Smarties Nursery and Pre-school

Smarties Nursery and Pre- school Donnington, Station Approach, Wirral, CH47 8XA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 May 2017 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

 Staff work closely with parents, who speak positively about the nursery and how well staff meet the needs and interests of their children. They feel they are kept well informed by staff about their children's progress.  Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of individual children. They are skilled in enabling children to independently explore and investigate the environment. They balance this with well-timed interventions to challenge children and extend their learning.  Children are highly confident and engaged individuals. They enjoy their learning in this interesting and challenging nursery. Learning is well promoted indoors and outdoors.  Children develop healthy lifestyles. They spend time outdoors each day and confidently use a variety of different resources and equipment to enhance their physical development.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The arrangements for performance management are not always focused precisely enough on evaluating the quality of staff teaching to continually identify areas for enhancement.

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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

 find more ways to evaluate, monitor and review the quality of teaching and help staff to continually reflect on ways to promote children's learning to the highest levels.

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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 spoke with members of staff and completed a joint observation with the manager of the nursery.  The inspector held a meeting with the owner and manager and looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. He discussed self-evaluation and plans for improvement.  The inspector spoke to children and parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff have a good understanding of who to contact should they have any concern about the welfare of a child. Staff regularly check the environment for risks and take suitable action to reduce the possibility of harm to children. Overall, the manager makes good use of the training and skills within the staff team and plans training and other professional development opportunities to ensure that their knowledge and skills are kept up to date. Clear systems are in place to monitor the progress of all children. The manager meets regularly with staff and scrutinises assessment records. Gaps in children's learning are quickly identified, so that additional support and intervention can be secured if necessary.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of how children learn. They provide activities that support all children well in working towards their next steps in learning. Children gain good communication skills. Staff engage enthusiastically with them and use effective methods to encourage language development, including introducing news words to extend their vocabulary. Children enjoy using their senses and explore different textures, such as paint and foam. They have fun using actions when singing favourite songs as they march and stomp to the music. Staff support children's creativity well. For example, they help children to think for themselves as they design a bamboo water chute outdoors. Children have good opportunities to solve problems for themselves.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The effective key-person system helps children to feel secure and staff meet children's care needs well. Staff are good role models and promote children's self-confidence well, for example, through praise and encouragement. This helps children to build warm, strong relationships with staff and they settle well. Children build strong friendships with one another and with staff, which bolsters their confidence and self-esteem. All children spend time outdoors and take manageable risks in their play, using equipment with growing competence. Children are provided with healthy options at mealtimes, and vigorous play activities help them to develop an awareness of a healthy lifestyle.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress given their starting points. They are becoming independent learners who are able to develop their own play. They practise early writing skills and recognise letters and words in print. Children develop good language and communication skills. They become confident in sharing their own ideas and learn to share and to listen to the views of their friends. Children develop the skills needed for future learning and the move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY492474 Local authority Wirral Inspection number 1097541 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 - 8 Total number of places 33 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person COZY DAY NURSERIES LTD

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 0151 792 9762

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reference number

Smarties Nursery and Pre-school registered in 2015. It operates from Meols, Wirral. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff, 13 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The manager holds early years teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round from 7.15am until 6pm. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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