Valley Farm Nursery School

Inspection of Valley Farm Nursery School Valley Farm, Sharrington, HOLT, Norfolk NR24 2PE

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely settled and comfortable in this welcoming nursery. They move around the indoor and outdoor spaces with the highest levels of care and consideration for others. For instance, they transport chairs from one table to another, waiting patiently for their friends to pass safely before moving their chair. Children's behaviour is wonderful. They are exceptionally kind and helpful, often independently clearing up after they have finished playing. For example, children are keen to sweep up sand after playing boisterously with diggers in the sand tray. They develop excellent social skills and delight in playing cooperatively with others to achieve shared goals. Children build a series of large bridges outside using crates, planks and wet sand for the 'cement'. Older children laugh as they bounce and sway on tree swings, singing with their friends.

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The provision is outstanding

Children talk animatedly about their favourite activities and past experiences at the nursery. They are eager to share their learning journey books with the inspector. Children point out photographs of innovative activities, such as the dissection of a squid, sparked by their interest in sea creatures. They also take photographs of work and crafts they are particularly proud of, using the nursery's camera. Children are exceptionally active and motivated learners who take pride in their achievements. Older children talk excitedly about going to 'big school', and younger children eagerly reflect on how much older they need to be to go too.

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need to do better?

n The highly organised and professional manager and co-manager precisely plan and evaluate a high-quality curriculum. The co-manager meticulously analyses the progress that groups and individual children make. This helps to target teaching precisely to enhance children's progress to the highest levels. n Staff form highly effective, positive partnerships with parents. They use an extensive range of communication methods to ensure every parent is fully involved in their children's experiences at the nursery. Staff offer an abundance of information and suggestions for parents to continue or extend children's learning at home. They also provide guidance to parents to help them decide on a school which will fully support their child's needs. Parents report that this is all extremely useful and highly appreciated. n Children's literacy skills flourish from an early age. Staff promote a genuine love of reading and stories, as well as providing extensive materials for children to

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need to do better?

explore mark-making and early writing. Children confidently recall the key letters and sounds of their written name as they carefully label their drawings and write their name on cards. n Staff have a remarkable understanding of how children learn and develop. They benefit from highly effective supervision, independent research and reflective

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need to do better?

29 November 2019 practice, which helps to continually enhance their skills. They have recently researched the concepts of 'resilience' and 'grit' which has further enhanced the excellent focus placed on children's emotional development and confidence. n Parents comment that they 'cannot recommend the nursery enough'. They speak highly of the expertise of 'fantastic' staff and of how their children have thrived in the nurturing environment. Parents praise the varied curriculum, particularly the excellent outdoor provision, which includes the surrounding farm and its animals. n Staff are exceptionally responsive to children's ideas. They promote children's problem-solving skills and extend their knowledge extremely well. For example, staff talk about the postal service as they encourage children to add an address to their letters and help them to make stamps. Children experiment with coin rubbing to create an image of the queen and refine their superb scissor skills as

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need to do better?

they cut it into a rectangle or circle shape. n Staff make excellent use of conversation with children during every activity. They build children's communication and language skills expertly, modelling clear speaking, interesting vocabulary and careful listening. Children develop confidence in expressing themselves and join in eagerly with group conversations during sociable snacktimes and mealtimes. n There is an extremely sharp focus on valuing each child's uniqueness. For instance, staff promote an understanding of individual preferences when children vote to select outings. Staff inspire children to create self-portraits and children delight in seeing these, along with their handprints, displayed on the nursery walls. This helps to foster children's exceptionally strong sense of belonging. n Staff give children a remarkably broad range of learning experiences that nurture and that reflect the local community and wider world. For example,

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need to do better?

children learn about other countries and talk about how some are 'miles and miles away!'

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and co-manager have a robust knowledge of the setting's policies and procedures. They have an expert understanding of how to safeguard children in the setting. This includes knowing how to recognise if a child's welfare is at risk and what to do if they have a concern about a child or an adult. The manager and co-manager regularly attend safeguarding training to update and refresh this knowledge. The manager also diligently checks the initial and ongoing suitability of staff.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 254332 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10113083 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Rivett, Claire Elizabeth

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reference number

Telephone number 01263 861065 Date of previous inspection 26 March 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Valley Farm Nursery School registered in 1995. The nursery employs two members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 5 and one at level 3. The nursery opens three to five days a week, Monday to Friday, during term time. Days are set according to demand. Sessions are from 8.30am until 3pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The manager took the inspector on a 'learning walk' across all areas of the setting to explain how the early years provision and curriculum is organised. n The inspector held a number of discussions with the manager and co-manager. She looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of all persons working on the premises. n The co-manager completed a joint observation and evaluation of an activity with the inspector. n The inspector spoke to staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. She also took account of the views of parents through written feedback provided.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

29 November 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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