The Ducklings Day Nursery - Skelmersdale

The Ducklings Day Nursery - Skelmersdale Daniels Lane, Skelmersdale WN8 9NH

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Inspection date 9 January 2019 Previous inspection date Not applicable

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Not applicable Effectiveness of leadership and management Outstanding 1 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1 Outcomes for children Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

n The exceptionally dedicated and skilled manager shares her vision for the nursery with the staff team. Together, in consultation with parents and children, they regularly use a variety of ways in which to carefully evaluate the quality of the nursery and precisely target future improvements. All staff are deeply committed to providing children and their families with early years experiences of the highest quality. n The quality of teaching is outstanding. Staff have an excellent understanding of the unique ways in which individual children learn. They use their regular, robust and precise assessments, along with their deep knowledge of children's interests, to plan a wide range of highly stimulating and challenging experiences that superbly motivate children in their learning. n The management team and staff carefully monitor the progress that individual and groups of children make. They successfully identify any developing gaps in children's

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This provision is outstanding

learning and take swift and decisive action to ensure that all children receive the exact support they need to make excellent progress from the time they start at nursery. n Staff provide an exceptionally warm and welcoming environment. Bespoke settling-in arrangements and robust partnership working with parents ensures that children settle quickly and are ready to learn from the outset. Parents are extremely well informed about their child's learning. For example, staff routinely share information about children's learning experiences along with helpful tips and ideas that enable parents to complement and support their child's learning further.

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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 continue to implement the innovative plans to provide even more sensory experiences and monitor the impact this has on younger children's already outstanding well-being and outcomes.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outside and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint obsevration with the nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the provider and nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents and also considered their views in the written statements provided.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

The deeply committed manager and highly skilled, qualified teachers act as excellent role models to the staff team. They work alongside staff on a daily basis providing ongoing skilled coaching, reflection and support. These frequent checks on staff performance, along with regular supervision sessions, has led to consistency in excellent practice across the nursery. The manager uses her knowledge to carefully plan future training. For example, recent training in the use of innovative strategies to support children's communication skills have been exceptionally well used to help to accelerate some children's learning and to positively impact on their progress and outcomes. Safeguarding is effective. The management team gives safeguarding their highest priority and all staff know how to report any concerns to the relevant authorities.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff create a highly stimulating atmosphere where children are superbly supported to eagerly explore, investigate and be active. Babies delight in exploring a range of sensory experiences. They eagerly share their joy with each other as they explore ice, encouraging their friends to touch the ice. The manager recognises the contribution sensory activities have on young children's overall development. She plans to extend the use of the sensory room provision even further in the future. Staff talk to children as they play and skilfully introduce new words to extend their growing vocabularies. For example, babies as young as one year of age repeat the words staff use to describe objects. Older children are skilled communicators and thrive during activities that require them to solve problems and work collaboratively together. For example, when using cardboard boxes to make a space ship, children share their ideas on the best way to join

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

the boxes together before trying out their ideas and deciding which works the best.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff meet the individual needs of children superbly. They are exceptionally focused on helping children to become highly independent from an early age. Staff are wonderful role models. They treat children with kindness and respect. Staff encourage positive behaviour and teach children important social skills. Staff provide a healthy and nutritious range of meals and snacks. They regularly host events, such as 'bake-off', to share healthy recipe ideas and skills with parents. Children delight in regular opportunities to play outdoors in the vibrant and well-resourced garden areas. Staff use a wide variety of innovative strategies to teach children about diversity and encourage them to recognise and celebrate the differences between themselves and others.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children are extremely well prepared for the next stage in their learning and eventual move to school. They are confident and enthusiastic learners who become deeply enthralled in their self-chosen tasks. All children learn to count and recognise numbers. Younger children delight in sharing stories, while older children confidently link letters and the sounds that they make to help write simple words. All children eagerly try new experiences and from a very young age demonstrate the skills of highly effective learners.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY542383 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10089636 Type of provision Full day care Registers Early Years Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 71 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Ducklings Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01695 726539

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reference number

The Ducklings Day Nursery - Skelmersdale was registered in 2016. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 are qualified at level 3 or above, including three who hold qualified teacher status. The nursery is open Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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