Puddleducks Nursery

Inspection of Puddleducks Nursery 66a Wrest Park, Bedford MK45 4HS

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate good levels of confidence at this nursery. Babies settle with familiar staff, snuggling with them for comfort and reassurance. This emotional security allows them to build their self-assurance. By the end of the morning, they are babbling and smiling at visitors and crawling to toys of their choice. Older children speak clearly, gaining the attention of staff when they need to. Staff respond with genuine care and interest in what children are saying. This helps children gain a sense of belonging at their nursery.

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The provision is good

Children have a range of opportunities to build up strength in their small finger and hand muscles; vital for later writing skills. Babies handle their spoons with control and squeeze soft and squidgy materials. Older children paint with brushes and carefully place small googly eyes on their craftwork. They explore the range of resources by themselves as they shake shakers and feel paint.

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The provision is good

Outside, children marvel at the ice that has formed overnight. They spend time independently investigating how to break the ice to get to the toys that are stuck. They find different tools and utensils and take turns to see which work best. Babies hear music regularly and move their bodies to the music. They jig up and down and tap their toes to the beat. This helps them learn about how their bodies move.

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need to do better?

n The leadership team has a clear overview of the nursery. They meet regularly with staff to consider the needs of the children and what they provide for them, so they can make improvements over time. The leaders recognise the importance of more-experienced staff role modelling for less-experienced staff. The manager monitors staff practice. However, leaders do not pinpoint precise professional development opportunities, to enable staff to deliver the highest quality of teaching. n Parents speak highly of the staff and all they do for their children. They say they can see the difference in their children's vocabulary since attending nursery. Parents feel their children are safe at nursery because all the staff, including the chef, work together with them to meet their children's needs, such as allergies. n Staff help support children's communication skills. As babies play, staff repeat descriptive words for babies to hear, such as 'shake' and 'squish.' Staff ask older

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need to do better?

children to listen to others. Children then practise this during role play as they talk on the phone to each other. n Staff know children well. They obtain information about their lives outside the nursery. They regularly assess what children already know and can do. Staff use all of this information to provide thoughtful learning opportunities that promote children's development.

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need to do better?

29 November 2021 n Children build on their understanding of mathematical concepts through a variety of activities. Staff encourage children to match pairs of gloves by colour. Children line up small toys and count them accurately. This helps them gain an understanding of number. n Children behave well. Staff encourage good manners and are good role models. They are calm and sensitive when children's behaviour needs redirecting. Staff work with parents to consistently help children learn what are acceptable ways to behave. This helps develop children's social skills. n Independence is integrated into everyday routines. Staff encourage babies to wipe their hands clean before helping them complete the task. Older children put on their coats and use the toilet independently. This helps them be ready for the next stage of their learning, such as school. n Staff, alongside the nursery special educational needs and disabilities

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need to do better?

coordinator, identify children who are not meeting age-related expectations. They work hard to help ensure children do not fall behind in their development. Staff contact expert professionals for advice and to support the whole family. n Staff follow children's interests and allow them to experiment in their play. However, they do not consistently ask questions that will help children develop their critical-thinking skills and extend their learning further. When children want to make a snowman, staff explain there is not enough snow, but do not help children consider what they could make with the snow they have.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Since the last inspection, the management team has implemented a comprehensive process to ensure there is an overarching view of concerns relating to children. They have appropriate procedures in place to manage the impact of COVID-19. For example, room closures where necessary. Staff know how to recognise a concern about children and how to report this to the designated leader. The designated safeguarding leader has good knowledge of how to refer concerns to other agencies. Furthermore, staff know how to report a concern about another member of staff.

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should:

n refine further the focus for professional development so that all staff develop their teaching skills to the highest levels n help staff extend children's learning when there are spontaneous opportunities, to help children think of their own ideas without giving them the answer first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY549141 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 10196997 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 42 Number of children on roll 67 Name of registered person Rosedale Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01525861743 Date of previous inspection 5 May 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Puddleducks Nursery registered in 2017 and is owned by a limited company that runs two other nurseries. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Seven staff are qualified, with one member of staff qualified to level 5. 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 The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and room leaders joined the inspector on a learning walk. They talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff and parents at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed learning indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact of this. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at nursery.

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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

29 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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