Umbrella Nursery

Umbrella Nursery Thistley Hill, Melbourne Avenue, Dover, CT16 2JH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 August 2017 9 August 2016

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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 new manager has made significant improvements since the last inspection. She monitors her staff well. For example, she provides regular support and meetings, identifies relevant training and observes their practice. This helps to improve staff's skills and to give them a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities.  Leaders and staff complete thorough risk assessments of the environment that are regularly checked and reviewed, including for the outside space. This helps children play safely in their surroundings.  Staff successfully deploy themselves to help meet children's individual learning and care needs. They consistently seek support from their colleagues, where needed, to help ensure that children are supervised at all times.  Staff use the information from their observations and assessments well to plan for children's abilities and to extend their learning further. Children make good progress.

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This provision is good

 Staff provide regular opportunities to involve parents in their children's learning. For instance, they provide online information and termly reviews, and have daily discussions. This helps parents to continue their children's learning at home.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not make the most of opportunities to help children fully explore and investigate the media and materials they use as part of their creative learning.  Staff do not consistently help children build as much as possible on their mathematical development.

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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

 increase opportunities for children to explore and investigate media and materials in order to enhance their creative play and learning  make better use of opportunities to help children develop their mathematical skills as far as possible.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning and development.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to parents and children.  The inspector viewed a range of documentation, including suitability checks and children's records.  The inspector held discussions with staff in relation to observations of children's play, learning and progress.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

There is secure vetting and recruitment processes in place. For instance, the manager conducts interviews, seeks references, completes relevant suitability checks and follows effective induction processes. This helps ensure that staff are suitable for their new roles. The manager monitors and manages child-to-staff ratios effectively. For example, she recently employed new staff, including a team of 'bank staff' and carefully plans her staff rotas. The manager evaluates the nursery well. She identifies areas of weakness and sets targets for improvement. This has improved the quality of the provision to a good standard. Safeguarding is effective. The manager knows what to do in the event that staff are no longer suitable for their roles, such as following the nursery's disciplinary procedures. Staff have a secure understanding of the signs that would cause them concern about a child's welfare and the processes to follow.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Leaders and staff monitor children's progress well. They work with other professionals to meet their specific learning needs. Leaders use additional funding effectively to meet children's development needs. For example, they provide relevant training to help increase staff knowledge, such as learning about the different ways boys learn. Also, leaders and staff provide events around children's interests to support their development. This helps gaps in progress to consistently close. Staff successfully adapt activities and sensitively fit in with children's play. They ask them questions to help them think for themselves and challenge their learning further. Staff build children's physical development. For instance, babies and younger children climb equipment and roll balls in the outside space, and pre- school children hold paintbrushes with control.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The manager has secure procedures in place to deal with illnesses. For example, she ensures that children and staff who are sick do not attend the nursery for a set period. This supports children's physical health and minimises the risk of cross-infection. Staff successfully support children's independence. For instance, children pour drinks, cut fruit and clear their plates after lunch. Children behave well. Staff offer children clear guidance and explanations to help them manage their behaviour. For example, they remind them about using their 'walking feet' indoors, sharing and taking turns. Staff help children learn about healthy lifestyles. For instance, they provide children with their favourite fruits at snack time.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make progress that is typical for their age and prepare well for their move to school. They are confident to talk to adults and talk about their wider experiences. Children keep their attention in activities, such as during finger and hand painting.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY443819 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1095958 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 55 Name of registered person Alpha Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 9 August 2016 Telephone number 01304203040

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reference number

Umbrella Nursery registered in 2012. It is owned by Alpha Nurseries Ltd and operates in Dover, Kent. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, throughout the year, except for bank holidays. There are 16 members of staff, 11 of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications, including the manager who holds 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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