Linden House Nursery

Linden House Nursery 83 West Street, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 1SE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 May 2018 3 March 2015

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 The hours of children's attendance are not accurately recorded and staff are not sufficiently aware of which children are in their care.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff have built close partnerships with parents. They frequently share children's next steps in learning with them. Staff provide ideas for activities that parents can use at home to further support their children's development.  Children's language and communication skills are promoted well. Staff talk to children about what they are doing and repeat words back to them to support their pronunciation.  Staff regularly evaluate their practice. They seek the important views of parents and children and incorporate these into their plans for development and further improvement.  Children are provided with gradual settling-in sessions that support them to quickly become confident and happy. They swiftly form close bonds with staff and other children who attend the nursery.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 make sure staff have a clear understanding of their role in being fully aware at all times of the children in their care, in order to fulfil their responsibility to keep children safe 22/05/2018

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Due Date

 maintain an accurate daily record of the names of children being cared for and their hours of attendance. 22/05/2018

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities 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 and discussed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to one parent during the inspection, examined the written feedback of several others and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. Staff do not keep an accurate record of children's times of attendance. They do not always record the times children arrive and sometimes do not notice when children have joined the group. This puts children's safety at risk in the event of an emergency as staff do not have accurate knowledge of which children are present in the nursery. That said, staff do have a good understanding about the signs and symptoms of abuse. They know the procedures to follow and whom to contact with any such concerns. Staff attend regular training and have professional development opportunities. This helps them strengthen their teaching skills and knowledge. Staff work with other settings that children attend to support a continuity of care and learning for them. They frequently share children's next steps in learning and assessments of children's progress. The manager has identified some areas for

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

improvement and has plans in place to build further on the good quality of teaching.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff gather detailed information from parents about what children are able to do when they first start. They use these details along with their own observations to identify children's next steps in learning. Children's development is well promoted by staff. They encourage children to count out the number of pom-poms and match them to the correct number in print. Children identify if they have too many or not enough of items to match to numbers between five and10. They enjoy opportunities to develop their early writing skills. Children delight in making marks using paint on their hands and with objects, such as cars and bricks. Young children squeal with delight when a picture pops up, as they learn to push and turn buttons on toys.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Weaknesses in leadership and management put children's welfare at risk, particularly in the event of an emergency. However, staff do support children in developing their independence. Children help to tidy away toys when they have finished playing and clear away their plates when they have eaten. Staff promote very good hygiene practices and children quickly learn to wash their hands before mealtimes and after outdoor play. Children take part in activities to learn about different festivals and events. This helps support their understanding about the similarities and differences between each other. Staff are consistent in their approach to children's behaviour. They provide messages that help children to quickly learn about being kind and sharing toys with each other.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning. They quickly learn the skills they need to be ready for their next stage in learning and for their move on to school. Children delight in exploring with play dough. They develop fine motor skills as they learn to roll play dough into balls using their hands. Children learn to roll dough out flat and enjoy using cutters to create flowers and shapes.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY103054 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 1091281 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 36 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person Dora Marie De Leonardis

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 3 March 2015 Telephone number 01582 662575

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reference number

Linden House Nursery registered in 2002. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff, 10 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. 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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