Dollymixtures Day Nursery

Inspection of Dollymixtures Day Nursery The New Lodge, Corporation Street, Stafford ST16 3AG

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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

The friendly and dedicated staff give a warm welcome to each individual child when they arrive at this homely and inviting nursery. As a result, children are visibly happy and settle quickly. All children make rapid progress from their starting points. They learn through a highly effective balance of child-initiated and adult-led learning experiences. Children articulately express their thoughts and ideas to their peers and staff, who respect and value what they have to say. Children demonstrate exemplary behaviour and high levels of confidence in new social situations. They are encouraged to develop their self-care skills and to carry out small tasks. Children take turns to be the dinnertime helper, which helps to raise their self-esteem and give them a feeling of self-worth. Children are supported exceptionally well to develop their literacy skills. They take part in fun and engaging phonic sessions and sing rhymes to remember how to write different

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The provision is outstanding

letters. Children demonstrate excellent listening and attention skills. They become engrossed in listening to engaging stories which ignite their imagination. For example, children enthusiastically take part in interactive story sessions as they go on a 'bear hunt' outside. They laugh and giggle with each other while pretending to walk through mud and tall grass.

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need to do better?

n Extremely strong teaching helps children to recognise the similarities and differences between themselves and others. This supports children to develop an awareness of diversity. Staff make the most of all opportunities to help children learn about different faiths and cultures. For example, children take part in bhangra dancing and tasting different foods. n The highly skilled staff provide rich, varied and imaginative learning opportunities. For example, children become engrossed in exciting and memorable science experiments. They watch with amazement as they add vinegar to baking soda and talk excitedly about the fizzing sounds and the bubbles. This helps to further support children's growing curiosity and motivation to learn. n Babies are supported extremely well to explore and develop their natural curiosity. Staff provide an excellent variety of sensory play experiences through a range of interesting resources with different textures and sounds. Babies freely

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need to do better?

express themselves through movement and music and have lots of fun banging and shaking instruments to the lively music. n Children have excellent opportunities to develop a wide range of physical skills through challenging outdoor activities. Older children run excitedly with their friends, climbing and balancing on the large physical apparatus. Younger children develop their early walking skills in the safe and secure environment. They skilfully climb steps and take turns to travel down the slide.

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need to do better?

9 December 2019 n Children are supported exceedingly well to develop their understanding of healthy foods and how to lead a healthy lifestyle. For example, they visit the nursery allotment where they grow and harvest their own vegetables. Children clearly demonstrate their understanding of where food comes from and explain that 'vegetables need water to grow'. n The management team creates a culture of highly reflective practice and self- evaluation which is extremely well embedded throughout the whole nursery. Staff morale is extremely high and they work commendably as a team. They express how supported they feel by the managers, who successfully provide personalised training to meet their professional needs. As a result, teaching remains strong and effective across all areas of learning. n Valuable information gathered from parents is used extremely well to ensure children's emotional and physical needs are met. Staff expertly use their detailed

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need to do better?

observations and assessments of what children can do to plan for children's next steps. n Parents receive first-class information about their children's progress. They value the online learning journey that supports them in being fully involved in their children's learning. Parents hold the nursery and staff in high regard. They say their children have flourished at the nursery and staff are always friendly and professional. They express their delight with the level of care their children receive. n Members of the management team have established excellent links with the local school. They attend regular meetings with the teachers to provide all children with continuity of care and learning. To ensure children's transitions are smooth they visit the local school and meet the teaching staff. This helps children to develop the emotional, social and academic skills, ready to flourish at school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The management team and staff have an excellent understanding of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of neglect or abuse. They have a strong knowledge of wider safeguarding concerns, including being drawn into extreme situations. Children learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, the community police officer is invited into the nursery to talk to the children about road safety. The management team and staff talk to the children and parents about staying safe on the internet and provide valuable information for parents to read. The management team and staff have a robust knowledge of safeguarding protocols and actions to take if there are any concerns about a child's welfare. The environment is safe and secure. In-depth risk assessments both indoors and outdoors and any outings that children take part in are conducted on a daily basis. All staff and the management team are trained in paediatric first aid and consider

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Safeguarding

children's safety and well-being to be of utmost importance.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY104370 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10116424 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 to 4 Total number of places 74 Number of children on roll 79 Name of registered person Jones, Debra

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reference number

Telephone number 01785223511 Date of previous inspection 5 January 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Dollymixtures Day Nursery registered in 2002 and is located in Stafford. The nursery employs 23 members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, 5 or 6, including one with early years teacher status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 6.45am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n Activities both indoors and outdoors were observed by the inspector and the impact on children's learning was assessed. n The inspector completed two joint observations with the nursery manager. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector interacted with the children and spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector took into account verbal and written testimonials from parents and took account of their views.

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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

9 December 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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