Kindred Royston Newmarket Road Pre-School

Inspection of The Orchards Day Nursery Pre-School 3 Newmarket Road, Royston SG8 7HG

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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 enter the setting happy, confident and ready to learn. Key persons are close by to support new children and those who have been away on holiday to settle. Children demonstrate their good independence skills. For example, as soon as they arrive at the nursery, they change their shoes and hang up their coats by themselves. Children take pride in their own achievements and their behaviour is good.

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The provision is good

Children choose from a wide range of activities and resources that encourage them to explore and develop their imaginations. A particular favourite is making and playing with dough. Children demonstrate their prior learning as they talk confidently about how to make the dough. They show their developing mathematical understanding as they explain the ratio of flour, salt and water they need. Staff know children well and purposefully provide resources that reflect their interests and needs. For example, the role-play area is set up with dolls and baby equipment to support children whose parents are expecting new babies in their families. Children are developing good physical skills. For example, they skilfully use pencils to draw detailed pictures. These skills help to prepare children well for their future learning at school.

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need to do better?

n Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, parents and carers are unable to enter the premises. Leaders have adapted routines to meet the emotional needs of individual children. Key persons meet their children at the door and the good attachments between them are clear to see. n Staff take time to get to know children and their families well. They gain detailed information on what children can already do when they start to attend the nursery. Staff plan effectively to help their individual key children successfully build on their existing knowledge and skills. n Children are provided with regular opportunities to keep their bodies healthy and strong. They enjoy eating fresh foods, including sweetcorn, and talk confidently about their favourite meals, such as cheesy pasta. Children are keen to show visitors how they can move their bodies into the yoga poses that they have learned at nursery. They have many opportunities to be active. For example,

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need to do better?

they take part in climbing outside. n Children are developing strong communication and language skills. They join in conversations and confidently give their thoughts and ideas. Staff have identified that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some children have regressed in this area of development. They have implemented new procedures to encourage children to engage in conversations and learn new words. Managers report that these gaps in development are now beginning to close.

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need to do better?

15 September 2021 n Children have places where they can rest and relax. A particular favourite is the sensory room. Here, children lie down on the floor and watch different light-up resources. They enjoy looking at books that help them to talk about their feelings and emotions. Staff talk about how they have seen children's well-being increase after they spend time being quiet and calm. n The managers and staff regularly reflect on their practice and look for ways to continually improve. They gain the views of parents and children, which are evaluated and embedded into future practice. n The provider has rigorous recruitment procedures in place to help ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. The manager supports staff well through their induction and probationary period. Staff say that they feel valued by the leadership team, stating their mental health and well-being are important to all

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need to do better?

the nursery leaders. n Overall, the staff team is strong and leaders offer them good training, support and coaching. Leaders spend time observing staff in the nursery and have good ideas of where further improvements can be made. However, support for some newer staff needs further strengthening and embedding, especially in relation to the processes of assessing children's development. n Overall, parents speak positively about the setting and the progress their children make. They state that children are happy to attend and are kept safe. Some parents report that they receive regular updates about their child's learning. However, there are some inconsistencies in the quality of information shared, as some parents receive more detailed information than others.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The provider, manager and staff are knowledgeable about child protection issues and have a secure understanding of the correct procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child. Staff confidently describe the signs and symptoms of abuse and know who the designated lead practitioners for safeguarding are. Staff understand how to make a referral or contact other agencies if they have a concern about the behaviour of a colleague or other adult. They have a good knowledge of wider safeguarding matters, including the 'Prevent' duty.

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should:

n strengthen and embed support for new staff to help them to develop the best possible understanding of the assessment procedures n provide all parents with the same good quality of information about how their children are learning and developing.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY555889 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10174528 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 35 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Orchard Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01763246350 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Orchards Day Nursery Pre-School registered in 2018. It is situated in Royston, Hertfordshire. The nursery employs 11 members of staff. Of these, four hold early years qualifications at level 3 and three at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round from 7.30am until 6pm, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. 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 setting received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and manager and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The leadership team and inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n A joint observation was carried out and discussed between the inspector and nursery manager. n Staff, children and parents spoke with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector looked at a sample of the nursery's documentation during a meeting with the leadership team. This included reviewing information about staff suitability and training.

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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

15 September 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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