Merrydale Day Nursery and Pre-

Merrydale Day Nursery and Pre-School Broad Oak House, Coppid Beech Hill, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1PD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 January 2017 6 November 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

 The manager uses self-evaluation effectively, including taking great care to gain the views of parents and children. She works well with her staff team to reflect continuously on all areas of provision to make well-considered improvements.  Staff assess and identify children's achievements effectively. Children enjoy exploring a broad range of play experiences that motivate them to learn. They make good progress from their starting points and are well prepared for the next stage in their learning.  Partnerships with parents are good. Staff work closely with them to support continuity in children's care and learning. Parents speak highly of the service they receive.  Children develop a good sense of security and settle quickly in the welcoming environment. They form positive relationships with staff and thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery.  Staff understand and implement the policies, procedures and risk assessments securely

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This provision is good

to help keep children safe at all times.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not make the most of all opportunities to challenge children's emerging writing skills to the highest level.  The manager does not consistently make links with other settings that children also attend to further support continuity in their care 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

 build on opportunities for children to develop and practise their early writing skills to the highest possible level  develop further the relationships with other settings that children also attend, to fully support continuity in their care and learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the nursery and completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector observed the quality of staff's interactions with children.  The inspector held discussions with the manager and staff at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to on the day.  The inspector looked at various documents, including policies and procedures, risk assessments, staff training records, records for children and evidence of the suitability of staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager ensures staff have a thorough understanding of local child protection procedures and a current knowledge of safeguarding matters, including the indicators that children may be at risk from extreme views or beliefs. The manager places a high priority on children's safety. For example, she deploys staff well and maintains the required ratios at all times. She monitors staff practice closely and strives to improve the quality of teaching. Staff have regular individual and team meetings, which focus on professional development. Staff develop a strong commitment to improving the quality of their practice. For example, after training, staff provided children with further experiences to explore their senses and develop their curiosity.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The manager and staff monitor the progress of individual and groups of children. They quickly identify any gaps in children's development and work closely with parents to close these swiftly. Staff provide children with exciting, purposeful play opportunities. They plan experiences that build on children's interests and next steps in learning. Staff support children's communication and language development well. For example, older children acted out their favourite stories with enthusiasm and showed great problem-solving skills when they worked out what resources they needed. Children have many opportunities to recognise words, and explore letters and the sounds they make.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff supervise children well throughout their daily routines and activities. They value children as individuals and help them manage their own feelings and behaviour. Children show good manners and treat their friends and staff with kindness and consideration. For example, older children learn to take turns during team games and work well together. Children learn to recognise and manage risks. For example, they learn to balance carefully across stepping stones and to safely use challenging large play apparatus. Older children develop their physical skills well, such as showing good control and skill when negotiating balls around cones. Staff help children to develop their independence. For example, children eagerly change into their 'all in one' suits ready for outdoor play.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress, including those who are learning English as an additional language. Older children show good imaginative skills and younger children delight in exploration. For example, they squelch in muddy puddles and thoroughly enjoy hunting for worms in the garden. Children gain good early mathematical skills. For example, younger children built towers and used numbers for counting. Children develop a range of skills that prepare them well for their future learning, including starting school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 148617 Local authority Wokingham Inspection number 1061521 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 56 Number of children on roll 63 Name of registered person Kingsclere Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 6 November 2013 Telephone number 01344 412132

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reference number

Merrydale Day Nursery and Pre-School registered in 1991. It operates from premises located on the outskirts of Wokingham, Berkshire. The nursery opens from 7.30am to 6pm for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 12 members of staff to work directly with the children. Of these, 10 hold appropriate childcare 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

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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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