Squirrel Lodge Nursery

Squirrel Lodge Nursery The Meads Community Centre, Emerald Crescent, Sittingbourne ME10 5JL

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Inspection date 24 October 2018 Previous inspection date Not applicable

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Not applicable Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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The provision is good

n The manager monitors the progress of different groups of children effectively and takes prompt action to address any gaps in their learning. n Staff are sensitive to children's individual needs. They give praise and encouragement to promote children's emotional well-being. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents comment positively on the support they receive from staff and the good progress their children are making. n Staff help all children, including those who speak English as an additional language, to develop their communication and language skills. For example, staff teach colours in children's home languages. n Staff gather information about what children can already do on entry to the nursery and use this to help them assess children's starting points accurately. n Children benefit from many opportunities to use their imagination and to be creative. For example, they pretend to make each other cups of tea in the home corner and

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The provision is good

create pictures using leaves collected from the garden.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

n Occasionally, staff do not make the best use of opportunities to help children practise their early writing skills. n Information sharing with other settings that children attend is not fully developed for all children.

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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

n provide more opportunities for children to practise their early writing skills n strengthen information sharing with other settings that children attend to ensure continuity of learning for all children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's assessment records, policies and procedures, and evidence of staff suitability. n The inspector completed a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector held discussions with parents, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector held a leadership and management meeting with the manager.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a secure knowledge of child protection issues and know the processes to follow if they have concerns about a child's welfare. The manager completes thorough checks of staff to ensure they are suitable to work with children. She supports staff well. Staff take part in regular supervision meetings and attend training to enhance their practice. This helps to raise the quality of teaching and ensure children continue to make good progress. The manager evaluates the provision well and includes the views of parents, staff and children. For example, parents complete questionnaires and children have recently helped to plan some changes to the layout of the play area.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use information gained from observations to accurately assess children's level of development and to plan for future learning. Staff encourage children to make their own choices. For example, children choose the colours they wish to use when making play dough. This helps to develop children's decision-making skills. Overall, staff make good use of opportunities to extend children's learning. For example, children explore the concepts of 'heavy' and 'light' while moving objects around the garden. Staff know children well and use their in-depth knowledge of children's interests to plan a varied and stimulating learning environment. For example, children who enjoy learning outdoors build obstacle courses with tyres and planks of wood.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are good role models for children. They are polite and remind children about using manners. There is a strong emphasis on teaching children to be healthy. For example, staff encourage children to drink water throughout the day and explain how this keeps their bodies working properly. Staff have clear expectations of children's behaviour. Children are encouraged to share resources and take turns. Children have strong bonds with staff. This helps them to feel safe and secure. Children have lots of opportunities to be physically active and to play outdoors. Staff help to develop children's independence. For example, children hang up their coats when they arrive and self-register by adding their name card to the registration board.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who have special education needs and/or disabilities, make progress from their starting points. Children confidently explore and investigate in their play. For example, they enjoy looking for hidden objects in a tub filled with leaves. Children benefit from opportunities to develop early mathematical language. For example, they learn the names of shapes as they model with play dough. Children behave well and enjoy playing together. All children are learning the necessary skills they need for future learning, including moving on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY499277 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10057131 Type of provision Full day care

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Elliott-Hare, Claire Adele

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07842441237

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reference number

Squirrel Lodge Nursery registered in 2016. It is located in Sittingbourne, Kent. The nursery is open from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The nursery employs 10 members of staff. Of these, two are qualified at level 6, two at level 4, three at level 3, one at level 2 and two are unqualified. Additionally, two staff are qualified forest school leaders. One member of staff also holds qualified teacher status. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early years education for two-, three- and four-year-old children, in addition to the early years pupil premium. The nursery follows the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy.

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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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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