1st Friends day nursery and creche Ltd

1st Friends day nursery and creche Ltd C/O Roko Health Club, Off Will Adams Way, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 6BY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 July 2017 4 September 2014

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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 monitors individual children's progress and that of different groups of children effectively, to close any emerging gaps in their learning and development. For example, she identified that learning opportunities for technology needed to be enhanced. This helps children to continue making good progress for their age.  The management team is dedicated to making continuous improvements. It uses a variety of ways to evaluate practice, for example, through observations, parents' views and practice reviews.  There is a well-established key-person system and staff build strong bonds with children. They know the children well and are attentive to their needs.  Staff provide regular opportunities to involve parents in their children's learning. For example, they have termly meetings and send parents ideas on how to support learning at home.  Staff are effective at developing children's mathematical skills. For example, children

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This provision is good

regularly count, use 'money' to buy snack items, and they learn to tell the time.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasions, staff miss opportunities to extend children's thinking skills.  Staff do not consistently encourage children's developing independence.

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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

 continue to strengthen staff's skills in extending children's thinking during group activities  build further on children's ability to be independent.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the provision for children's learning, inside and outside.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the deputy manager.  The inspector talked to parents and took account of their views.  The inspector viewed staff planning and children's assessment records.  The inspector sampled a range of documents, including suitability checks for staff, first- aid certificates and safeguarding policies.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a good understanding of how to protect children and the procedures to follow if they have any concern regarding their safety or welfare. The manager has recently attended training on recruitment and has further strengthened the procedures. The management team monitors staff practice and discusses strengths and areas for improvement to support their continuous improvement through regular support meetings. For example, it was identified that practice for supporting children with their reading could be strengthened further and a member of staff is currently attending specific training. The manager works closely with the local authority to support other settings to improve their leadership.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff work with parents to gain starting points for children. Through their understanding of how children learn, staff plan exciting activities that build on their existing knowledge. For example, children make their own modelling dough, measuring the ingredients and observing the changes as they add different ingredients. Staff encourage them to add their own unique ingredients to the mixture, such as plastic spiders. Children's literacy skills are developing securely and they have opportunities to practise their early writing skills. Children are keen to draw and talk about their pictures. Staff regularly read to children and point out the rhyming words. Children have opportunities to explore resources and activities that help them learn about people's differences, for example, they have enjoyed trying food from Nigeria.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are happy and settled in the nursery. Staff are sensitive and responsive to children's emotional needs and interests. For example, toddlers in the baby room ask for bubbles throughout the day and staff support this by blowing bubbles each time they are asked. Staff praise children for their efforts, supporting their well-being. For example, staff regularly give children a 'high five' to show they have achieved well. Children are learning about healthy lifestyles. For example, children are offered healthy drinks and snacks, and staff talk about the effects exercise has on their bodies when they play outside. Children are encouraged to be polite, behave well and follow rules. For example, when going to play in the outside area, they all hold a 'walk along rope' and wait until staff close and lock the gate before playing.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in their learning from their starting points. They are confident and active learners. For example, they challenge their own physical skills by building bridges to balance on in the garden and experiment with ways to move. They are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, such as school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY423311 Local authority Medway Towns Inspection number 1071372 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 24 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person 1st Friends Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 September 2014 Telephone number 01634382330

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reference number

1st Friends day nursery and creche Ltd registered in 2011. It is one of three nurseries owned and operated by 1st Friends Day Nursery Limited. The nursery and creche operates from the Roko Health Club in Gillingham, Kent. The nursery is open each weekday from 7am to 7pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery employs eight staff, all of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications to level 2 and above, including the deputy manager who holds a qualification at level 6 and one of the managers who has early years professional status. 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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