Childcare on Domestic Premises, Full day care in Hertfordshire

Report for childcare on domestic premises

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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 are happy and confident and build warm relationships with staff. Children feel secure as they spend time with children of their own age. They also enjoy playing in mixed age groups. During a music and movement session, older children are considerate of the younger ones and are careful when dancing next to them. Younger children copy the older ones as they play musical instruments and repeat action rhymes. Staff are sensitive to the issues raised by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. For example, they note that new children take longer to settle and make sure there is time to support them in this.

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The provision is good

Children feel valued and participate in making decisions. For example, they decide what to play with after lunch, carefully considering the interests of others. Children persevere at tasks. For instance, they keep trying as they stack pots, celebrating when they achieve this. Children are caring and work well together. For example, they work cooperatively to make a row of towers. They cheer when they achieve this and state 'teamwork is the best'. Children learn to assess risks and keep themselves safe. Children playing on a circular swing know they need to position themselves equally around the seat so that the swing is balanced.

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need to do better?

n Managers offer staff effective supervision and ensure that their workloads are manageable. When staff first start at the setting, managers ensure that they understand the policies and procedures. Effective planning ensures that ratios are met, helping to promote children's safety and welfare. n Staff know children well. They assess what they can do now and plan what they need to do next in their learning. Staff observe children's play and use this to help children take those next steps. For example, children play on a balance bar and a staff member offers further resources. The children enjoy using these to make an obstacle course. They develop physical skills as they balance, jump and crawl. n Managers frequently check children's progress to make sure that no child falls behind in their learning. They demonstrate good practice in interacting with children. Staff follow this example, talking clearly and explaining new words to

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need to do better?

children. This particularly helps children who speak English as an additional language. They make good progress in learning English, helping them to be ready for school. n Children of all ages enjoy stories and books. Older children help themselves to books and sit down to read. Younger children listen attentively and are captivated as a staff member reads with enthusiasm and animation. She maintains their attention as they discuss the illustrations and remember the sticks and leaves they collected.

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need to do better?

15 October 2021 n Parents say that they are very happy with the nursery. They report that staff communicate well and support them in building on their children's learning at home. n Staff do not always offer children as many outdoor opportunities, to fully build on the development of children who prefer to play and learn in an outdoor environment. n Children learn about keeping themselves healthy. They enjoy nutritious meals and talk about foods that are good for them. Staff make sure that children have access to fresh drinking water and children explain that it is important to drink plenty of water. n Staff know children well and make good use of their interests to build on their learning. For instance, children interested in letters and writing enjoy the challenge of drawing around each other and making labels for their arms, legs and heads. n Children learn about their community. They visit nearby amenities and watch the

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need to do better?

trains. This initiates discussions which help children to understand the wider world and its diversities. n Staff, generally, encourage children to think about the problems they encounter as they play. However, on occasion, staff do not support children to think further and find their own solutions. For example, when children add paint to water and wonder about the colours, staff members name these for them.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding. They complete regular training to refresh their knowledge. They understand how to recognise possible signs of abuse or neglect and how to report this to the appropriate professional. Staff show a good awareness of the potential dangers to children of exposure to extreme views and practices. They understand the possible risks associated with use of the internet and take appropriate action to protect children from these. Secure staff recruitment procedures ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children.

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should:

n enhance the use of outdoor areas to offer children who prefer to learn outside further play and learning opportunities n support staff to offer children further opportunities that aid them in thinking critically and finding solutions to the problems they encounter as they play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2622880 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10210042 Type of provision Childcare on domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 30

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Lodge Clarence Park registered in 2021. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including two who have qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. 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 pandemic began. Inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken this into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The nursery owner (who is also the deputy manager) joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector observed staff interaction with children during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery owner. n A meeting was held between the inspector and the nursery owner. The inspector looked at relevant documentation and saw evidence of the suitability of staff. n The inspector held discussions with staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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 October 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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