Polkadots

Inspection of Polkadots Gillies Street, London NW5 4DP

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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

Staff greet children and parents warmly, which helps children to feel safe and secure. Children enter the nursery with big smiles, and demonstrate that they thoroughly enjoy themselves there. They behave very well. Staff skilfully support them to understand boundaries and to develop respect for their peers. For instance, staff discuss the nursery rules with children, and encourage them to think about why these are important. Children show that they are starting to understand this, as they willingly share toys and help to clean up after play.

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The provision is good

Children are curious and eager to learn. They enjoy activities and are excited to discover new things, such as finding out where worms and insects live in the garden. Children concentrate well and share their ideas with adults. For example, older children draw detailed pictures of their friends and family, and talk about these with their key persons.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of all children; they value their opinions and use their interests to extend their learning. For instance, staff recognised that children enjoyed playing with toy cars. They organised a visit to a nearby garage to broaden children's understanding of cars, and how they work.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have an ambitious vision to provide high-quality care and education to all children. They use additional funding very effectively, to support children's independence and to help close the gaps in their learning. Staff develop personalised, targeted plans for children. This includes specialised small-group sessions each day, to support their social and communication skills. Staff work closely with other professionals, where needed. As a result, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language, make very good progress. n Leaders and staff develop strong relationships with children and their families. Parents speak very highly of the nursery. They say that staff are extremely caring and supportive, and help them to extend children's learning at home. n The curriculum is well planned. Staff have a clear idea of what children need to

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need to do better?

learn as they progress through the different stages of development. Staff generally plan enjoyable activities that children are keen to take part in. However, they do not always consider the best ways to share books and stories with children. As a result, some children lose interest in the stories on offer and do not stay engaged in their learning. n Staff support each child sensitively, to become confident and active learners. They encourage children to explore at their own pace, to solve problems and to celebrate their achievements. Staff are skilled at teaching children to recognise

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need to do better?

25 June 2021 and talk about their feelings and emotions. Children are learning to respect one another and value their individuality. They play happily together and develop good friendships. n The nursery is inviting and there are lots of exciting resources. Children are eager to learn. They confidently talk to adults and make choices about what they want to do. They share ideas with each other as they play imaginative games, such as being firefighters and rescuing animals from a farm. n Children have access to learn outdoors each day, which supports their health and well-being. They enjoy being active and use a range of apparatus to develop their physical strength and coordination. Specialist teachers deliver weekly dance and yoga sessions. Children proudly demonstrate the new skills they have learned, as they leap and turn in mid-air. n Staff encourage good hygiene procedures to tackle the spread of infection.

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need to do better?

Children learn why it is important to wash their hands regularly and to keep the nursery environment clean. They help staff to clean the tables before mealtimes and are proud of being helpful. n Staff say they feel valued and supported by leaders, and there is a strong team spirit. Leaders provide ongoing training and supervision to improve staff skills and knowledge. Recent training has focused on developing children's communication skills. During small-group activities, staff confidently help children to learn and use new words. However, there is scope to train staff further, to use these skills more consistently during children's play.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders ensure that all staff undertake safeguarding training and regularly discuss the types of situations which may cause concern. Staff know how to identify the possible signs of abuse and understand their individual responsibility to keep children safe. They are confident about how to report a concern, including worries that children may be victims of radicalisation. Staff understand the importance of supporting families and children. Leaders implement robust recruitment and vetting procedures to ensure staff are suitable to work with children. Staff are vigilant about children's safety. They thoroughly assess risks within the nursery and when taking children on outings, so that any possible hazards can be addressed.

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should:

n review ways that staff share books and stories with children, so as to ensure they are all fully engaged and deepen their learning n help staff to implement their teaching skills more consistently, to support children's communication skills during their self-led play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2505404 Local authority Camden Inspection number 10191466 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 25 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Polkadots Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07528194109 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Polkadots re-registered in 2018, following a change of premises. The nursery is situated in the London Borough of Camden. It operates from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3pm, term time only. The provider employs seven members of staff, including the managers, to work with the children. Of these, six staff have a relevant childcare qualification. One of the managers has qualified teacher status, and other staff are qualified at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector observed staff teaching and interacting with the children, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The managers and the inspector looked around the nursery premises and had discussions about how staff deliver the curriculum. n A joint observation of an adult-led activity was undertaken by the inspector and one of the managers, where they also discussed the quality of education. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents and children during the inspection, and took account of their views. n A sample of documentation was reviewed by the inspector, including safeguarding procedures, public liability insurance, suitability checks of staff and

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Inspection activities

first-aid certificates. n The inspector met with the managers to discuss nursery operations, such as safeguarding procedures and how staff are recruited and supervised.

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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

25 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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