Little Raccoons Day Nursery Ltd

Little Raccoons Day Nursery Ltd 105a Sandringham Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD24 7FQ

p.1

Inspection date 4 July 2019 Previous inspection date 6 April 2016

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1 Outcomes for children Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

n The manager and staff use self-evaluation effectively to help them to continually identify and address areas for improvement. For example, they are currently introducing new strategies to encourage parents to support children's learning at home more precisely. n Children make good progress. Staff use observation and assessment effectively to plan activities that take account of what children need to learn next. Staff share their assessments of children's development with parents. This helps to promote continuity in children's learning. n The open-plan structure to the nursery produces a wonderful family environment. Staff know children extremely well. Their settling-in processes are highly responsive to the specific needs of young children and their families. As a result, babies and children develop a strong sense of belonging. n Staff's teaching of mathematics is strong. For example, they continually model counting

p.1

This provision is good

to babies and toddlers. Staff teach older children how to sequence and to look for patterns in written numbers, such as how the number one digit is always at the front of a number in the teen range. n Parents speak extremely highly of the manager and staff team and appreciate the nurturing care they provide. They feel children are developing well, they learn how to respect others and develop strong friendships. n At times, staff's organisation of activities and routines, such as meals, is not effective. This results in children losing focus in their learning as they have to wait and are not engaged in purposeful activity.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

n ensure children continue to be challenged and remain focused on their play and learning, especially when staff are organising adult-directed activities and preparing for meals.

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector observed staff's teaching and interactions with children, indoors and outside. n The inspector spoke to staff and children and held a meeting with the provider and manager. n The inspector observed an adult-planned activity with the manager and held a discussion with her about staff's teaching skills and children's learning. n The inspector looked at a sample of paperwork, including staff qualifications and suitability checks. The safeguarding policies and procedures were also seen. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents, read written feedback from other parents, and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff regularly complete safeguarding training and understand how to recognise concerns about children. They also know how to swiftly make referrals both within the setting and to relevant agencies. The good recruitment procedures ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff receive regular coaching and supervision from the manager. They access many different training courses to help them to improve their teaching skills. The provider has an effective system in place to track the progress each child makes in their learning and development. This helps the manager and staff to compare the progress different groups of children make and to swiftly identify and narrow any gaps in their learning.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff gain detailed information from parents on what children can already do when they start to attend the nursery. They use this information to help them identify children's starting points in learning. Staff are good teachers and show enthusiasm in their interactions with children. They ensure that children benefit from independent play and adult-planned activities. Children enjoy a good range of activities and resources, which staff make attractive to them. Young children enjoy exploring how to make towers using soft blocks. Staff model counting as children build the blocks up and knock them down. Older children benefit from activities that prepare them well for their move on to school. For example, they use their early writing skills to make pretend train tickets. Staff provide opportunities for children to extend their learning, such as pretending to go on train journeys with them.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The manager and staff are extremely welcoming and dedicated to providing the very best care for children. They know children extremely well and place their well-being at the centre of everything they do. Children display very high levels of confidence and are incredibly sociable. They learn how to behave very well and to be considerate towards each other. Children show exceptionally high levels of independence and develop excellent self-care skills. Staff have a positive attitude that children can complete tasks for themselves. This results, for example, in young children readily finding their comforters, taking off their shoes and settling themselves for sleep time. Staff teach children how to take excellent care of themselves. For example, they learn about healthy foods, the importance of physical exercise and the positive effects this has on their bodies.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress and gaining effective skills that prepare them well for the next stages in their learning. They are inquisitive and enjoy spending time exploring. For example, older children learn about colour as they mix paint and skilfully make pictures. Younger children learn about volume as they fill and empty containers with sand. Children enjoy spending time in the well-resourced book areas. They share books with their friends and are able to recall events in stories.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY432662 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10074884 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Little Raccoons Nursery Limited

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 6 April 2016 Telephone number 01923 800 711

p.4

reference number

Little Raccoons Day Nursery Ltd registered in 2011. The provider employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: www.ofsted.gov.uk/user .

p.5

reference number

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

p.5