children to develop their independence.  Staff do not consistently organise the most effective large-group activities to meet children's individual needs and extend their abilities even further.

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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

 develop more opportunities for children to extend and use their independence  review and improve the organisation of some large-group daily activities to ensure they consistently challenge and meet the needs of all children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and the quality of teaching, both indoors and outdoors.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's development records, the self-evaluation form, and key policies and procedures.  The inspector took account of the parents' views through discussions.  The inspector spoke to some members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and deputy manager, and completed a joint observation with the deputy manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a good awareness of child protection matters and understand the procedures for reporting any concerns. Staff place a high priority on safety; for example, they encourage children to protect themselves from the sun by wearing hats and sun cream. The manager effectively reviews and monitors all children's development to identify and quickly close any development gaps. Senior management monitors staff performance successfully, for instance, with staff meetings, observations and individual meetings. The senior management involves staff and parents in the self-evaluation process. For example, it followed up issues raised by parents with extra newsletters to keep them well informed about events and topics.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide good learning experiences that engage children. For example, staff sit with young children and read books, extending their interest by talking about the story and pictures. Staff help prepare children for the next stage in their learning to ensure the move to school is as problem-free as possible. Staff actively involve parents in their children's learning. For example, they share information about their children's day and their progress. Staff carry out observations and assessments on children's development. They use this information well to plan activities and experiences based on children's next steps in learning. Staff make good use of opportunities to support children's mathematical development; for example, they play counting games.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The management team has developed strong relationships with the local schools to help children prepare for starting school. For example, staff meet with teachers to share information and take children on visits. Children are confident, happy and settle quickly at the nursery. Staff have a good emotional bond with children, enabling them to feel safe and secure. Children begin to understand about healthy lifestyles. For example, they enjoy the nutritious nursery cooked meals and some are able to explain that 'good food makes you grow'. Children have good opportunities to develop their physical skills, for instance, as they use the well laid-out, stimulating outdoor area.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning from their individual starting points. They gain very useful mathematical skills, as they recognise size and numbers as they play. Children develop positive hand-to-eye coordination, for example, as they use tools and resources to make 'dinner' in the mud kitchen. They develop their writing skills well, such as when they use the various writing areas to 'write' their names. Babies and toddlers like to explore and investigate the interesting resources and begin to play imaginatively.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY355428 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1024720 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 57 Number of children on roll 120 Name of registered person Nursery Days Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 August 2015 Telephone number 01634 263896

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reference number

Nursery Days registered in 2007 and is located in the village of Upchurch, Kent. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 7.15am to 6.30pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 20 staff, of whom 17, including the manager, hold appropriate early years qualifications.

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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

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

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