Merry Poppets Nursery Ltd

Inspection of Merry Poppets Nursery Ltd Flitwick Road, Westoning, BEDFORD MK45 5AA

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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 are happy and enjoy the company of their friends. They have access to a good range of age-appropriate resources. Children develop the skills and knowledge they need for the next stage of their development, including their eventual move to school. From a young age, children are encouraged to develop a love of songs, rhymes and stories. Younger children enjoy looking at the illustrations in books. Older children attentively listen to stories. They enthusiastically repeat familiar phrases and predict what will happen next. Older children count with growing confidence, and younger children are introduced to mathematical concepts, such as big and small, as they learn to compare the sizes of autumn leaves.

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The provision is good

Younger children explore leaves, pine cones, sand and water. They place their hands in shaving foam and reach out to pop bubbles. Older children play in the mud kitchen, plant and harvest tomatoes, grow pumpkins and search for minibeasts under the logs. This effectively supports children to learn about nature, planting and growth. Children learn to take responsibility and to become independent. They help to tidy away the resources and dress themselves for outdoor play. Younger children carefully thread cereal hoops onto dry spaghetti and stack building blocks on top of one another. They receive praise for their efforts and achievements, which develops their self-esteem and motivates them to continue to persevere at the task.

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need to do better?

n The management team supports staff to understand what they intend children to learn and achieve from their time at the nursery. They provide a curriculum that follows the children's interests and builds on what children already know and can do. Staff know the children well. They complete observations of the children's achievements as they play and evaluate this information to plan what children need to learn next. This supports children to make good progress. n The management team continues to review and monitor staff practice. They encourage staff to attend training sessions to help build on their skills and knowledge. For example, staff have recently completed training to further enhance children's language development. However, on occasions, staff do not always make use of spontaneous opportunities to extend and challenge children's learning as they play. Furthermore, on occasions, staff focus on the

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need to do better?

planned daily routines and interrupt children's play and opportunities for them to develop and complete the activities they are enjoying. n Staff support children to understand and implement the nursery's 'golden rules'. They calmly reinforce boundaries and give clear explanations as to why certain behaviours are not acceptable. From a young age, children are encouraged to be

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need to do better?

27 October 2021 kind and respectful to their friends, to share resources and take their turn. Children are encouraged to use good manners. For example, they are encouraged to say 'thank you' when they receive their lunch. n Staff working with children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are committed to ensuring their specific needs are met. They work closely with parents and other professionals to understand and implement targeted support. For example, children benefit from a range of sensory play experiences to support their development, such as placing their feet in bubbly water and using their fingers to feel the texture of jelly. n Staff effectively promote the good health of the children in their care. They ensure they adhere to a child's dietary requirements, such as known allergies and food preferences. Children are provided with nutritious meals and snacks, which they thoroughly enjoy and ask for more. They learn about the importance

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need to do better?

of brushing their teeth, and follow secure hygiene routines, such as washing their hands before meals and after using the toilet. Children participate in yoga sessions and enjoy taking part in physically active play outdoors. n Staff understand the importance of supporting children to develop their communication and language skills. Babies and younger children are introduced to new words associated with their play, such as 'scoop, pour' and 'round and round', as they pretend to make leaf soup. Older children use language to describe what they are doing. For example, children talk about their dough creations and recall events from home. n Staff develop effective partnerships with parents. They find out about children's care routines and experiences at home before they start at the nursery. This contributes to children receiving a consistent approach to their care and learning. Staff then build on these experiences to further enhance children's

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need to do better?

development. They regularly share information with parents about their child's day, achievements and progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The management team and staff know and understand their duty to protect children from harm. They have a sound knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and know who to contact if they have a concern. Staff keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date through regular training. When appointing new staff, the management team follow appropriate recruitment procedures. Essential background checks are completed to ensure staff are suitable to work with children. Induction is used to support staff to understand their roles and responsibilities. Staff complete daily checks of the environment to ensure children are safe and secure. They are deployed effectively and supervise the children at all times.

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should:

n make more effective use of spontaneous opportunities to extend and challenge children's learning n review and improve the organisation of planned routines to support children to develop and complete the activities they are enjoying.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY434658 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 10074931 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 83 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person Merry Poppets Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01525 718241 Date of previous inspection 7 March 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Merry Poppets Nursery Ltd was registered in 2011. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and level 5. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery offers an early drop off from 7.30am. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID- 19 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 deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed staff's interactions with the children during indoor and outdoor activities, and assessed the impact this has on the children's progress and achievements. n The manager team, staff and children engaged in discussions with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the deputy manager and discussed the children's progress and achievements. n A sample of the nursery documents was reviewed by the inspector. This included evidence of staff suitability and training.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector took account of the views of parents from written information provided by them.

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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

27 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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