Snowdrop Cottage Day Nursery

Snowdrop Cottage Day Nursery 56 St. Mary Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3JW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 August 2016 12 December 2013

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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 are good role models. They use effective methods to support children to understand behavioural expectations. Children behave well and are polite.  The managers involve the parents, children and staff in evaluating the quality of the provision, to identify and target areas for improvement.  The managers and staff track children's progress to identify and help close any gaps in their learning. Staff work well with other professionals to provide additional support as required.  Staff have a good understanding of children's development. They use children's interests to inform planning, to help them achieve their next steps in learning. All children, including those who have special educational needs, make good progress from their starting points.  Staff encourage older children to become independent particularly well. Children are well prepared for the next stages of their learning and the move to school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Babies do not benefit from many opportunities to explore a wide range of objects and materials independently.  Staff do not always make the best use of the newly developed outdoor area to support younger children's all-round learning and development.

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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

 increase opportunities for babies to explore and investigate resources and activities independently, to satisfy their curious and experimental nature  review the use of the outdoor space so all children have access to all areas of learning, particularly for those younger children who prefer to learn outdoors.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and interactions with children and staff during indoor and outdoor activities, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke to parents to take into account their view and opinions.  The inspector spoke to staff, children and the management team at appropriate times.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, such as attendance records, induction procedures, staff suitability checks, the self-evaluation and children's records.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The provider and the managers use self-evaluation well to improve the quality of the provision. For example, they involved parents and children in the development of the outdoor area. However, staff are not using this area as well as possible for the younger children. The provider and the managers use staff feedback alongside supervisions to support staff well with their professional development. For example, staff have recently attended behaviour management training to extend their knowledge of how to encourage children's positive behaviour. Safeguarding is effective. The provider and the managers implement a rigorous recruitment and induction process to ensure staff suitability to work with children. Staff understand their responsibility to support children's welfare well.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The key-person system is used well from when children first start. Staff gather a wealth of information from parents about what children already know to inform planning of activities. Staff keep parents well informed about their children's progress. Staff support children's language skills well. For example, when older children were talking about their holidays, staff asked them useful questions to extend their thinking and introduced new words to develop their vocabulary. Toddlers enjoyed experimenting with foam and colour mixing. Staff encouraged them to develop their early writing and mathematical skills, for example, supporting children to make marks and shapes with brushes and their fingers.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff support children's emotional well-being effectively. Children settle well and are keen to make choices in their learning. Staff provide a good range of resources that children select by themselves. Staff encourage all children to develop their self-help skills. For example, even the youngest children can access their drinks independently. Older children enjoy preparing their snacks and serving themselves lunch. Children learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, staff teach them how to use scissors correctly. Children enjoyed cutting up small pieces of paper for long periods, developing the small muscles in their hands. Older children enjoyed playing with the mud kitchen. They spent considerable time using their imagination and developing their physical skills as they transported water from the water butt to mix with the mud to make 'mud pies'.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are happy and confident. They develop good communication and language skills. Older children gain a good understanding of mathematical concepts. All children learn to share, take turns and respect each other. Children develop positive attitudes to learning; for example, they are keen to be involved in the interesting activities on offer. Older children enjoy books and learn early literacy skills that support their readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY461482 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 1063475 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 - 5 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Snowdrop Cottage Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 December 2013 Telephone number 01249 465993

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reference number

Snowdrop Cottage Day Nursery Ltd registered in 2013. The nursery is open each weekday between 8am and 6pm for 52 weeks of the year. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 16 staff. One of the managers holds early years professional status and the other holds a relevant childcare qualification at level 4. One staff member holds early years teacher status. Nine other staff hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3 and one holds a qualification at level 2.

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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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