Blandford Children Centre Nursery

Blandford Children Centre Nursery Black Lane, Blandford, Dorset, DT11 8SW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 June 2017 13 August 2015

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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 provides strong support to ensure the quality of teaching is effective. For example, she observes staff to monitor their engagement with children to improve their skills, and through training they have looked at ways to engage boys more effectively in their literacy development.  Staff provide strong support for children's independence. For example, toddlers remove their shoes and know to place them in the basket provided. Older children change themselves into dressing-up clothes, help with routines such as snack time, and take care of their personal hygiene competently.  Staff manage children's behaviour well. They are calm, clear and consistent, helping children to work well together and build strong relationships.  All children make good progress. The manager and staff have very good knowledge of children's individual learning needs and meet these successfully.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Although staff support children well overall to be safe, they do not consistently explain why, to help children adapt their behaviour and understand the reasons.  Staff are not consistent in helping older children to be aware that when others are speaking that they should listen and wait their turn.

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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

 extend children's understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe  support older children in listening to others and taking their turn to speak, to develop their language and communication skills further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and the quality of teaching indoors and outdoors.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and carried out a joint observation.  The inspector spoke with children, staff, parents and carers, and took account of the provider's improvement plan.  The inspector checked safeguarding information and the safety of the premises.  The inspector sampled documentation, including policies and procedures, children's development records and planning.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The management team has reviewed and implemented important risk assessments to keep children safe. There is strong security and staff communicate well to ensure good supervision for children in all areas of the premises. The manager follows good procedures to safeguard children and staff are able to recognise the signs of abuse and know what to do if a child is at risk of harm. The good use of self- evaluation enables staff to reflect on their practice and make continuous improvements. For example, they have extended the information they gain from parents on children's starting points to give them a more thorough understanding of how to plan for children from the start. The manager monitors children's overall development well and ensures individual or specific groups of children receive any additional support they need to help them catch up. The manager and staff have strong partnerships with parents and outside

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

agencies. They work well together to provide consistent support for children successfully.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use their observations of children's development effectively to plan challenging activities that stimulate children's interests and promote their next stage of learning. For example, they use letters and numbers in water play for boys who prefer to learn outdoors. Staff provide additional resources to extend children's ideas and understanding effectively. For instance, older children request pink paint and learn how to mix the colour using red and white paint. Children have good opportunities to learn new skills through watching staff demonstrate how to use equipment and then practising for themselves. Children manage independently and gain a strong sense of achievement.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff use imaginative ways to help children manage their feelings and behave well. For example, they use older children's love of superheroes to discuss being kind and gentle. The youngest children are extremely pleased with themselves when staff praise their actions for being helpful. Children make good use of the well-resourced environment. For instance, young children explore a radio/CD player to find out what it does and how it works. All children have daily opportunities to choose whether to learn indoors or outdoors and have good experiences to understand the importance of exercise and keeping healthy. Staff share good information with parents to know babies' routines. They meet their physical and emotional needs well, so children feel secure.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children's confidence and enthusiasm to engage in the activities prepare them well for their next stage of learning and school. Children are creative and imaginative. Children of all ages develop good early writing and mathematical skills. For instance, toddlers recognise adults have bigger handprints in the sand than they do and notice the marks they make. Older children count, describe sizes and write recognisable letters.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY347338 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 1100868 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 1 - 8 Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 80 Name of registered person Dorset County Council

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 13 August 2015 Telephone number 01258 480148

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reference number

Blandford Children Centre Nursery registered in 2007. The local authority manages the nursery, which operates from the children's centre in Blandford, Dorset. The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm for 50 weeks a year, excluding public holidays. There are 12 members of staff, three of whom hold an early years qualification at degree level. Seven members of staff hold an early years qualification at level 3 and one at level 2. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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