The Links Day Care Centre Ltd

Inspection of The Links Day Care Centre Ltd Nathaniel Newton First School, Victoria Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV10 0LS

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children eagerly arrive at nursery and confidently talk with the familiar staff. The extremely inviting and stimulating learning environment supports them to become fully engaged in meaningful play throughout their nursery session. The highly skilled staff get to know the children very well. This supports them to fully extend and support children's play, enabling them to make rapid progress in their learning. Staff are highly responsive to children's care and learning needs, and are consistently engaged in play and learning with them. They sensitively encourage children to develop their own ideas, explore and experiment. For example, when children prepare butternut squash to make soup, they notice the seeds inside and suggest planting them. Children and staff work together to list and find the resources they will need. They plant the seeds and make labels for the pot before returning to see if their soup is ready to taste. Pre-school children make thoughtful

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The provision is outstanding

decisions about where to spend their time and competently manage their outdoor clothing as they move between the indoor and outdoor spaces. The nursery prioritises supporting children's personal, social and emotional development. Staff expertly model positive behaviours and language to children. With the support of books and stories this helps children to begin to use the language of feelings, and contributes to children's exceptional behaviour. Staff sensitively teach children to learn to play cooperatively, share, take turns and resolve their own problems.

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need to do better?

n Staff closely observe children's play and interactions. Their excellent knowledge of what children know and can do enables them to plan an extensive range of exciting activities. Staff skilfully adapt their interactions to build on and support individual needs. n Learning and progress of individuals and groups is rigorously monitored by key workers and the manager and any gaps are quickly addressed. For example, when a weakness in mathematics was identified, staff received focused training, and resources were enhanced to include items such as measuring tapes and scales. n The very high quantity and quality of interactions between staff and children has a positive impact on language development. Extremely stimulating activities and resources support conversation and the introduction of new vocabulary. The early language development of two-year-olds, children with additional needs, and those who speak English as an additional language is skilfully supported.

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need to do better?

Staff repeat words and rephrase children's speech into short sentences. Parents provide key words in children's home language to support their transition into the setting. n Activities provided for children consistently encourage them to experiment and think for themselves. For example, when children make dough, they consider

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need to do better?

13 March 2020 what to add to make it less sticky. Children eagerly wait in anticipation to see if a programmable toy moves as they intended. They delight in the marks it makes on paper and suggest it looks like a map. Later they compare it to a real map and push cars along the roads. n Children are superbly supported to learn to care for themselves and develop their independence. They understand why they cannot prepare their own snack at the moment and the importance of washing their hands well. Outdoors, children are fully involved in managing risk assessments. They discuss and record how to use equipment safely, such as, 'You must be careful on the steps', and how to jump safely from climbing equipment. n Children develop their literacy skills in real and meaningful ways. Non-fiction texts, such as recipe books, construction books and magazines support all areas of learning. Children often choose to look at books themselves. Staff

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need to do better?

demonstrate their shared interest to children as they read with enthusiasm and enhance children's thinking with comments and questions. Children thoroughly enjoy developing their drawing and writing skills using different materials. They draw and write on large paper on the floor, in notebooks, on whiteboards and with chalk. n Staff talk about and celebrate the differences and similarities between children and families and model highly respectful interactions. Children's understanding of other communities is enhanced by tasting foods and learning about festivals as part of their continuous provision. For example, a book about the Holi festival is placed alongside containers of coloured sand to prompt conversation. n The managers and experienced staff team work closely together to provide a consistent and coherent approach to learning. They rigorously evaluate and improve their practice. Current developments are focused on reviewing group

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need to do better?

times and improving the outdoor area. The manager prioritises the well-being and professional development of staff. n Parents speak extremely highly of the nursery. They value the broad range of experiences their children are given and feel very well communicated with and supported by the 'caring and approachable' staff.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a very strong understanding of their responsibility to be vigilant to keep children safe from harm. They talk confidently about the possible signs and symptoms of abuse they must look for. They know the processes they must follow if they are concerned about a child or if there is an allegation against a member of staff. There are thorough and robust recruitment systems in place to check that staff are suitable to work with children. Statutory training is maintained and staff receive regular safeguarding updates in staff meetings and on training days. Updates to parents support them to keep their children safe online.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 200809 Local authority Warwickshire Inspection number 10116242 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

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inspection

Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 185 Name of registered person The Links Daycare Centre Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 02476 394782 Date of previous inspection 5 December 2014

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Information about this early years setting

The Links Day Care Centre registered in 1991, in Hartshill, Nuneaton. It operates Monday to Friday, 50 weeks of the year, from 7.45am to 6pm. It provides before- and after-school care during term time and a holiday playscheme during school holidays. The nursery employs 18 childcare staff, 11 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, and two at level 2. There are also three members of staff with honours degrees and one with qualified teacher status. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports children who speak English as an additional language and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk, and discussed the organisation of the setting and the approach to teaching and learning. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning and development. n Throughout the inspection, the inspector found opportunities to speak to staff, parents and children, and took account of their views. n The inspector held a leadership and management meeting with the manager and deputy managers. n The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, such as policies and evidence of the suitability of all staff working in the nursery.

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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

13 March 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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