Jesters Nursery School Danbury

Inspection of Jesters CIC Out Of School & Preschool Danbury The Old School House, Main Road, Danbury, Chelmsford CM3 4NQ

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are keen, active and excited learners. They enter the setting confidently, waving goodbye to parents and carers. Children are greeted by smiling staff who welcome them and ask them how they are. They tell the staff that they are 'good' and quickly engage in play of their choice. Children are very well behaved. They understand the setting's rules and follow instructions confidently. Children understand about taking turns and sharing. Staff help them to negotiate minor conflicts and remind them how to speak kindly to each other. Staff show children how to use the sand timers to wait for their turn of a favourite toy.

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The provision is good

Children behave in ways that show that they feel safe and understand how to keep safe. For example, staff choose children to be 'health and safety' helpers each day. The helpers demonstrate a good understanding of their role, such as checking the toys in the garden to make sure that they are safe and helping to clear away toys that they have finished playing with. Children make good progress in their learning. Key persons use the information they know about each child to plan effectively for their future development. They plan activities that they know will build on the children's current knowledge. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported.

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need to do better?

n Children enjoy playing in the newly improved role-play area. They spend time making dinner for each other and using the wide range of interesting objects to extend their imaginative play. n Children are creative. They enthusiastically participate in planned craft activities, as well as freely accessing the wide range of design materials available to them. For example, children proficiently draw around a circular object and use their scissor skills to cut out their circle shape. They cut triangles and stick them to the circle to create ears for their Chinese dragon face. They use brightly coloured crepe paper to create fire breathing from their dragon's mouth. Some of the children name their dragons and talk about them being 'cute'. n Children's independence and self-care skills are expertly promoted as staff encourage them to 'have a go' before providing them with support to achieve their chosen task. The snack helper of the day helps to set out the plates and

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need to do better?

cups for snack. They proficiently count how many plates are required and choose where their friends will sit at the tables. Children are encouraged to wash their own cups and plates up when they have finished their snack or meal. n Staff plan a wide range of experiences and opportunities for children that help them to make good progress in their learning. They know the children well. However, occasionally, they miss opportunities to follow children's leads and ideas. At times, staff do not make provision for all children wishing to participate

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need to do better?

30 January 2020 in adult-led activities to do so when they show an interest. n Parents generally speak highly of the staff and feel that their children are well cared for. Some parents comment that they have seen a recent improvement in the presentation of the setting and the opportunities that are provided for their children to participate in more focused learning. n Children learn how to link sounds and letters and enthusiastically participate in group activities where they practise using words that begin with a certain letter. n Children are very articulate speakers and enjoy chatting between themselves and with staff. They share experiences from home and engage in discussions about their games. Children become familiar with new words to enhance their vocabulary. For example, they learn a new word each week, such as 'exhausted' and 'ecstatic'. n Children enjoy accessing early writing materials in all areas of the provision. For

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need to do better?

example, they create shopping lists and use varnished wood to write on with wipe-off pens. Many children write recognisable letters, and some proficiently write their own names. n The management team has effective arrangements in place for monitoring and supporting staff, for example through regular supervision meetings. However, staff's professional development is not always focused enough to help to raise the quality of teaching to a consistently high level.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. They know the main types of abuse and recognise the signs and symptoms that might suggest that a child's safety or welfare is being compromised. Staff regularly update their safeguarding knowledge, for example through face-to-face and online training. Staff are familiar with the setting's safeguarding procedures and know what action to take if they have concerns about a child's welfare. Managers have effective recruitment procedures in place to help to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. A thorough induction process helps new staff to become familiar with the setting's safeguarding policies.

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should:

n follow children's leads and ensure that adult-led activities are organised to allow children to participate when they show an interest n make best use of training and professional development opportunities to help to raise the quality of teaching and learning to a consistently high level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY551394 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10130751 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 2 to 8 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 15

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Name of registered person

Jesters Kids Club Community Interest Company

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reference number

Telephone number 01245 222384 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Jesters CIC Out of School and Preschool Danbury registered in 2017. It employs three members of childcare staff. Of these, all three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including the manager who holds early years professional status. The setting opens from Monday to Friday during term time only, from 7.15am to 4.15pm. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager took the inspector on a learning walk and explained the learning intentions behind the activities and resources. n The inspector observed an adult-led activity and discussed the children's learning with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and support manager and looked at relevant documentation, including proof of staff qualifications and suitability information. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to during the inspection.

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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

30 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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