Tom Thumb Nursery

Tom Thumb Nursery 12 The Avenue, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 3YA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 March 2018 28 March 2017

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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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 Staff value every child and family as unique. Extensive measures are taken to ensure staff fully recognise, respect and value every child's individual qualities. Children who need extra help with their learning receive excellent support.  The quality of teaching is consistently good. From the youngest age, babies and children develop a wide range of skills to help support their future learning.  Senior staff monitor the quality of provision closely. They set high standards and help staff to consistently reflect on their practice and make further improvements.  Every child makes good progress in their learning and development. Funding is used extremely well to provide specialist support and enrich the range of learning opportunities available for children. Partnerships with other agencies are good.  Parents are very happy with the quality of provision. They describe the staff as 'fantastic' and 'amazing' and confirm how much their children enjoy attending.

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This provision is good

 There is a very homely, caring and calm environment within the nursery. Staff and children form very close relationships. The key-person system works well and all children receive lots of cuddles and personal attention to help them feel safe.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Very occasionally, opportunities for quieter and less confident children to practise their speaking and listening skills in the Elves room are not fully utilised.

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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

 review the organisation of daily activities for the older children to ensure every opportunity is given for children to practise their speaking and listening skills, particularly those who are quieter and less confident.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of practice and the support for children's learning in all age groups in the nursery.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nursery manager and evaluated how well senior staff monitor the quality of provision.  The inspector talked to children, staff and parents at convenient times during the inspection.  The inspector sampled a range of written records, such as confirmation of staff suitability checks, training records and the nursery's development plan.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Staff have worked hard since the last inspection to make many improvements. Senior leaders have focused well on improving the quality of teaching. Staff have benefited from additional training. A strong focus on supporting children's independence and communication skills has significantly improved children's learning. Senior leaders are highly committed to making ongoing improvements. A comprehensive programme of self- evaluation and monitoring means any development points are quickly identified and addressed. Safeguarding is effective. Staff are well trained and have a good understanding of their duty to keep children safe.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff support children's learning well through high-quality play experiences. Babies' individual preferences are quickly recognised and understood. For example, when one baby indicated he wanted to sing different songs, the music session was adapted to accommodate this. Throughout the nursery, staff interact with children well. They ask questions, support learning and extend children's interests. For example, during imaginative play in the Pixies room, children created their own shop. Staff extended the play well by helping children to practise counting. In the Elves room, children had extensive opportunities to work out solutions to problems as they created models from recycled materials. A staff member worked with a child for a considerable amount of time to help him solve the problem of how to attach a cardboard tube to a box.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children's behaviour is excellent. They develop exceptional kindness and respect for others. The nursery is fully inclusive and every child's needs are planned for meticulously. Staff skilfully help children to recognise and celebrate differences and similarities. Children develop an extensive knowledge of the local community. They frequently visit the library and park and enjoy exciting trips, such as train rides. Children are increasingly vigilant about potential danger as staff explain potential risks well. For example, one child confidently advised a staff member her shoe lace was undone. Children's nutritional needs are met exceptionally well. The nursery's award-winning menu has been highly commended by experts, and parents enjoy preparing the same meals at home using the nursery's extensive recipe book.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, irrespective of their age, gender and abilities, achieve well. Staff plan for every child's learning needs and monitor this closely to make sure no child gets left behind. Activities are carefully planned to make sure each child is challenged. Every child develops the important skills they need for starting school. For example, they become independent, they make friends easily, generally communicate their needs effectively, and listen and concentrate well.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY312715 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 1096799 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 - 8 Total number of places 56 Number of children on roll 114 Name of registered person Claire Louise Townsend

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 28 March 2017 Telephone number 01323 647630

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reference number

Tom Thumb Nursery registered in 2005. It is located in Eastbourne, East Sussex. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6.30pm all year round. A team of 19 staff works with the children, one of whom holds both qualified teacher and early years professional status. The nursery owner has a foundation degree. Funding is accepted for the provision of free early education for children aged 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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