Little Chestnuts Day Nursery and Preschool

Little Chestnuts Day Nursery and Preschool Chestnuts Combined School, St. Georges Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 5EN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 September 2016 9 October 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 Good 2

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This provision is good

 Managers are ambitious and reflective. They look at what they do carefully to help identify targets for ongoing development and to maintain children's good progress.  Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery. They benefit from a well-resourced and stimulating learning environment indoors and outdoors. Children are usually confident learners.  Staff are positive examples of how to treat others. They have clear expectations of children. Children behave well and are respectful and thoughtful towards staff and each other. Staff interact with children with enthusiasm, warmth and care.  Partnerships with parents and carers are good. Staff share detailed information about children's progress and help parents to support children's learning at home.  Staff make comprehensive assessments of children's learning. They identify and address gaps in learning and offer additional support where needed.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Some large group activities are not planned effectively enough to hold children's interest or challenge their thinking skills.  The managers do not ensure that there is a good exchange of information about children's care and development with other settings they may attend.

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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

 improve large group activities to help all children become engaged and challenged in their learning when appropriate  ensure there is a good exchange of information with other settings children attend to help encourage their care and development effectively.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the children taking part in planned and freely chosen activities, and observed staff practice.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to staff, parents and children.  The inspector looked at a sample of relevant documents, including self-evaluation and summaries of children's progress.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Managers and staff understand their role and responsibility in protecting children and know the actions to take if there are concerns for child's welfare. Safe recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. There is a rigorous induction and mentoring system for staff. Managers support staff well, for example, they have supervision and staff meetings to update knowledge and share good practice. Staff are encouraged to take responsibility for areas of the nursery to improve. For example, they recently updated the role play area in the two-year-olds' room. This has had a positive impact on children's learning. The nursery uses an effective system to check children's progress. Parents provide information about their children's learning at home and are positive in their support of the nursery.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are motivated to engage children in their learning and they have clear expectations. Children are typically motivated and curious learners who benefit from a range of sensory experiences. For example, the babies enjoyed exploring water and sand, while the two- year-olds explored hay and sawdust in a farm activity, exclaiming 'It is snowing' as they sprinkled the sawdust. The staff extended the activity and gathered carrots to make a snowman. Outside, the older children mixed 'potions' and talked about the recipe. Observations and assessments are accurate and help staff to plan activities that typically provide a good level of challenge.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children settle well and form very strong bonds with staff. Children behave well and show respect for their environment as they confidently move around the nursery and make independent choices in their play. A 'feelings area' encourages children to discuss how they feel and behave. Independence is encouraged effectively. The older children lay the table for meals and serve their own food. Children develop good hygiene practices and engage in regular outdoor play in the well-resourced garden.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good individual progress, given what they know when they start. They are confident and concentrate well on activities that interest them. Children develop a range of skills, including learning letter sounds and weighing interesting objects. They know the difference between heavy and light. Children with additional needs and children who are learning English as an additional language are supported well. Children are usually keen learners and are ready for the next stage in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY447163 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 1059362 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 59 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Kids Play Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 9 October 2012 Telephone number 01908643539

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reference number

Little Chestnuts Day Nursery and Preschool is situated on the same site as Chestnuts Combined School, in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire. It is one of eight settings managed by Kids Play Limited and it re-registered in 2012. It is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. The setting employs 10 staff. Of these, eight hold a level 3 early years qualification and two hold 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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