Puffins at Sowton

Puffins at Sowton Oak House, Falcon Road, Sowton Industrial Estate, Exeter, Devon, EX2 7NU

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 December 2016 17 July 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 support children to consider each other's needs and feelings. This helps children to develop respect and understanding for one another and show empathy for their friends. For example, babies independently give toys to each other and older children pass serving spoons and water jugs to allow others to serve themselves lunch.  Members of the management team closely monitor the progress that individuals and groups of children make. They use their findings to support staff to meet the specific learning and development needs of children. Gaps in the achievement levels for children who speak English as an additional language have closed.  Staff use precise assessments to plan activities that support children's good progress. They skilfully support children as they play. For example, they encourage children's mathematical development by suggesting they compare lengths of dinosaurs and they question them about which is the longest and shortest.

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This provision is good

 Self-evaluation is accurate and reflects the views of parents, staff and children. The manager acts on suggestions and implements changes.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, staff do not recognise when to encourage quieter children to contribute in large groups.  Staff work well with parents to meet children's care needs but information sharing about children's learning needs is more effective with some parents than others.

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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

 support staff to make better use of group activities to encourage children to share their ideas and build their confidence to communicate in larger groups  provide more consistent information for parents to allow them to fully support their children's progress at home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the children and staff taking part in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, and evaluated the quality of teaching.  The inspector talked with the provider, manager, staff and children at appropriate times.  The inspector met with the manager and the provider, and conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled documentation, including records relating to children's progress and safeguarding.  The inspector talked with parents and took into account their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are vigilant and know what to do if they have a concern about a child's welfare. Recruitment procedures and regular checks ensure that staff remain suitable to work with children. All staff take the safety of children seriously. For instance, they conduct regular safety audits and remind parents about the policies and procedures to make sure that the premises remain safe for children. Managers support the professional development of staff. They select relevant training to improve the quality of teaching to further meet the learning and care needs of children. For example, recent training on storytelling has improved boys' achievement in literacy. Teaching is consistently good.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff take children's preferences into account and support their individual interests well. For example, they observe the resources that babies enjoy and ask older children what resources or activities they would like to play with that day. Children are motivated learners who lead their own play and seek out friends and adults to join them during activities. Children learn about the cultures of the children who attend and learn to value the cultures of others. For instance, they look at how different countries celebrate Christmas and hear staff speaking to children in their home languages. Staff are good at supporting children's communication. For example, they introduce new words, such as 'ladle' and 'scoop', and model accurate language during snack and lunchtime discussions.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

A well-established key-person system and the friendly relationships between staff contribute to children's well-being. For example, staff inform colleagues verbally and through message boards if children have not slept well at home. Children are happy and settled in the nursery. Staff successfully encourage good behaviour. For instance, they praise children for listening to them. Children develop healthy habits, such as enjoying being physical outdoors on climbing equipment and trying healthy foods during the home- cooked lunches. Staff support children's physical development well.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress towards their next stage of learning and development and any gaps in achievement are closing or have already closed. Good relationships with the other settings children attend support children well. Children develop essential skills of independence. For example, babies feed themselves and two-year-olds serve themselves dinner. Older children learn skills that prepare them well for starting school, such as the sounds and letters of their names.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY300243 Local authority Devon Inspection number 1061866 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 60 Number of children on roll 64 Name of registered person Puffins of Exeter Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 July 2013 Telephone number 01392 445094

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reference number

Puffins at Sowton registered in 2004. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am until 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. A team of 17 staff is employed to work directly with children, of whom one holds early years professional status. Of the remaining staff, seven hold a childcare qualification at level 3 and five hold qualifications at level 2. The nursery also employs a cook and a housekeeper.

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

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