Smartys Day Nursery

Smartys Day Nursery Old Community Centre, Burford Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 2UZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 July 2017 8 April 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

 Children form warm and caring bonds with their key person. Effective arrangements support children to settle when they first begin attending. Older children speak confidently to authorised visitors and present them with pictures that they have drawn. Babies demonstrate that they feel secure as they squeal with delight when playing a game of peek-a-boo with their key person.  All children develop good physical skills in the stimulating outdoor area containing many interesting features. Babies pull themselves up on sturdy equipment, enabling them to build muscles in preparation for walking. Older children assess risks for themselves as they climb up and down the large apparatus and bounce on the trampoline.  The well-qualified team of staff works very well together. Staff benefit from supervision meetings and have good training opportunities to consistently update their skills. They introduce new methods of practice, such as specific experiences to further enhance

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This provision is good

two-year-old children's progress. This has a positive impact on children's outcomes.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The initial information that staff obtain from parents about children's learning is not always detailed enough to fully support the early identification of children's precise learning needs.  Staff have not fully explored further ways to extend partnerships with all providers and schools that children move on to.

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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 the level of initial information obtained from parents to plan more precisely for children's continued progress from an early stage  strengthen the partnerships with all providers and schools that children move on to, to help children feel emotionally well prepared for changes.

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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 staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of committee members and staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to 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. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of how to identify any children who may be at risk of harm. They know the action to take if they have concerns about a child's welfare. The manager, committee members and staff are reflective and regularly evaluate the provision they offer. Their commitment helps them to drive forward improvement in identified areas. The manager thoroughly monitors children's progress. Swift action is taken to address any gaps in children's learning. Parents are complimentary about the service that the staff provide. They particularly appreciate the detailed updates about their children's progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

All children are motivated and inquisitive learners. They engage in challenging activities with enthusiasm in this welcoming nursery. Babies explore a wide range of activities that stimulates their senses. For example, they use their hands to experience the sensation of textures, such as tomato ketchup and lentils. Younger children positively respond to staff's abilities in making children's favourite stories come alive. This helps to develop their listening and attention skills and enhance their literacy development as they join in with repeated refrains. Older children use their vivid imagination to make up stories and pretend to be different characters. They actively listen to and incorporate each other's ideas. Staff seek and use key words in children's home language. This is one way that they support children who speak English as an additional language.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff demonstrate a secure understanding of how to effectively manage children's behaviour. They use a range of techniques that supports younger children to learn the importance of sharing toys. Children demonstrate a real sense of responsibility for their environment. They eagerly help to carry out age-appropriate tasks. For instance, they help to tidy away the activities they have been playing with and take turns to be the 'helper of the day'. Children learn about how to keep themselves safe while playing in the sun. For example, staff talk to them about this and children independently collect their own sun hat from their personal drawer.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in relation to their starting points. For instance, older children write their own name and other words for displays within the nursery. Children learn to link letters to sounds as they join in with songs and actions that incorporate the different letters of the alphabet. They independently manage their own personal needs and work together to complete complex puzzles. Children gain the necessary skills needed to help prepare them for their future learning at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 146737 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1089730 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 78 Name of registered person Westmill Community Association Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 April 2015 Telephone number 01462 441397

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reference number

Smartys Day Nursery registered in 1993 and is run by a voluntary committee. It employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including the manager who holds early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded 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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