Elim Church Day Nursery

Inspection of Elim Church Day Nursery Windermere Road, Southend on Sea, Essex SS1 2RF

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Toddlers are content and happy. They form strong bonds with staff and enjoy affectionate cuddles throughout the day. They feel safe and secure as they enthusiastically explore stimulating and interesting resources. For example, children spoon cereal and oats into brightly coloured buckets. They persist in learning how to use tweezers to pick up individual pieces, and smile broadly when they succeed. Children are completely fascinated as they explore new textures. For instance, they thoroughly enjoy squeezing and sprinkling sawdust. They learn new words as staff describe what they are doing and name items that interest them. Children are highly engaged in their learning and they concentrate for a long time. They play together happily and start to share and take turns.

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The provision is good

Older children use their imaginations as they relish playing on the pirate ship. They all join in as part of the crew and dress up as pirates. Children confidently join in conversations and are able to express themselves clearly. They study the globe and staff help them to find new destinations that they pretend to sail to. Children challenge their physical skills as they expertly climb up and down the ladder on the deck.

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need to do better?

n Committed managers drive continuous improvement in all aspects of the nursery. They are reflective and seek feedback and suggestions to help them to raise standards. Managers are approachable and support staff well through regular supervision and staff meetings. The dedicated staff have a wealth of experience between them. They are highly motivated to develop their expertise and skills through ongoing training opportunities. n Staff have worked hard to strengthen their partnerships with parents. They have organised events to include parents in their children's learning at nursery. For example, parents join children for breakfast and read stories with them. Parents value this opportunity to get involved. They comment that they are delighted with how well their children are progressing. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are particularly well cared for. Staff work very closely with parents and outside agencies to help

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need to do better?

children to make significant progress. They are highly sensitive to children's individual needs and put strategies in place to support them. For example, they use picture cards to help children to explain and express their needs. n Staff plan activities that build on what children know. For example, they follow the theme of animals through all areas of the nursery. Children learn about wild animals through exciting stories, interesting craft activities and resources. Staff skilfully use these opportunities to extend children's next steps in development as they learn through play.

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need to do better?

16 January 2020 n Children gain skills to be independent. They make choices from a range of healthy options at mealtimes and help themselves to food and water. Staff praise children when they use good manners. However, staff do not always consistently explain to older children what behaviour they expect from them so that they understand how it affects others. n Staff help children to gain an understanding of size and quantity. For instance, children identify small, medium and large paintbrushes. They use these to paint the garden wall with water. Children discover that the higher they fill their jugs with water, the more they have to paint with. Children focus and are creative in their play. They are cooperative and engrossed when learning in small focused groups. However, sometimes, they are not able to fully access learning opportunities in larger group activities. n Children have wonderful opportunities to explore their local area and take trips

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need to do better?

to the seaside and local parks. They learn about different groups of people in the community. For example, they visit a nearby residential home and sing to older people and give them gifts they have made for them. Staff teach children French and embrace the many cultures and nationalities represented in the nursery. Children begin to understand how they are unique.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The managers and staff keep their safeguarding and child protection knowledge and training up to date. They have a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of possible abuse and the procedures to follow if they have any concerns about a child's safety or welfare. Effective staff deployment helps to ensure children are supervised well at all times. New staff are recruited through safe recruitment procedures and they undergo a thorough induction. This helps to ensure that staff are suitable and have the necessary skills to fulfil their roles in the nursery.

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should:

n strengthen strategies that help older children to understand what behaviour is expected of them n review the organisation of larger group activities so that children are able to fully access the learning opportunities that they offer.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 119474 Local authority Southend-on-Sea Inspection number 10071978 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 7 Total number of places 55 Number of children on roll 93 Name of registered person Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance

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reference number

Telephone number 01702 461458 Date of previous inspection 1 December 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Elim Church Day Nursery registered in 1990. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Both managers hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 5, one member of staff holds a level 4 qualification, eight hold level 3 qualifications and one holds a level 2 qualification. The nursery employs a cook. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays, one week at Christmas and one week in August. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The managers and the inspector completed a tour of the nursery and discussed how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed a range of activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the quality of teaching and the impact on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took into account their views. n A sample of documentation, including staff's suitability records and policies and procedures, was seen by the inspector. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and a nursery manager.

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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

16 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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