Caterpillars Day Nursery

Caterpillars Day Nursery The Square, Carshalton, SM5 3BN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 June 2018 16 June 2016

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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 Good 2

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This provision is good

 Recent changes in the daily management of the nursery are positive. The new acting manager is effective in her role. She follows robust recruitment procedures and provides existing staff with encouragement and support.  Babies and toddlers play alongside each other, and older children develop good play skills, negotiating with other children. Staff make good use of individual children's observations and help them to make good progress from their starting points.  Staff follow children's interests well. For example, children enjoy putting on doctors' outfits and engage in role play where they apply bandages to make people feel better.  Children benefit from nutritious meals and snacks. A recent change in menu introduces children to different taste experiences, such as Moroccan lamb and couscous.  The nursery is welcoming and inclusive. Staff work sensitively with children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. They utilise strong partnerships with

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This provision is good

outside agencies to accurately plan activities and ensure learning targets are met.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not consistently plan activities outdoors for babies to enhance their learning experiences further.  Although staff provide daily verbal feedback to parents, opportunities to provide them with further information and guidance for supporting their children's next steps in learning are not consistently promoted with maximum effect.

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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

 provide more opportunities for babies to experience outdoor learning  explore additional ways of providing parents with information and guidance for supporting the children's next steps in learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the setting and observed staff ratios and the staff interacting with the children.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the acting manager and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector talked to children, parents and staff and took account of their views.  The inspector held a meeting with the acting manager. She looked at records and documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The nursery's systems, such as closed- circuit television and a receptionist, monitor children's safety. Recent training for all staff ensures that they know how to identify the signs that a child may be at risk. Staff are fully aware of the actions they need to take should they have a concern. The manager constantly checks and maintains staff-to-child ratios, and staff closely supervise children. The manager has good support from the owners of the nursery. Together with her team they have a good awareness of how to make improvements. They have undertaken a planned programme of training sessions in key skills, for example, managing children's behaviour and staff teaching skills, which has had a positive impact on children's learning. The manager and staff work closely with other early years professionals and local schools. This helps to provide consistency for children's care needs and aids their move to school.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of how children learn. They play alongside younger children and offer a commentary on what they are doing to extend their play. Older children have more focused instruction and guidance appropriate with their level of learning. For example, babies and toddlers feel ice, make sounds and learn words, such as 'hot' and 'cold'. Older children learn about wild animals, and staff encourage them to reproduce these creatively in their individual way. Children competently use a range of resources, such as scissors, glue, sponges and shredded paper, to make their creations.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Good settling-in procedures help children and babies to feel at ease. This is helped by the effective information gathered from parents about children's care needs and capabilities before they start. Staff give babies cuddles and follow their routines effectively. Staff manage children's behaviour well. For example, staff make good use of the dance studio. Older and more active children use their energy and develop their physical skills with activities, such as hopping and stretching to music. All children help to tidy away toys and some take additional responsibilities, such as helping to prepare tables for lunch. All children follow good hygiene routines that support their health.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are motivated to learn. They develop good social skills and are keen to join in, play and interact with staff and other children. Babies develop curiosity and children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities overcome initial difficulties. Children learn the basics of counting and number recognition. Older children immerse themselves in pretend play and thoroughly enjoy stories that staff read well. Children recognise letters and the sounds they represent during their last year at nursery, in preparation for their next steps when they go to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY474449 Local authority Sutton Inspection number 1139809 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 130 Number of children on roll 199 Name of registered person Caterpillars Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 16 June 2016 Telephone number 02087733882

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reference number

Caterpillars Day Nursery registered in 2014 and is situated in Carshalton. The nursery opens each weekday, from 7.30am to 6.30pm, all year round, and offers a variety of sessions. This includes an after-school club for children who attend before and after school during term time. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children. It employs 22 members of staff plus three staff for the after-school club and additional bank staff. Of these, 17 hold relevant childcare qualifications and the manager holds a level 6 qualification in childcare and education.

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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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