Castle Tots

Inspection of Castle Tots Castle Hill Primary School, Buckland Road, Chessington KT9 1JE

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children show that they are extremely happy, safe and secure. They enjoy their time at the nursery and are given high levels of encouragement and support from the dedicated staff team. The manager and staff have high expectations for children's learning and development. They plan a rich array of fun and challenging activities. Children are consistently engaged in purposeful play, and show high levels of curiosity. They behave extremely well. Children show a clear understanding of expectations, and staff offer continuous praise and encouragement.

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The provision is good

Babies enjoy a range of tactile experiences through messy play. They investigate eagerly as they explore sand, foam and play dough. Older children have fun exploring a wide range of outdoor learning resources. They learn to stay safe while taking managed risks. For example, they develop their physical skills as they learn to manoeuvre bicycles, build large structures, and use small trowels to dig in the mud kitchen.

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The provision is good

Staff sustain children's interest through positive interactions. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language are well supported. Staff provide parents with lots of information to help continue children's learning at home. They have adapted well to the challenges faced due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, to ensure that all children are supported and continue to make good progress.

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need to do better?

n Staff are positive role models. Children behave extremely well. From a young age, they interact with their peers with kindness and tolerance. Staff provide a very calm, reassuring approach and are highly skilled at helping children understand and manage their emotions exceptionally well. n Staff provide good support for children's communication and language development. Throughout the nursery, staff share stories and sing songs and rhymes to children. They include props imaginatively to re-enact stories and encourage children to join in. However, when staff ask children questions, they do not always give children enough time to process and respond to the question, before asking the next question. n Staff focus heavily on ensuring that children's social and emotional development is embedded. They encourage children to talk about their emotions and feelings. For example, they discuss how various colours relate to emotions, such as

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need to do better?

'happy', 'sad' and 'upset'. Children explore what these emotions might look like and what they could do to help them feel 'green' for happy. n Independence skills are nurtured at this setting. Children access the indoor and

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need to do better?

23 June 2021 free-flow outdoor areas with confidence. However, staff do not consistently make the most of opportunities during everyday activities to help develop children's independence skills further, for example during mealtimes. n Children show delight in playing outdoors. They explore nature as they search for living things using magnifying glasses, and water the vegetables they are growing. Children enjoy going on nature walks to the nearby woods and learn how to stay safe as they build dens in the woodland. n Staff's warm and supportive relationships with children are a strength of the setting. Younger and less confident children benefit from the strong bonds they build with staff and their key worker. Despite the challenges faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new children and those transitioning to the next room settle in with ease. n Staff plan many activities that support children to learn about healthy eating.

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need to do better?

Children learn how to grow and care for vegetables in the outdoor space, and explore real fruit and vegetables in the home corner, increasing their understanding of healthy eating and the natural environment. The nursery is taking part in the Healthy Early Years London Award. Children benefit from freshly cooked meals which are provided by the school chef. n The manager is determined to drive continuous improvement and provide children with a warm, caring and nurturing environment, with a well-planned curriculum that meets children's needs. Children display exemplary behaviour and make significant progress in their learning. n Parent partnerships are a strength at this nursery. Parents report being extremely happy with the service the nursery provides. They get daily updates on their child's learning and development through the online system and regular parents' evenings. Staff place a high priority on supporting the ways learning is

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need to do better?

extended at home. This is implemented in a variety of ways, including home- learning activities and the lending library.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff demonstrate a good understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. All staff undertake regular training. They know how to identify and report any concerns about children's welfare. Strong recruitment procedures help to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff have a secure understanding of the procedures that must be followed when an allegation is made about an adult working with children. Staff deployment is well maintained to prioritise children's safety as they move confidently between indoors and outdoors. All areas of the nursery are routinely checked to ensure the play environment is safe for children.

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should:

23 June 2021 n use every opportunity to promote independence skills for children n develop staff's knowledge of speaking and listening strategies to enable them to better support children's vocabulary.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY548402 Local authority Kingston upon Thames Inspection number 10143534 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Castle Hill Academies Trust

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reference number

Telephone number 020 8397 2006 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Castle Tots registered in 2017 and is run by Castle Hill Academies Trust. It operates from a designated unit within Castle Hill Primary School, Chessington, in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The setting provides care for children aged from three months to three years and opens from 7.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, during term time only. It also runs a holiday club during the school holidays.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n A learning walk was undertaken by the manager and the inspector to discuss how the curriculum is planned and implemented. n The inspector spoke to staff, children and parents throughout the inspection at appropriate times, and took account of their views. n The inspector observed teaching indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector and the management team held a meeting. The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including staff qualifications and suitability checks. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an adult-led activity, and discussed the learning intention and implementation.

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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

23 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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