Spring – St Bart's House

Inspection of Spring – St Bart's House St. Barts House Day Nursery, 17 Dover Road, SANDWICH, Kent CT13 0BS

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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

Children thoroughly enjoy the challenging and motivating activities that staff plan for them. For example, younger children enjoy making paintings of different sea creatures and learn new songs about fish. Older children engage in interesting activities, such as creating models of the solar system. Children learn about the importance of healthy eating. They grow and eat their home-grown produce, such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage and parsnips. Staff build on children's interests well. Children who like vehicles visit the local train station to excitedly await the arrival of the trains at the platform. Children develop good communication skills and are confident to share their thoughts and ideas. Babies enjoy singing activities, and older children confidently answer thought-provoking questions. Children freely express themselves and explore different types of art. For instance, older children create self-portraits, and babies make patterns in paint with items, such as celery.

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The provision is good

Children of all ages have good opportunities to develop and challenge their physical skills. They enjoy exploring different ways that they can move their bodies. For example, they enjoy regular dance activities and baby ballet sessions. Children have opportunities to enjoy a variety of interesting team games. These include cricket and basketball.

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need to do better?

n The managers closely monitor the good quality of education and care that staff provide children. They routinely observe staff teach children and provide helpful feedback to support their future performance. This includes sharing ideas of how to extend activities to challenge children even further. This helps staff keep children engaged and motivated to learn. n Staff work well as a team to ensure that the setting is hygienic and safe and, overall, they have succeeded in doing this. However, they do not ensure that all children consistently understand and follow hygiene rules, such as wiping their nose. n Staff make good use of regular and beneficial training. The managers provide a wide range of training relevant to staff, children and the setting. For example, they provide staff with training on how to manage emotions. Staff have recently learned about the different ways children play and learn. n Staff establish positive partnerships with parents. They keep them fully involved

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need to do better?

and informed in their children's learning. Staff discuss each child's day with parents, including the activities they have enjoyed. Staff share daily photographs of the children's achievements. They encourage parents to share what their children have enjoyed doing at home. Staff share helpful advice and tips for parents, such as sharing healthy recipe ideas. n Staff know each child and their individual personalities well. They establish a secure and trusting relationship with children. As a result, children are happy,

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need to do better?

25 August 2021 confident and settled. Children have a good sense of belonging and positive well-being and self-esteem. For instance, they arrive happily at the nursery and enjoy the company of staff. n Staff have a good understanding of all areas of learning. Overall, they help children to gain skills to support their future learning. For instance, children are encouraged to take turns and share during team games, such as tennis. However, staff do not consistently encourage all children to try and complete tasks that they are capable of, such as serving their own food at mealtimes and pouring their own drinks. This does not fully promote children's independence skills. n All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are well supported by staff to make good progress. Staff liaise closely with outside professionals and implement useful strategies to support children.

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need to do better?

This includes using picture cards to support children's communication. Staff attend beneficial training, such as simple signing, to help them use different techniques to communicate with children effectively. n All staff help children to understand and respect other people's differences from around the world. This includes traditions of other countries and the languages they speak. Children learn simple words, such as 'hello' and 'goodbye' in Romanian. Children learn about events traditional to a wide range of religious beliefs, such as Diwali and Hanukkah.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff, including the managers, have a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection. They know who to contact to seek advice and how to follow up any potential concerns. Staff ensure that they keep their knowledge up to date and complete regular safeguarding training. Staff complete thorough risk assessments to help keep children safe. This includes practice to minimise the risk of COVID-19 (coronavirus). For example, there is a thorough clean of all resources. Children enjoy challenging activities where they have to think about how to stay safe. For instance, they safely use the large vertical ladder and climbing wall with confidence.

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should:

n ensure staff encourage children to consistently be independent and complete tasks that they are capable of carrying out themselves n support staff to fully understand the importance of making sure all children consistently follow good hygiene routines.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2507943 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10194627 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 80 Number of children on roll 129 Name of registered person Action For Children Developments Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01304 619800 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Spring - St Bart's House registered in 2019. It is located in Sandwich, Kent. The setting employs 25 members of childcare staff. Of whom, 19 hold relevant early years qualification at level 2 and above. This includes three members of staff who hold a level 6. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, all year around. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. The setting 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 managers and staff and has taken this into account in her evaluation of the provider. n The inspector carried out a learning walk with the managers. The inspector assessed the impact of the quality of staff interactions and the learning opportunities they provide children. n The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor learning environments. n Written documentation was reviewed. This included safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. n During the inspection, the inspector spoke to the managers, the children, the parents and the staff at convenient times and considered their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager on a play dough making activity.

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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 August 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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