Dolphin Day Nursery

Inspection of Dolphin Day Nursery 243 Green Lane, MORDEN, Surrey SM4 6SQ

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time at Dolphin Day Nursery, which is a stimulating, well- resourced and welcoming environment. Children arrive happy and in good spirits. For example, they warmly greet their friends and tell them, 'Hello, I have a Christmas card for you'. Children feel safe, secure and comfortable. Children of all ages are kind and caring. They are keen to take part in different activities. Children have positive attitudes to learning. Staff are good role models, showing respect and consideration for children and each other. This helps to forge strong relationships with the children that aids their emotional well-being effectively. Children benefit from the broad and balanced curriculum. For example, literacy features highly in the educational programmes and is promoted well. Older children can recognise and, often, write their names. Exercise books have been introduced to help children who want to practise their early writing at home. Mathematics also

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The provision is good

features highly in the curriculum. Children learn to use numbers, compare quantities and take measurements in various activities. They practise their physical skills enthusiastically. For instance, children enjoy climbing and balancing on wooden planks while playing outdoors. The high expectations for what children can achieve help them to make good progress.

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need to do better?

n The quality of teaching has improved significantly. Staff observe and monitor children's progress closely to identify and close any gaps in their learning, such as delays in speech. This helps to motivate and engage all children. n Information sharing between staff and parents is effective. Parents spoken to during the inspection made positive comments about the service that they and their children receive. This helps to establish a consistent approach. n Staff plan a variety of challenging activities to build on and extend what children already know. For example, when they noticed that children enjoyed building 'igloos', they revisited the activity to embed and recall previous learning. Staff engaged children in conversations related to the activity. Children shared their thoughts and showed good awareness of similarities and differences between themselves and others. n Staff develop children's communication skills well, including those who speak

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need to do better?

English as an additional language. They read books and sing songs to help widen children's vocabulary. n Children are physically active. One of their favourite activities is moving their bodies to the music. They practise their agility, balance and coordination successfully. Children receive lots of praise from staff, which supports their self- esteem and confidence. n Staff create a safe and secure environment for the children. They remind children of the nursery rules, for example to use 'walking legs' indoors to

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need to do better?

13 December 2019 minimise accidents. Children's behaviour is good. They know how to share and wait for their turn patiently. n Staff provide children with many opportunities to develop their independence skills. As a result, children, even the very young ones, are very keen to do things for themselves. For example, they help staff to prepare tables for lunch and to put things away. n Staff provide children with home-cooked meals at nursery. They ensure that children have a variety of healthy, balanced and nutritious meals. However, at times, staff do not ensure that children wash their hands before handling food. This does not help to prevent the spread of germs. n The manager took swift actions to address the actions raised at the last inspection. She worked closely with staff, for example, to improve the sleeping and nappy changing arrangements, to ensure that children's individual needs are met. n The self-evaluation process is ongoing. One current focus is to increase

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need to do better?

children's access to natural resources to ignite their curiosity and imagination more effectively. n There is a rigorous procedure for assessing staff's suitability to work with children. This helps to keep children safe. Staff find that they receive good support and guidance from the manager. However, training opportunities are not focused sharply to identify how individual staff members can raise their teaching to the highest level.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager has been working closely with other professionals to develop all aspects of the nursery. For example, the procedures for reporting allegations are now comprehensive, and are well understood by staff members. Accident and injury records are detailed and are readily available to share with relevant agencies if required. The manager and staff completed safeguarding training to enhance their knowledge of child protection issues. They know how to record and report any concerns to protect children's welfare. Staff are deployed effectively. This enables them to supervise children and offer them good support at all times.

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should:

n follow hand washing routines consistently to fully support children's healthy lifestyles n extend the opportunities for staff to engage in targeted professional development, to help identify and build on their skills and achieve the highest possible standards of teaching.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY477284 Local authority Sutton Inspection number 10114305 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 1 to 5 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Thurn, Deborah

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reference number

Telephone number 02082881945 Date of previous inspection 13 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Dolphin Day Nursery registered in 2014 and operates from church premises in Morden, in the London Borough of Sutton. It is open each weekday for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. The nursery employs four staff members. Of these, two hold a foundation degree and one holds a childcare qualification at level 3. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and the manager completed a 'learning walk' around the nursery to discuss how the early years curriculum is organised, inside and outside. n The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager and evaluated the impact of the activity on children's learning. She discussed with the manager the improvements that they have made since the last inspection. n The inspector spoke with parents to take their views of the nursery. n The inspector interacted with children and spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. She observed the teaching and care routines inside and outside. n The inspector reviewed required documentation, including staff's suitability records, policies and procedures.

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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

13 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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