Sunflower Nursery

Sunflower Nursery Milton Mount Hall, Old Road East, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 1NQ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17 May 2018 23 April 2015

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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 establish incredibly inspirational relationships with children and get to know them exceptionally well. Children develop an excellent sense of belonging and self-esteem.  The manager and staff effectively evaluate their practice together. For instance, they regularly observe each other interact with children and provide helpful advice. They use the feedback to support their future activity plans.  The manager closely monitors the quality of care and teaching that staff provide for children. For example, the manager holds regular individual meetings to discuss their performance and highlight any training needs to develop their practice even further.  Children have opportunities to develop good early reading skills to support their future learning. For instance, they enjoy a wide range of books and reading materials.  There are good opportunities for children to develop their creative skills. For example,

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This provision is good

they make interesting models, such as mobiles using natural objects like twigs.  Staff support children to develop very good communication skills. For instance, they ask them thought-provoking questions and use good techniques such as signing.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff miss some opportunities to support children to develop their mathematical skills as they play.  Staff do not make the most of their links with early years professionals at other settings children attend to strengthen the consistency in their shared care and 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

 extend children's opportunities to develop their mathematical skills to support their future learning further  build on the partnerships with other early years professionals at other settings children attend to extend the consistency of their shared care and learning experiences even further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff interacting with the children and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor environments.  The inspector looked at written documentation, including a sample of policies and procedures, risk assessments and staff training records.  The inspector spoke with children, parents and staff, and considered their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager and staff are keen to keep up to date with new ideas and build on their skills and knowledge further. They complete a good range of beneficial training. For example, they learned about different ways to support children to develop their communication and language skills, such as by using visual props. All staff establish positive relationships with parents and keep them fully involved and informed of their children's learning. For instance, they regularly share information about children's achievements with them. Staff work with parents to provide children with a consistent approach to their care and learning opportunities. Staff use additional funding effectively to support children's individual learning needs. For example, they purchase additional resources to extend their enjoyment of outdoor play. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a good understanding of the safeguarding and child protection procedures to follow to help

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

protect children's safety and welfare. They know whom to contact to seek advice and follow up any concerns.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The manager and staff closely monitor the progress of individual children and specific groups of children. This helps staff to highlight any gaps in their development promptly. Staff provide children with good support to close gaps quickly. Staff support children effectively to help prepare them for their eventual move to school. For example, younger children learn to give meaning to marks they make. Older children write their names with confidence. Staff extend children's interests well. For instance, children who enjoy a story about a fire engine, go on to visit a fire station and make large models of a fire engine.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff are inspirational role models. Children are incredibly polite and their behaviour is impeccable. Children are extremely kind and show excellent levels of empathy. For instance, they regularly visit older people. Children have outstanding opportunities to develop exceptionally confident physical skills, such as by using stilts and enjoying yoga. Children develop an exceptional understanding of healthy eating. For example, they enthusiastically harvest their own vegetables, such as broccoli and peppers. Children have outstanding opportunities to gain an impressive understanding of the wider world. For example, they explore interesting traditions of different countries, such as Persian New Year.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress in relation to their individual starting points. Children develop good skills to support their future learning. For example, they confidently choose their own play and find their own belongings. Children learn about the world around them. For example, they enjoy exploring visitors to their bug mansion.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127658 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1089372 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 58 Name of registered person Jacqui Pickering

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 23 April 2015 Telephone number 01474 369349

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reference number

Sunflower Nursery registered in 1998. It operates from Milton Mount Community Hall, Gravesend, Kent. The setting is open Monday - Thursday 8am - 12 noon and Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8am - 4pm term time only. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The setting employs seven members of staff, all of whom hold a relevant early years qualification at level 2 or above. This includes one member of staff who holds an early years degree.

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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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