Plaxtol Nursery School

Inspection of Plaxtol Nursery School Plaxtol Nursery School, School Lane, Plaxtol, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0QD

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children thrive in this homely nursery. The nursery is regarded as the hub of the village. Every child and family are welcomed and valued. Each child's unique qualities, characteristics and personal traits are fully respected, and planned for. This means each child makes good, or better, progress from their individual starting points.

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The provision is good

Children make exceptional gains in their personal development as staff have high expectations of every child. Children thoroughly respect the individual needs of their friends. For example, some children need more support in their speaking and communication skills than others. Those who are more confident in speaking out loud are patient. They recognise that not all children have the same ability as they do. Children are exceptionally respectful of this and show great empathy and maturity for their age.

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The provision is good

Children behave exceptionally well. They are kind and caring and form close attachments to the staff who look after them. Children are extremely confident. They develop excellent levels of independence. From a very young age, children become adept and skilful in using knives to prepare their fruits at snack time. Children manage this so well because staff have taught them clearly how to understand potential risks and avoid accidents.

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The provision is good

The nursery's ethos of 'fun, friends and firm foundations' is fully reflected in the experiences children have at nursery. For example, they develop a real love of learning, and a thirst for knowledge. They gain a good range of skills to support them in their transfer to school and future learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff plan a range of activities, which are interesting, based on what children enjoy and provide relevant challenge. The curriculum is enriched by exciting activities away from the nursery, such as visits to the farm to watch lambs being born, strawberry and apple picking and outings to the local llama park. n Good-quality teaching enables children to learn extensively about the world around them, and about the consequences of their actions and behaviours on others. For example, children explored the impact of plastic in our oceans and how this affects sea creatures. Children spoke to the inspector fluently and confidently about how we must not allow plastic to go in the sea and be of threat to marine life. n The support for children's personal development is excellent. Children have outstanding opportunities to develop confidence, independence and a moral responsibility. They have an exceptional knowledge of how they must respect

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need to do better?

17 November 2021 the needs of others. They behave with kindness and show excellent levels of care for each other, the nursery environment and the staff who look after them. The empathy shown between children, and the respect they clearly have for their peers, is impressive for their young age. n Children's emotional needs are met well. Some children have found it harder than others to return to nursery following lockdown. Staff are very aware of this and work closely with parents to support every child's needs. The key-person system is extremely effective. Children approach staff confidently and know they will be given comfort and support. n Links between home and nursery are good. Parents are very complimentary about the staff and commend the way in which they support every child. Parents are very happy with the level of care and attention given to each child, and with the progress children make in their learning and development.

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need to do better?

n Leaders constantly reflect on what is working well and what children need to learn next. They accurately recognise where some improvements in teaching and the provision for children's mathematical development are needed. For example, staff have noted that children are not using mathematical resources much in their play, so further planning and training for staff are needed in this area. Leaders have already prepared relevant action plans to address these issues. n Following lockdown, and the implications of COVID-19, some children need more support in speaking confidently and fluently at nursery. Staff recognise this well and are offering targeted support to those who need it. Some staff are particularly skilled in promoting language development. However, at times, teaching does not always extend every child's language skills. For example, occasionally, staff ask questions which do not encourage children to think in

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need to do better?

detail and enrich their vocabulary. Sometimes, staff step in too quickly and do not offer children sufficient time to process information and give a response.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's safety and well-being are given high priority. Staff are vigilant in checking the premises each day for any hazards. They teach children well about using tools safely to prevent accidents and injuries. Staff are knowledgeable about their responsibilities to keep children safe. They complete relevant training and understand what action they must take if they have any concerns about a child or family. Clear procedures are in place, and regularly practised, so that staff and children know what action to take in any emergency situation. Relevant records are maintained to ensure any safeguarding concerns can be shared with other professionals, if necessary.

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should:

17 November 2021 n strengthen the quality of teaching to ensure staff consistently use opportunities to enrich children's language and reasoning skills n increase the opportunities for children to develop their good mathematical skills further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2507772 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10191760 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 30 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person The Family Tree Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07846089467 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Plaxtol Nursery School is privately owned and registered in 2019. It operates from the village hall in Plaxtol, Kent. The nursery is open each weekday from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. Six members of staff work with the children. Of these, one is a qualified teacher. Four other staff are qualified to level 2 and above. The nursery is accredited to receive government funding for free nursery education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 this into account in the evaluation of the provider. n The inspector viewed the nursery premises and discussed how staff make these safe and suitable for children. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection about how they keep children safe, and how their training and development needs are addressed. n The manager talked to the inspector about the nursery's curriculum and how this is used to support children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the nursery and spoke about how staff helped them extend children's learning at home.

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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

17 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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