Squirrels Day Nursery

Squirrels Day Nursery Broxbourne Centre, High Road, Turnford, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, EN10 6AE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 March 2018 21 January 2014

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The nursery’s leadership and management are especially strong in all aspects. The team works particularly well with other professionals and trainers to ensure that staff consistently maintain the highest standards for children’s development.  Staff now have strong communication skills and reflect deeply on their own practice, and in turn help children to reflect and communicate their thoughts more clearly.  Children and families who need specialist advice and support receive appropriate and timely help.  Each child has a key person who knows them very well. Key persons use this knowledge along with their observations and assessments to plan for each child’s needs. Teaching is outstanding.  Children choose from a range of high-quality resources and exceptionally well set out indoor and outdoor activities. They become inventive and creative learners.  Staff expertly use activities to promote children’s physical development extremely well.

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This provision is outstanding

Children take safe risks and assess levels of safety for themselves.  Staff’s high expectations, nurturing manner and well-established routines support children’s excellent behaviour. Children’s behaviour is exemplary.  Parents are involved at every stage in assessing their child’s progress. They clearly understand how they can contribute to this and are delighted with their child’s progress.

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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

 consider different ways staff give to children to work out their own solutions to simple problems.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the indoor play areas and the outdoor learning environment. She conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector had discussions with the provider, manager and deputy manager during the inspection. They attended the feedback meeting at the end of the inspection. The inspector spoke with staff and children throughout the inspection when appropriate.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, such as children's assessment and planning documentation, the nursery's risk assessment and safety records.  The inspector checked evidence of self-evaluation and the suitability and qualifications of staff working within the nursery.  The inspector spoke with a selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff understand their responsibilities in relation to child protection issues very well. They know how to report to the relevant professionals should they become aware of concerns about children's welfare. All staff have a very thorough induction to confirm their suitability to work with children. Leaders regularly monitor and review staff performance and support staff very ably. Staff work superbly with parents to meet children's learning and care needs. Staff evaluated how to involve parents even more fully in supporting their child's learning and developmental needs. Parents now help children at home with children's next steps in learning. Leaders are looking at different ways to help staff support children to problem solve.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

A wide variety of inviting activities, inside and outdoors, inspires and extends learning. Children enjoy exploring materials first hand. For example, very young children make patterns in flour using cutters and brushes of various shapes and sizes. Young children identify plastic animals from cold countries, under snow made from shaving foam, counting their legs and describing them. They use computers to find out more about these animals. Older children investigate the effect of mixing water with mud in the mud kitchen outdoors. Staff encourage children to share different observations and experiences. They sing songs and rhymes with children throughout the day to introduce new words and reinforce understanding. They excel in promoting communication and language skills. They know whether to correct, repeat or extend children's language.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

All staff speak gently and with great consideration. They have exceptionally positive attitudes to children, which helps even younger children to feel emotionally secure. From a very young age, children learn to choose for themselves and have space to explore their choices. An impressively organised and resourced environment sets the highest expectations for children to value and respect. Role play helps children acquire life skills and promotes independence. They learn how to dress appropriately for outdoor adventures in all seasons. Children offer to help put out activities, tidy up and serve themselves at lunchtime. The cook provides healthy and nutritious meals which children enjoy.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language, make exceptionally good progress. They concentrate and complete tasks. They develop literacy and mathematical skills. They gain an understanding and enjoyment of books and develop small-muscle control, which helps their early writing skills. They learn about how the world works and how to lead a healthy lifestyle. They are confident and motivated learners and are very well prepared for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 404885 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1087831 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 - 5 Total number of places 84 Number of children on roll 143 Name of registered person Squirrels Day Nurseries (Broxbourne) Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 21 January 2014 Telephone number 01992 411644

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reference number

Squirrels Day Nursery registered in 2001. It is managed by a private company. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, for most of the year. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. Staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2, 3 and 4 and two members of staff hold early years professional status.

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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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