Little Owls Day Nursery

Little Owls Day Nursery 20 School Lane, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1LR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 March 2018 21 March 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

 Staff demonstrate exemplary skills in helping children form secure emotional attachments. The youngest children in particular form extremely close bonds with their key person. Children’s transitions between rooms are carefully planned to meet both the children’s and their family’s needs. This results in minimal anxiety to children and their parents and ensures a smooth process.  Teaching is excellent. Staff know children very well. They consistently observe and plan motivating learning experiences to help children make rapid progress. Planning of activities closely reflects children’s interests as they happen and is flexible to meet their constantly changing needs.  Directors, managers and staff positively share and promote a joint passion and dedication to providing the best possible care and education for all children. All aspects of the nursery’s practice is consistently reviewed and evaluated and includes staff,

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This provision is outstanding

parents and children in the process. For example, the eldest children taste test potential new meals for the nursery menu and give feedback.  Staff build excellent relationships with parents. Communication is constant and effective at keeping parents informed of all aspects of their children’s care. Story café sessions, home learning bags and a book lending library are all enthusiastically welcomed by parents to enable them to be involved in their children’s learning.

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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 implement plans for extending children’s access to open ended resources in the outdoor play areas and evaluate the impact on children’s learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching both indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children’s learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the operations manager and the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with a director, operations manager, nursery manager and deputy manager. They looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Staff are highly trained and skilled in childcare. Their professional development and consistent monitoring of their practice is precisely focused on maintaining the high quality of teaching throughout the nursery. Training opportunities are embraced. Recently, managers have attended specialised outdoor training and have plans to implement further learning opportunities from this, such as den building and a designated nature garden. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Safeguarding is at the centre of all staff’s practice and their knowledge is consistently reviewed. Staff confidently discuss the procedures they would take if they had a concern about a child or adults in the nursery. Robust recruitment procedures and regular checks of ongoing suitability ensures that all staff are suitable to work with children. The premises are safe and secure.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Children show an excellent level of confidence and independence for their age. They play in a highly effective learning environment. Children’s wishes, thoughts and ideas are consistently valued. For example, staff welcome a new yoga pose that the eldest children have devised themselves. They quickly ensure that the new pose is made into a yoga demonstration card to share with their friends. This helps children to feel special and raises their self-esteem. Young children show high levels of curiosity and an eagerness to learn. They are fascinated by items from a ‘curiosity basket’. Staff consistently encourage the children to think and talk about what the item may be and how it could be used as they explore. Staff are highly skilled at recognising and taking advantage of children’s play interests as they happen to further promote and extend their learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children's emotional well-being is highly prioritised. Staff are extremely kind and loving. They cuddle and soothe babies as they wake from a sleep or are fed from their bottle. During play staff maintain eye contact and make babies giggle as they sing and play with balloons. Children show very good familiarity with the routines and are learning to become highly independent from a young age. Busy periods, such as meal times are calm and relaxed. Children are consistently busy and occupied, resulting in excellent behaviour. Older children know how to share and wait their turn. Outdoor play opportunities are plentiful in the highly stimulating garden's which provide an excellent variety of learning opportunities.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Rigorous monitoring of children’s learning helps to ensure that all, including those who are in receipt of additional funding are supported to make the best possible progress from their individual starting points. Children are very well prepared for their move to school. They are articulate and confident. Pre-school children are interested in letters and sounds and can ‘write’ recognisable letters of their name. Children form close friendships as they learn to respect and tolerate each other’s differences.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY365260 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 1132949 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 100 Number of children on roll 205 Name of registered person Little Owls Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 21 March 2014 Telephone number 01362 699700

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reference number

Little Owls Day Nursery was registered in 2003. The nursery employs 31 members of childcare staff. Of these, 27 hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 2-6, including one with early years qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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