The Cottage Private Day Nursery (Uttoxeter Road)

Inspection of The Cottage Private Day Nursery (Uttoxeter Road) Uttoxeter Road, Mickleover, DERBY DE3 9AX

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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 are happy, settled and safe in this welcoming and stimulating nursery. They have a strong sense of belonging and are confident individuals. Staff have high expectations of children and provide them with interesting opportunities to develop their curiosity and enhance their learning.

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The provision is good

The atmosphere is full of excitement as children move around the nursery and outside, self-selecting their play. This is evident as older children stir water and soil in the mud kitchen to make a mixture. Children pick herbs from the garden and add these to their mixtures and laugh as the mixture runs through their fingers. They thoroughly enjoy the smells and textures of their creations. Babies enjoy singing and use actions as they sing popular songs. They giggle with delight and clap their hands while exploring the different sounds that musical instruments make.

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The provision is good

Children behave well and show respect towards each other. They show positive attitudes towards their learning. Children thoroughly enjoy spending time playing outdoors. Toddlers show good physical dexterity as they climb and balance on large tyres and crates. Screams of delight can be heard as some children pretend to be monsters and chase their friends. These children run and snuggle close to staff for reassurance, showing good relationships.

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need to do better?

n The management team and staff work closely together to ensure they provide high levels of care for children. Staff report feeling supported with their workload by each other and the management. They attend training opportunities. For example, they have recently attended training in supporting children's listening skills through the use of music. Staff are supported through regular meetings and supervisions. However, these meetings are not sharply focused on raising the quality of teaching to the highest level. n Managers have established a curriculum that builds on children's interests and curiosity and what they already know and can do. Staff have a secure understanding of child development. They plan a wide range of activities which consider children's interests and keep children engaged in their play. However, some staff do not always provide children with extra challenge in their learning in order for them to make exceptional progress.

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need to do better?

n Effective partnerships have been established with parents and others. Parents are very involved in the settling-in process when starting nursery. This helps children to feel emotionally settled. Staff share ideas with parents to extend learning at home. For example, parents are encouraged to take home 'chatter bags', which contain books and activities, to help encourage the children to talk

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need to do better?

9 January 2020 at home. Parents and families are extremely complimentary about the staff team. They actively recommend the nursery to others. n The manager and staff gather information from parents when children first start at the nursery. They use information effectively. For example, the information revealed that most of the children live in the suburbs and have little experience of rural areas. To expand experiences for children, staff plan opportunities for children to go on regular walks to a woodland area. Children take part in activities such as making dens, collecting leaves and twigs and climbing trees. Additionally, children are taken on trips to farms to see how farm animals are cared for. These activities aid children's learning as they explore nature and learn about different environments. n Staff provide opportunities to help develop children's small-muscle skills and to strengthen their hands for early writing. This is evident as they take part in

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need to do better?

'dough disco'. Children squeeze, splat, roll, poke and pinch the dough to music. They thoroughly enjoy this and chat to staff as they do these movements. They become engrossed in their play and are excited as they sing and handle the dough. n Babies receive warm and affectionate care and their needs are met by attentive staff. The key-person system is effective and ensures children build secure and confident bonds with staff and their peers. Staff promote children's behaviour effectively. They are good role models and teach children well about taking turns and sharing. For example, children wait patiently for their turn to make a sandcastle and share the spades willingly. n Children learn the importance of healthy lifestyles and good oral hygiene. They brush their teeth and know the importance of handwashing before snacks and meals. Staff provide freshly cooked and healthy meals that are tailored to children's dietary requirements and preferences.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff understand their responsibilities to protect children from harm and keep them safe. They have a secure knowledge of the signs and symptoms of child abuse and a broad understanding of wider safeguarding issues. They know what to do and who to contact if they have a concern about a child's welfare. Managers have robust recruitment and induction procedures. They complete rigorous checks to ensure that only those suitable to work with children do so. Staff check their rooms to ensure all hazards are removed to enable children to play in a safe environment.

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should:

9 January 2020 n increase the level of extra challenge in children's learning to fully support their progress to the highest level n strengthen the already good systems for the supervision of staff, so that staff receive coaching which has a consistent focus on improving their performance, in order to raise the quality of teaching to the highest level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY100960 Local authority Derby Inspection number 10131233 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 122 Name of registered person The Cottage Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01332 515100 Date of previous inspection 24 March 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The Cottage Private Day Nursery (Uttoxeter Road) registered in 2002 and is located in Mickleover, Derby. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery employs 18 members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The pre-school coordinator has a Master's degree in childhood studies and the manager holds early years professional status.

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Inspection activities

n The manager completed a learning walk with the inspector across all areas of the nursery. The manager explained how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n The inspector spoke to the staff and children during the inspection and held discussions with the manager and deputy manager at appropriate times. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took into account their views. She also reviewed written questionnaires completed by parents. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the deputy manager. n The inspector reviewed some documentation, including staff suitability records. She discussed with the manager the nursery's development plan for the future, staff supervisions and their continuous professional development.

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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 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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