Willow Tree Nursery and Pre-school

Inspection of Willow Tree Nursery and Children's Centre Chingford Avenue, Great Clacton, Essex CO15 4US

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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

Children enter the nursery very confidently, and quickly engage in purposeful play. They make excellent use of the well-presented and exciting resources. Children have fun exploring learning outdoors as they access one of the many gardens the nursery has to offer. They climb, run, scoot and ride bikes around the large areas. Children also practise their early reading, writing and mathematical skills outdoors.

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The provision is good

Children learn about other environments as staff make excellent use of enclosed outdoor areas to create 'Mr McGregor's garden' and a 'rainforest'. Children's interest and engagement are extended effectively as staff use the resident chimpanzee toys and models in the 'rainforest' to support individual children. For example, the models wear Santa hats to join in the Christmas spirit and accompany children to the dentist, collecting a sticker for being a 'brave patient'.

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The provision is good

Children behave very well. Staff have clear expectations of them and remind them of the nursery's simple rules. Babies form close bonds with staff, helping them to feel safe and secure. Children take pride in the environment. For example, they help to clear away toys and resources before moving on to the next activity. Children make good progress from their starting points. They are supported effectively in their learning by staff who know them well.

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need to do better?

n Children are keen and enthusiastic learners. Staff present children with an exciting range of learning opportunities. Many of the resources are made from natural materials and provide interesting opportunities for children to use their imagination. n Children proudly show off their latest fashion creation, incorporating colourful scarves, shoes, such as tap-dancing shoes, clogs and hats. They carefully present each other with food and drinks prepared in the home corners, using real china and glassware. n Staff help children to develop their speech and language skills. They speak to children clearly and give them time to consider and respond to questions. On occasions, however, not all staff use effective questioning skills to extend children's thinking and learning even further. n Children are encouraged to be independent. For example, they collect their coats and outdoor clothes when they want to play in the garden. Staff assist those

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need to do better?

who need support to do this. Older children access their belongings from their pegs in the corridor outside of the main pre-school room. At times, however, staff do not notice when children are ready to re-enter the main room. The door handles are at adult height so children have to wait for staff to assist them. n Babies move confidently around the environment and show no concern when

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need to do better?

3 January 2020 visitors enter the room. Babies who are beginning to develop their mobility are well supported by staff, who are constantly close by to help them. n Staff help children to develop their mathematical skills. For example, they encourage them to count how many children are present during their registration time. n Children have fun experimenting with coloured water. They guess what colour will be created when they mix two other colours together. Staff recall this learning to help children to build on their prior knowledge. For example, when looking at colours in a book, they remind the children that they made the colour purple when they mixed red and blue water earlier in the day. n Partnerships with parents and others are strong. Parents comment on the excellent communication they receive from the nursery staff. They praise the staff for the information they receive in the younger children's 'to and fro' books

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need to do better?

and say that they feel involved in their children's learning. n Staff say that they feel very supported by the new owners who purchased the nursery business in 2019. They say that the management team makes them feel valued and motivated. Staff have good opportunities to improve their professional development and are currently undertaking a wide range of training to help develop their skills and expertise.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff and managers demonstrate a good understanding of their responsibilities to protect children. They are aware of the known indicators that a child might be at risk of harm, including radicalisation. Staff regularly update their safeguarding knowledge, for example through training and in-house questionnaires. The management team has robust arrangements for staff recruitment and ensures that effective suitability checks are carried out on every new member of staff before they join the team. New staff follow a thorough induction plan to ensure that they fully understand the setting's safeguarding policies and procedures.

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should:

n develop further staff's questioning skills to help to raise children's thinking to a higher level n review the arrangements for when children independently access their outdoor clothing from pegs in the corridor, so that staff are always vigilant as to where children are.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 650008 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10127347 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 13 Total number of places 190 Number of children on roll 275 Name of registered person The Willow Tree Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01255 221473 Date of previous inspection 20 November 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Willow Tree Nursery and Children's Centre registered in 1993. The nursery employs 55 members of childcare staff. Of these, 35 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including the manager, who holds level 5. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 50 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.45am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector accompanied the manager and deputy manager on a tour around the nursery and talked about how they make use of the environment and resources to implement the curriculum. n The inspector observed an activity with the manager and deputy manager and discussed what the children learned from the activity. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation relating to the suitability and qualifications of staff. n The inspector spoke to staff, managers and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to during the inspection and through responses to parental questionnaires.

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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

3 January 2020 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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