Happy Times Pre-School and Day Nursery

Inspection of Happy Times Pre-School and Day Nursery Unit 1a, Stephenson House, Wetherburn Court, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2AF

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children follow a curriculum that encourages them to become confident, sociable and talkative. Staff have high ambitions for children. All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who learn English as an additional language, make good progress in their learning. Children move around the nursery with a sense of purpose and show excitement and interest in their learning. Children actively work together, sharing and taking turns as they do so. Exciting activities help children to learn about their bodies. They stretch dough over their heads as they stretch their bodies, then roll the dough into a ball as they roll their bodies into a ball. This helps children to learn about their bodies and what they can do.

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The provision is good

Children develop a voracious appetite for discovering new books. Staff take children to the local library where they look at different texts, including non-fiction books. This extends on their literacy skills, with some children beginning to read familiar words. Staff provide children with curious objects to study, such as peacock feathers. Staff sit with children as they draw the feathers and talk about the colours and patterns. Children recognise that each coloured pencil has it own coloured tin. They enjoy counting, sorting and ordering these as they successfully name several different colours. Children behave well in the calm and orderly nursery. They know what to expect and readily follow rules, such as washing their hands and sitting down while they are eating.

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need to do better?

n The manager has successfully reviewed all aspects of the nursery and taken decisive and radical steps to improve the quality of the provision. Although there are several new members of staff, the smooth induction arrangements have helped staff to quickly work together as an effective team. n The manager has clear intentions for what children will learn. There is a sharp focus on supporting children to recover their English language after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The manager is aware that some children have not been using English at home and, although they can speak English, their desire and confidence in doing so needs to be reignited. n Staff support children's communication and language skills well. During group activities, staff use repetition and rhyming to boost children's vocabulary. Staff introduce children to new words, such as 'endangered'. This takes children on a

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need to do better?

journey of discovering new things. They become curious and ask questions as they start to develop opinions and ideas of their own. n Staff know when children's development exceeds expectations and provide them with good levels of challenge. However, occasionally, staff are eager to race children on to the next stage of learning without giving them opportunities to

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need to do better?

24 November 2021 fully consolidate and master what they have learned. n Staff are supporting children to regulate their behaviour and emotions. They recognise that children are experiencing many new situations and encounters for the first time and that this can feel a little overwhelming. Staff offer gentle and sensitive care that helps children to feel safe and secure. Children enjoy spending time in the sensory room, where the darkness and twinkling lights help them to calm down when they are over stimulated or anxious. n On the whole, staff arrange activities well. However, the role-play area does not sustain children's interest or help them to expand on their ideas. This because resources are mundane and do not capture children's imagination. n Despite being new to the setting, staff know their key children well. Children form close relationships with their key person. Staff find out about children's

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need to do better?

home lives. They know the languages children speak at home and about their individual families. This helps staff to talk about the things that make children unique and special. n The manager and provider understand the local community. They are aware of the negative impact of poverty and how this can disadvantage children and place them at risk of harm. Through careful monitoring, close relationships with parents and awareness of wider social issues, the nursery staff are nurturing children and ensuring that their needs are met so they are ready and able to learn.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff demonstrate a deep awareness of their role and responsibilities in safeguarding children. The manager has introduced a safeguarding board in the staff office. Staff use this information for quick and easy reference to any safeguarding questions they might have. The manager works effectively with other professionals and the local safeguarding children partnerships. Staff carry out regular risk assessments to review the premises and activities, ensuring that the nursery is safe for children to play and learn. The manager carries out checks to confirm the ongoing suitability of the staff who work with children.

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should:

n provide multiple ways for children to practise and master their developing skills, such as when they begin to show an interest in forming early writing n review and improve the areas where children play imaginatively so they are enticing and stimulating to encourage children to extend on their ideas through their play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY559741 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 10197136 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 16 Number of children on roll 9 Name of registered person Jegajeevan, Thanureka

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reference number

Telephone number 07999241676 Date of previous inspection 18 May 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Happy Times Pre-School and Day Nursery registered in 2018. The setting is based in Bletchley. It is open on weekdays from 8.30am until 6.30pm, all year round. The nursery employs five members of staff, four of whom have relevant childcare qualifications. The nursery supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n A joint observation was completed and discussed with the manager. n During the inspection, the inspector held a meeting with the manager and the provider. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at suitable times throughout the inspection. n Parents were invited to share their views with the inspector. Several parents discussed their views during the inspection and the inspector took account of all feedback received.

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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

24 November 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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