Squirrels Day Nurseries (Hemel) Ltd

Squirrels Day Nurseries (Hemel) Ltd Jupiter Community Free School, Jupiter Drive, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP2 5NT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 September 2016 Not applicable

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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

 Children enjoy coming to the nursery. They settle well and staff provide reassurance throughout the day. Staff continually praise children during tasks and routines. This helps them to them to feel valued and to develop a sense of belonging.  Staff know children well and are very mindful of their needs. They regularly check the progress that the children are making so that any gaps in their development are identified. They use the information gained to plan activities based on children's interests and implement appropriate interventions.  Children are active and confident and develop good physical skills. Children are able to play indoors or outdoors and have fun exploring the high-quality resources on offer. They competently use a range of swings, climb trees and dig in the woodland. Younger children enjoy dancing and learn to twirl while balancing.  The senior staff team is well qualified and aspires to provide a high-quality service for

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This provision is good

children and their families. It regularly reviews the provision so that it has a clear knowledge of strengths and areas to develop further.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasions, less experienced staff do not effectively help to extend children's thoughts and responses.  Occasionally, the adult-led activities planned for the afternoon are a repeat of those delivered in the morning. Some children who stay all day lose interest and become less engaged in their play and 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

 enhance less experienced staff's understanding of how to develop their teaching skills to help extend children's thoughts and responses  provide an increased variety of activities to sustain all children's interest throughout the day.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with members of the management team. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the nursery's self-evaluation, the safeguarding policy and children's records. She also looked at evidence of qualifications and the suitability of the staff working in the nursery.  The inspector took account of parents' views through discussions and written comments seen during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a clear understanding of the potential indicators of abuse and are familiar with current safeguarding legislation. They know what action to take if they have a concern about a child's welfare. Since registration, the nursery has grown in terms of the number of children attending and several new staff members have been recruited. The procedures for recruitment are very robust to assure children's welfare. Staff have a thorough induction to help them to be familiar with policies and procedures. Appraisals and supervision meetings take place regularly and training needs are discussed. The senior staff team is a good role model and reviews the observations and assessments staff carry out. It is in the process of implementing a new online assessment system to check children's progress. Staff are also developing their records to show how different groups of children are progressing.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know children well and provide good opportunities for them to develop their sensory skills. Children enjoy exploring a variety of interesting materials and textures. For example, younger children have fun creating footprints from different coloured paints. Older children enjoy learning about different musical instruments and the noises that they can make. Children who speak English as an additional language are supported to understand. For example, staff use key words learnt from parents, repeat simple words and deploy good use of body language. These methods help children to make links in their learning and their understanding of English. Overall, the quality of teaching is good. For example, children delight in recalling the events of a popular story. They invent games and talk excitedly about what happens next.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are helped to quickly settle in their new surroundings. Staff work closely with parents to obtain information from them about their children's needs. Children's comforters are easily available and younger children can sleep according to their needs. This helps to support their emotional well-being. Good levels of hygiene and independence are well promoted. For example, children are encouraged to put on their own shoes and they help to prepare their own healthy snack. Children's safety is promoted at all times. For example, they are reminded how to safely use outdoor equipment. They are helped to have good manners and to be considerate towards each other. During play, older children remind their friends to use kind hands.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, are making good progress from their starting points. Children enjoy sharing books with their friends; they cuddle up together and talk about the story. This helps to support their early reading skills. Children are beginning to recognise letters and they count during their play, such as when they build models from construction blocks. Overall, they are developing the confidence, skills and attitudes needed to prepare them for their future learning and eventual move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY492557 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1025019 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Squirrels Day Nurseries (Hemel) Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01442 263921

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reference number

Squirrels Day Nurseries (Hemel) Ltd, was registered in 2015. It is one of four nurseries managed by the company. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The provider and the manager hold early years professional status. The nursery opens all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and the last two weeks in August. Children can attend for a variety of sessions. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It also supports children who speak English as an additional language.

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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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