The Friendly Fish Nursery

Inspection of The Friendly Fish Nursery 5 Selborne Place, Selborne Road, Littlehampton, Sussex BN17 5NH

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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

The passionate manager and staff provide an inclusive, homely environment where children's uniqueness and individual needs are celebrated. Children of all ages play, explore and learn with great confidence. They are particularly happy and secure, and enjoy their time spent at the nursery very much.

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The provision is good

Children enthusiastically join in with the wide range of activities on offer and eagerly follow their own interests. Babies and toddlers enjoy cuddles with staff, who are affectionate and attentive to their needs. Older children are very sociable and build strong friendships. They actively include others in their play, such as when drawing each other and acting out stories with toy dinosaurs.

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The provision is good

Overall, staff have high expectations for what children can achieve, particularly for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They keenly gain expertise from local speech and language therapists, where necessary, and put highly effective support in place to help children catch up in their learning.

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The provision is good

All children benefit from regular story time, singing sessions and daily access to the adventurous garden. Older children are particularly interested in nature, and they confidently understand how things change and grow over time. For example, they show fascination as they closely observe the life cycle of frogs. Children are inquisitive and motivated learners, who are well prepared for the next stage in their education.

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need to do better?

n The dedicated manager and staff implement a broad and thoughtful curriculum which ensures all children achieve well. Throughout the nursery there is a high priority placed on building children's confidence, self-esteem and independence. Subsequently, children of all ages show a can-do attitude and are keen to do things for themselves. For example, babies enjoy feeding themselves, toddlers quickly learn to potty train, and older children dress themselves confidently. n The manager and staff are keen to expand children's experiences, such as through their 'beach school' sessions. During these, children explore nature, discover wildlife and learn to take risks, such as walking on slippery rocks. Staff observe children's play closely and plan varied activities to build on their interests. For example, during the inspection, pre-school children excitedly explored a hairdresser role-play area. They marked down in note pads when

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need to do better?

'appointments' were made and they eagerly discussed what hairstyles they wanted. n Staff are strong and positive role models, and guide children's behaviour sensitively. Children are kind, helpful and considerate to one another. They

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need to do better?

4 June 2021 patiently take turns when playing board games, and they listen thoughtfully to each other's ideas during their imaginary play. They learn to be respectful and helpful members of the nursery. n Overall, staff know the children very well and assess their development closely. They sequence children's learning successfully. For example, toddlers make big marks with crayons and chalks, which leads to pre-school children using pencils to draw detailed pictures and write their name. However, baby room staff do not always plan precisely for what children need to learn next to build fully on what they already know and can do. Although interactions with babies are good, their individual learning is sometimes not fully considered. n Staff support children's communication and language development successfully throughout the nursery. They model words and simple sentences clearly for babies, who learn to confidently express themselves through gestures, sounds

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need to do better?

and first words. Toddlers enjoy being read stories and eagerly join in with the bits they know as they snuggle in to listen. Pre-school children speak very well and use a wide range of vocabulary. For example, during a group time, they asked if they could go around the circle 'anticlockwise.' n Partnerships with parents are effective overall, and parents are very appreciative of the high levels of care their children receive. They comment on how happy and enthusiastic their children are at attending. Staff give plenty of feedback about children's care and experiences. However, they do not consistently share information with all parents about what children are learning in the nursery and how they can be supported further at home. n The ambitious manager leads her staff team very well and creates a highly positive atmosphere for their well-being and progression. Together, they reflect closely on the impact of the nursery and continually strive for improvement.

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need to do better?

Since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, staff now complete their training online, but speak positively about the opportunities and learning this has provided.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures all staff receive regular training to update their safeguarding knowledge, and regularly questions them to check their understanding. Staff confidently know the signs that indicate a child's welfare may be at risk, including from extremist views. They fully understand local referral procedures and the importance of recording and reporting any concerns. The manager uses an effective recruitment process and regularly checks to ensure all staff remain suitable to work with children. Together, they maintain a safe and secure environment and minimise any risks to children quickly and vigilantly.

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should:

4 June 2021 n identify and support babies' individual learning needs even more precisely n give parents more consistent information about what children are learning and how they can be supported further at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY563468 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10194275 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 60 Number of children on roll 156 Name of registered person The Ginger Bread House Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01903713917 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Friendly Fish Nursery registered in 2018. It is situated in Littlehampton, West Sussex. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff. Of these, 19 hold appropriate early years qualifications between level 2 and level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the 2020-21 COVID-19 pandemic. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in his evaluation of the provider. n The inspector was given a tour of the nursery by the manager and carried out a learning walk to discuss the curriculum. n The manager and the inspector discussed the play activities and children's learning during the inspection, and they undertook a joint observation of an activity. n The views and opinions of the staff, the children and the parents were taken into account during the inspection. n The inspector observed children's play and assessed the impact of staff teaching. n The inspector sampled some of the setting's documentation, including staff suitability records.

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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

4 June 2021 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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