Munchkins Day Nursery

Inspection of Munchkins Day Nursery 1-2 Mount Radford Crescent, Exeter, Devon EX2 4EW

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

The management team works closely with staff to develop a strong vision and ethos within the nursery. Children are happy and well cared for in this large, spacious setting. The nursery rooms are welcoming and stimulating, and they are tailored to support the age of the children and their development. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure by confidently exploring the indoor and outdoor spaces. Children and babies enjoy a wide range of messy-play activities and explore different textures. For example, staff hide objects in oats for babies to find and older children enjoy making marks in shaving foam.

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The provision is good

Staff place a strong focus on developing communication and language skills. For example, staff ask children questions and introduce new words during stories and small-group activities. Staff have high expectations for every child, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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The provision is good

Staff act as good role models. Therefore, children behave extremely well. They follow the rules and boundaries of the nursery and know what is expected of them. Staff use effective strategies to help even the youngest children increase their independence and self-help skills. For instance, they take off their own coats and shoes and know where to place their own belongings.

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need to do better?

n Staff develop strong bonds with individual children through an effective key- person system. They are skilful at meeting children's physical and emotional needs. Staff are sensitive and caring. They offer reassurance to children when they are unsettled or require support. This helps to build children's confidence and emotional well-being. n Staff form good partnerships with parents, and they gather a good range of information about children's care needs and development when they start at the nursery. Parents are complimentary about the nursery; they comment on the range of ways they are kept informed about their children's progress. n Children with SEND are well supported. A knowledgeable special educational needs coordinator works alongside staff and other professionals to implement individual plans to help children to catch up in their learning. As a result, all children are making good progress.

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need to do better?

n Children learn to be independent and are starting to do things for themselves. For example, young children learn to take off their own coat and shoes and wash their hands independently. Older children access water from their drink bottles and serve themselves at snack times and breakfast. n Children enjoy listening to stories, individually and in small groups. Children enthusiastically join in, repeating key parts of the story; they demonstrate good

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need to do better?

5 December 2019 listening and attention skills. Children also access a lending library to encourage reading at home. n Children enjoy extracurricular activities, such as French lessons and music sessions, which are provided in the nursery to further enrich children learning. Parents are pleased with the extra activities on offer. n Staff know the children extremely well; they monitor progress and use their observations to assess children's learning and development accurately. Staff plan activities based on children's interests, which supports them to achieve their next steps in learning. However, staff do not always make effective use of opportunities to extend children's understanding of mathematical concepts. n Staff benefit from a well-established programme of training and development, including appraisal and supervision with a manager. For example, training to support children's communication and language skills has supported staff to

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need to do better?

develop a deeper understanding of speech and language development. Overall, the quality of teaching is good. However, systems to coach and mentor staff practice are not yet sharply focused to raise the quality of teaching consistently to the highest level.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The management team and staff demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of safeguarding. They are aware of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare. Staff complete regular training and discuss safeguarding scenarios during staff meetings to enhance their knowledge. Staff are aware of the whistle-blowing policy and how to manage allegations made against staff. They are aware of wider safeguarding matters including the 'Prevent' duty guidance. The management team implements robust recruitment, selection and induction procedures. There are comprehensive risk assessments, including daily checks and a health and safety learning walk.

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should:

n provide further coaching and support for staff to further improve the quality of teaching to a consistently high level n make greater use of opportunities to help children to use their learning about mathematics in everyday activities and play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY299719 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10124873 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 5 Total number of places 150 Number of children on roll 125 Name of registered person Munchkins Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01392 498814 Date of previous inspection 28 April 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Munchkins Day Nursery registered in 2004. It is a privately owned setting and operates from three buildings in the St Leonard's area of Exeter in Devon. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.45am to 6pm, all year round. It provides funded early education places for children age two, three and four years. The nursery employs 34 staff to work with the children. Of these, 10 staff have a relevant qualification at level 3, and seven staff are qualified to level 2 and working towards level 3. In addition, two members of staff have early years professional status and two members of staff are early years teachers. The manager has qualified early years professional status. The nursery supports children with SEND and those who are learning English as an additional language.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector completed a learning walk and tour with the nursery manager to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during indoor and outdoor activities, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector spoke to staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with the management team to discuss the nursery's priorities. She sampled documentation, including risk assessments and policies.

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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

5 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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