Downside Nursery

Inspection of Downside Nursery The Old School Room, Downside Road, Downside, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3NA

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is good

This small and family-centred nursery is highly regarded within the local community. The dedicated owner and the manager are passionate towards the care they provide and in developing a highly effective and skilled team. Children's behaviour is exceptional. Staff are excellent role models who are wonderfully respectful and treat each and every child as a unique individual. Children have superb levels of self-esteem and confidence in their own abilities. They are gaining impressive independence skills and show a commendable perseverance and determination in all tasks they attempt. Staff create very safe and secure learning environments. For instance, they review and update risk assessments to help them to minimise risks in the environment. Children have strong attachments with all staff members, who help them to build an inspiring sense of belonging. Children are building a deep understanding of the wider world around them. They enjoy

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The provision is good

visits to the local schools to be involved in special days. Children are remarkably well prepared for their move on to school and have very high levels of confidence, self-awareness and a caring attitude in how they play and share with others. Staff enjoy planning activities to help children to gain new experiences in their learning. However, they do not extend opportunities for children to express and represent their own creative ideas. Children very much look forward to the extra-curricular activities that they take part in each week.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with parents are impressive. Parents feel completely valued and included in their children's development and successes at nursery. Information with other professionals and schools is shared successfully to provide children with a truly joined-up approach towards their future learning. n Staff plan exciting and stimulating activities for children to build on their learning and experiences. However, they do not extend opportunities for children to express and represent their own artistic ideas and creativity in planned activities. n The manager uses the process of self-evaluation well. She seeks the views and comments of her staff, parents and the children to help inform areas for change. The area of mathematics was recently highlighted as an area for improvement. This led to staff focusing more intently on helping children to build on these skills further in their everyday play and learning, such as investigating shapes.

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need to do better?

n The professional development of the team is well planned overall and helps staff to reflect and build on their own practice. Staff have regular supervisions to help them to have time to discuss areas of their role that they wish to build upon. Recent safeguarding training has helped all staff members to have the most current and up-to-date knowledge of protecting the children in their care. n Children have significant opportunities to be physically active and have regular access to fresh air and exercise. They listen intently and follow instructions with

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need to do better?

21 November 2019 ease as they jump into hoops and very carefully balance on ropes. Children use large blocks to design long bridges together and create ramps using their impressive problem-solving and negotiating skills. n Children have meaningful experiences to help them to learn about the similarities and differences between themselves and others. They are highly responsive as staff read stories about disabilities. Children use small-world characters in wheelchairs, and those which represent different cultures, to build on their awareness. n Staff support children's increasing communication and language development well. Children use the wide array of books available to build a love of stories. Younger children enjoy lifting flaps and tracing their fingers over the different textures underneath. Older children become immersed as they use characters to recall and recite parts of the text they remember.

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need to do better?

n Children are investigating and exploring with numbers to expand on their increasing mathematical abilities. Younger children build towers with coloured bricks and older children build intricate shapes with magnetic items. Staff help children to problem solve and learn about weight and estimation. For example, children recognise when items are lighter or heavier. n Staff observe and track the progress children make to quickly identify potential gaps in their development. However, the manager does not make the very best use of the systems in place to monitor the staff's use of their assessments of children's achievements, to help them plan more precisely for the next steps in their learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff are highly trained and have an impressive understanding of their role in protecting children from potential harm and themselves from allegations. They have excellent knowledge of how to identify potential signs of abuse and the procedures they would use to report any concerns. This includes protecting children from extreme views and building an early awareness of online safety. Daily risk assessments are embedded in practice and help to provide children with very safe environments to play and learn. Recruitment is robust and has a very firm focus on ensuring the suitability of staff who work directly with children.

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should:

n support staff, particularly less experienced staff, by monitoring the use of their assessments of children's achievements, to help them plan more precisely for the next steps in their learning n extend opportunities for children to express and represent their own artistic

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should:

21 November 2019 ideas and creativity in planned activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 122455 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 10128555 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 2 to 4 Total number of places 37 Number of children on roll 36 Name of registered person Griffiths, Krystyna Maria

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reference number

Telephone number 01932 866556 Date of previous inspection 26 February 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Downside Nursery registered in 1986. The nursery is open on weekdays during term time from 9am to 3.45pm, with the option to attend breakfast club from 8am. During the summer and Easter school holidays the setting is open from 9am to 1.30pm for children aged from two to seven years. The provider receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs seven members of staff. Of these, one has qualified teacher status, one has early years professional status and five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n A learning walk was completed with the manager. The inspector discussed the process of evaluation, how the curriculum for children's learning is planned and the current areas identified for improvement. n The inspector observed the teaching and learning indoors and outdoors, and the impact this has on the development of the children. The inspector also observed children during extra-curricular activities. The inspector spoke directly to a large group of parents and took their comments into consideration. n The inspector entered into discussions with staff and the children at appropriate times. The inspector spoke to staff about their knowledge of safeguarding and the procedures in place for reporting any concerns. n A joint observation was conducted with the manager. The inspector held an end- of-inspection meeting with the manager and the nominated individual. n A range of documentation was sampled, including suitability checks, staff

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Inspection activities

supervisions and professional development plans. The inspector also held discussions with key persons to track the development of the children.

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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

21 November 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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