Little Ducklings Day Nursery

Little Ducklings Day Nursery Campbell Road, Woodley, Reading, RG5 3NA

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 August 2017 13 August 2014

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 The manager meticulously reviews each child's progress across all areas of learning and development. She evaluates the effectiveness of new teaching initiatives, assessments and funding, to show how very effectively staff raise outcomes for each child.  All staff are exceptionally well trained in the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures so that they are up to date with all current legislation. A comprehensive child protection policy reinforces their understanding and supports staff as they implement daily practices to keep children safe and secure.  Staff take exceptional pride in nurturing children to higher levels of achievement. They work very effectively with parents to build on children's strengths and address any delays in their development. Children make excellent progress in their learning.  Staff work swiftly with parents and other professionals to secure effective early support

p.1

This provision is outstanding

and inclusion for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.  The chef carefully adapts nutritiously balanced menus to meet a wide range of individual needs, dietary preferences and allergies. Children thoroughly enjoy trying a wide range of foods and flavours in the context of positive social interaction and high expectations for their development of table manners.  Children are extremely enthusiastic to explore, question and problem solve. They demonstrate high levels of ingenuity in their learning and creativity in their thinking.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 build on the already excellent partnerships with parents to provide them with further information about babies' sleeping positions for their physical development.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed, listened to and talked with children as they played indoors and during outdoor play.  The inspector talked with parents and listened to their views about the nursery and their children's progress.  The inspector looked at children's records, and discussed staff planning and evaluation of activities and how they exchange information with parents.  The inspector reviewed records and procedures relating to safeguarding and risk assessment, and discussed a range of other procedures relating to children's welfare with the owner and the manager.  The inspector observed care routines and completed a joint observation with the manager. Together they discussed how staff training had contributed to children's learning and development.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The nursery manager is quick to identify areas for improvement and guide her staff to higher standards and innovative practice. She is particularly effective in using techniques, such as self-reflection, to raise the quality of teaching to exemplary levels. The manager shares her high aspirations with the nursery owner, and together they swiftly implement improvements. For example, the completely refurbished outdoor play areas inspire staff to create highly imaginative learning experiences for children. Safeguarding is effective. The manager checks and coaches staff to ensure that everyone on site knows how to identify and respond appropriately to any children protection concerns or allegations.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff assess children's progress extremely diligently and provide learning experiences to challenge and suit every child's interests. For instance, toddlers thoroughly enjoy experimenting with capacity and flow in their outdoor kitchen. Older children, intent on flipping a foam domino across different sections of a parachute, practise using precise mathematical language to describe direction, position and movement. Staff are excellent role models for children and create a joyful atmosphere for play and learning. For example, children sing rhymes as they knead dough and laugh together as they enjoy developing imaginative boat trips and adventures. Play is dynamic and enriching.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff rapidly get to know the children in their care extremely well. Children of all ages soon feel safe, secure and confident to explore their exciting play areas. Staff in the baby room work flexibly and very effectively to ensure the youngest children sleep at times to suit their individual needs and in their own cots. Parents say they greatly appreciate how tactfully staff share their expertise. For instance, they easily agree plans for weening or withdrawing dummies. However, staff are not as confident in sharing information on the impact of sleeping arrangements for babies' physical development. Staff demonstrate exceptional sensitivity when addressing issues of faith and diversity. For example, they invited all families to share their exploration of Eid. Children begin to understand how families from different countries celebrate the same religious festivals in different ways.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children in all age groups, including those learning to speak more than one language and children with delayed starts, all make excellent levels of progress from their starting points. Socially and emotionally children are extremely well prepared for the next stage in their learning. For instance, toddlers play kindly together, they are curious to explore and eager to share. Children moving on to school are very well prepared for the change. They show extremely high levels of independence and confidence in expressing their ideas.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY426979 Local authority Wokingham Inspection number 1100749 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 - 4 Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 116 Name of registered person Little Ducklings Day Nursery Limited

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 13 August 2014 Telephone number 01189272822

p.4

reference number

Little Ducklings Day Nursery opened in 1995, changed owners in 2006 and re-registered as a limited company in 2011. The nursery is situated in Woodley, Berkshire. The nursery is open five days a week from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. It is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. Including the chef, language and dance teachers, the nursery employs 19 staff who work directly with the children, 11 of whom hold relevant qualifications at level 3 to level 6. The manager holds an honours degree in early years education.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5