Lavender Nursery

Lavender Nursery Tamworth Farm Recreation Ground, London Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 3LB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 September 2017 30 January 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

 Children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities are very well supported. Staff work closely with other professionals to promote children's all-round needs and development. Specific support and funding for children is targeted well.  The manager highly values the staff's professional development to continuously improve the quality of the provision and the services available to children and their families. For example, completing training on exploring outdoor environments has helped staff to enhance children's experiences in the garden and on outings.  The management and staff maintain a safe environment, ensuring that risks are minimised throughout the nursery and outdoor areas.  Children develop positive attitudes towards their learning and are interested to explore new things. All children make good progress from their starting points and are well behaved.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not explore all opportunities to engage parents in sharing information about their children's achievements at home.  The key-person system does not always support children in settling well when transitioning to other rooms.

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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

 further develop ways to encourage parents to share information about children's achievements at home, to help staff assess children's progress and plan for their future learning more precisely  review the key-person system, particularly in relation to supporting children when transitioning to other rooms.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in all parts of the setting, including the outdoor area.  The inspector spoke to some members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held meetings with the management team.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to during the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's records, planning documentation and the provision's policies and procedures, including those related to the suitability of staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The management team implements a set of robust policies and procedures to ensure the smooth running of the nursery. Staff regularly attend safeguarding training and demonstrate a thorough understanding of what to do if they are concerned about any child in their care. The management team regularly seeks the views of parents, staff and children when reviewing the quality of the provision. Parents are extremely positive about the quality of care and learning provided for their children. Staff are well qualified and experienced. Secure recruitment and induction procedures ensure staff are suitable to work with children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff skilfully extend children's understanding of the world around them. For instance, children learn about their local community and growth of plants through trips to the local allotment. Staff build on children's interests, for example, by growing crops in the garden, such as carrots, tomatoes and green beans. Children harvest their crops and cook them to produce healthy meals. Staff regularly share information about children's progress with parents and suggest activities to continue children's learning and development at home. Babies show an interest in how things work. For instance, they are fascinated by cause- and-effect toys and anticipate sounds and actions as they press the buttons and turn knobs.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children behave well. Staff strategically place themselves at activities to encourage children to be polite and kind to each other. Older children play cooperatively together and, with the support of sand timers, learn to share toys and take turns. Staff work effectively with children to support them to develop an understanding of how to keep themselves safe. For example, they are aware of the risk of putting their fingers into the rabbit hutch and taking toys up the slide. Staff offer plenty of opportunities for children to be independent. For instance, at lunchtime, children help themselves to food and clear away afterwards.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are progressing well in all areas of learning. They develop effective communication and language skills by using a range of methods, such as sign language and pictures. Older children develop wide vocabularies and are confident to initiate conversations and share their knowledge. They are developing good literacy skills. For instance, they are able to clap out syllables in words with confidence and make marks for purpose. In addition, two-year-old children who receive additional funding benefit from ‘rhythm and rhyme’ workshops run by staff, which they attend with their parents. Children enjoy developing their understanding of mathematics as they learn about volume, capacity and how to count during water play. Babies have great fun developing their creative and sensory skills as they explore textures with paints to make marks. This wide range of skills and experiences contributes to children being well prepared for their future learning,

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY305277 Local authority Merton Inspection number 1068757 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 124 Number of children on roll 139 Name of registered person London Borough of Merton

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 30 January 2014 Telephone number 020 8646 8481

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reference number

Lavender Nursery registered in 2005. It is part of the wider service offered by Lavender Children's Centre in Mitcham. The nursery operates from Tamworth Farm Recreation Ground, located in the London Borough of Merton. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.45am to 6pm, for 50 weeks of the year. The nursery is funded to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 36 staff, two of whom hold qualified teacher status and 26 hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 3 to level 6.

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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

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