Safari Childcare

Inspection of Safari Childcare Childrens Day Nursery, 79 Halstead Road, Colchester, Essex CO3 9AD

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children enter the nursery confidently. They wave goodbye to parents and take the hand of their key person or one of the management team. Staff greet children with a smile and ask how they are. Many reply 'good', as they wash their hands and make their way to their room to begin their day of fun and learning. Children are very confident. They develop secure independence skills from a very young age. Children know the nursery rules and routines and enthusiastically join in with songs as they tidy up or line up to go into the garden.

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The provision is good

Children are keen explorers. They make their own play dough, taking turns to estimate how much water and flour they each need to add to make just the right consistency. They smell fresh herbs as they add them and tell staff what they think the herb smells like. To make their dough colourful, they select a range of different coloured paints and stir them in. Children express themselves very effectively through art. For example, they sit at a table in the garden and draw pictures. They chat confidently to each other about what they have drawn, such as a 'beautiful, talking, smiling flower'.

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need to do better?

n The management team is strong. Two recently appointed deputy managers work alongside the provider, who at present is also the manager. Between them they have recently reviewed all nursery procedures and working practices. They have paid particular attention to their provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The management team make effective use of additional funding. For example, they use funds to provide more opportunities for children to participate in dance and movement activities. This has been particularly helpful to raise some children's personal, social and emotional skills and help them to express their fears and worries through dance. n Children enjoy writing and drawing. Staff take every opportunity to promote children's literacy skills, for example by introducing mark-making experiences in every area of the nursery. Children write the other children's names on their

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need to do better?

paper and clipboard. n Children listen intently to stories as staff read to them in both large and small groups. They read the stories in a fun and exciting way, providing lots of opportunities for children to join in at their favourite parts and to re-tell the story in their own words. n Parents spoken to during the inspection, generally, talk highly of the nursery staff and management team. Where issues have been raised, either through a complaint or a general chat with staff, the management team work with the parents to try to resolve the issues.

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need to do better?

21 July 2021 n Children have opportunities to participate in planned group activities. Staff facilitate and lead this learning. On occasions, they do not ensure that there are enough resources available to enable all children to gain the best experience from these activities. This means that some children quickly lose interest. n Young babies are settled and confident. Staff and managers have put in place effective settling-in provides during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic to help children to settle when parents are not able to stay with them. Children's personal needs are met effectively. Staff working with babies follow the individual children's home routines, which include regular nappy changes and sleep times. n Staff use their knowledge of children's interests skilfully to encourage all children to begin their nursery day in a positive way. For example, a selection of fish and underwater creatures live in the entrance foyer to attract the attention of those

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need to do better?

children who have an interest in fish. n The management team supported children and their families when they were not able to attend nursery during the national lockdowns. For example, they provided parent packs with ideas that they could use at home with their children and gave away free books on world book day. The provider helped where she could financially, for example by introducing complimentary sessions where these were needed and by not raising their fees for that year.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff demonstrate a secure understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. They recognise the signs and symptoms that might alert them to a child being harmed or mistreated. These include wider safeguarding issues, such as radicalisation. The provider, who is also the nursery's designated safeguarding lead, is knowledgeable about how and when to report concerns relating to children and staff to the appropriate authorities. New staff undergo a thorough induction, which includes reviewing their safeguarding knowledge and introducing them to the nursery's procedures.

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should:

n support staff to plan activities more effectively and ensure there are sufficient resources so that all children gain the best possible learning from the experience.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY488581 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10202511 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 54 Number of children on roll 108 Name of registered person Safari Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01206 546824 Date of previous inspection 23 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Safari Childcare registered in 2015. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff, including the provider. Of these, two hold qualified teacher status, two hold early years professional status, one holds a level 5 qualification, one holds a level 4 qualification and a number of staff hold qualifications at level 2 and 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Opening times are from 7am until 6.30pm. 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 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 inspector viewed all areas of the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The deputy manager, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager and deputy manager. 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

21 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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