Goldhanger Community Nursery

Inspection of Goldhanger Community Nursery Wheatlands Educational Nursery, The Old Village School, Church Street, Goldhanger, Essex CM9 8AS

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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

Entry arrangements put in place since the beginning of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic mean that parents leave and collect their children from the main nursery door. As parents arrive, their children beam with excitement. They cannot wait to begin their nursery day. The provider who is also the manager, or her deputy manager, greet the children warmly and with enthusiasm. Children are made to feel valued and welcome from the very start of their day. They skip confidently into their nursery rooms to join their key person and friends. Children are highly respectful of each other. They are exceptionally motivated and keen to participate. They take great pride in helping their friends and speak to each other in a kind and caring manner.

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The provision is good

Children become fully engaged in imaginative play, expertly supported by skilful staff. For example, they pretend to travel in the boat in the garden to a far-off land to find treasure, following their hand-made map. Staff use language to extend their thinking when they talk about the 'destination'. Children think critically to solve problems and tell staff that if they follow a particular direction, they will come across a 'dragon', so it would be best to take another door. They row really hard to make sure they get back to dry land before the storm arrives.

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need to do better?

n The manager and deputy form a strong and cohesive management team, who support a large group of staff. The management team have high expectations of the staff to deliver an ambitious curriculum based on children's interests and their knowledge of each individual child. They include a mix of new and experienced staff. The high-quality teaching seen in some staff is not yet consistently strong across the whole team. n Parents are extremely happy with their children's care and learning. Many comment on the expert knowledge of the manager, who filled them with confidence from a very early stage. They particularly like the superb meals their children enjoy each day and the very good communication between the nursery and home. In written testimonials they share that staff have taken time to learn their children's home languages to the extent that children say that the staff speak 'their language'. Parents also report that their child tells them that they

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need to do better?

'dream of the nursery'. n Children are extremely excited and keen learners. They articulate their feelings well. Staff support them to talk about how they feel in large and smaller groups. They provide activities to help any children struggling to express their emotions in a consistently positive way. n Babies have close and caring relationships with their key person. They are provided with exciting spaces to play, such as the well-equipped sensory room.

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need to do better?

22 July 2021 Children interact with the specialist toys, lights and equipment, supported effectively by the baby room staff. n Children make good progress from their starting points. Staff have high expectations of them based on their thorough knowledge of each child's likes and interests. They are knowledgeable about children's home lives and the experiences they share with their family. n The management team have robust procedures for managing children's dietary and medical needs. They work with a number of different agencies to support children's health and well-being. n Children enjoy participating in art and creative activities. They are well supported by staff who have a passion for art therapy. Children paint self- portraits on large card circles. They chat confidently about their faces and how they see themselves in the mirror. Staff encourage children to discuss their similarities and differences.

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need to do better?

n Children are very independent. Older children serve their own meals from a 'buffet style' arrangement. This helps them to prepare for mealtimes when they start school in September. n While children are introduced to a wide range of exciting learning opportunities within the nursery and the nursery garden. They have fewer experiences that enable them to explore a greater understanding of people, families and communities beyond their own.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff demonstrate a secure knowledge and understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. They recognise the signs and symptoms that might alert them that a child is being harmed or mistreated. Staff and managers regularly update their knowledge of safeguarding, including wider issues, such as the threat of radicalisation. Managers with designated safeguarding responsibilities know how to report any concerns to the appropriate authority for investigation. New staff receive a thorough induction to help familiarise themselves with the nursery's safeguarding and child protection procedures. The management team have clear and effective recruitment processes in place to ensure that all new staff are suitable to work with children.

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should:

n extend learning opportunities that promote an understanding of people, families and communities beyond the children's own n embed good quality teaching so that it is consistent across the staff team.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY562776 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10190974 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 56 Number of children on roll 102 Name of registered person J&J Early Years Educators Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07912520585 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Goldhanger Community Nursery registered in 2018. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. This includes the manager who holds a level 6 qualification. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks per year. It 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 COVID-19 (coronavirus) 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 The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed their curriculum and what it is that they want their children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n Parents provided the inspector with oral and written feedback. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of 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

22 July 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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