Perfect Start Children's Day Nursery

Inspection of Perfect Start Children's Day Nursery The Mulberry Centre, Emily Jackson Close, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1XH

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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 have many opportunities to develop their physical skills. They regularly play outside in the fresh air, where they learn to play games with their friends. Babies practise climbing steps and roll balls to staff. Children are developing their small-muscle skills. They make marks with chunky chalks, and paint using brushes. Children pour water into containers and sand into funnels, and scoop rice into pots. Children enjoy mealtimes. They sit with their friends and chat about the healthy foods they like to eat and those that are not so good for them. Children are beginning to learn about oral hygiene; they pretend to brush teeth as part of their imaginative play and listen to stories about how to keep their teeth healthy.

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The provision is good

Children behave well and develop a positive attitude to learning. They eagerly participate in the interesting range of activities provided. Children confidently chat to staff during their play. They learn to recognise letters in their name and think of other items starting with the same letter. Children serve their food at mealtimes, pour their drink, and put their coat on before they go into the garden. This helps to develop their independence skills.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers effectively monitor staff practice and identify the targeted support they require. Staff receive regular praise and recognition through 'the staff appreciation station'. New staff and those who take on more senior roles receive a detailed induction. This helps them to understand the role they play within the organisation and their position within the team. Leaders and managers provide information for staff to support their well-being, including issues that affect them outside of the work environment. Regular training enables staff to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. n Staff demonstrate that they understand how children learn and plan a challenging curriculum for each age range. They provide good levels of engagement for all children and implement well-organised activities to stimulate learning. Staff deployment is effective, which enables them to supervise children well and help them learn. However, the daily routine is less successful,

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need to do better?

particularly during the transition to lunchtime. For instance, children wait long periods of time to wash their hands and noise levels increase. This prevents children and staff from listening to and hearing each other. n Staff plan and provide regular opportunities for children to develop their communication and language skills, including those who speak English as an additional language. They sing songs and use simple actions and signing to help children understand the meaning of words. Children learn to use those signs to make their needs known. For example, when they want more fruit, they sign 'more'. Staff extend children's vocabulary through well-planned activities. For

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need to do better?

6 December 2021 instance, when playing with dinosaurs, children learn new words, such as 'herbivore' and 'carnivore'. n Staff nurture babies and are attentive to their care needs, making them feel safe and secure. They ensure nappies are regularly checked, and change children's clothes if they are wet from water play. Staff support children's learning by participating in their play. They plan experiences to enable children to learn about different cultures. For instance, children try a range of foods, dance to music, and learn new words in different languages. n Staff have high expectations of all children. They provide a challenging learning environment, which links to children's interests and skills that they need to learn to progress in their development. Staff encourage children's good behaviour and work with parents to provide consistency. Children that require additional support have a more-targeted focus plan to help them manage their emotions.

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need to do better?

n Parents comment that they are happy with the provision. They feel that they are well informed by the key person when they collect their child. Parents receive regular updates from staff about their child's development. Parents confirm that staff are friendly and approachable.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff demonstrate a secure understanding of the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child. Safer recruitment procedures are implemented to check the suitability of staff working with children. Staff are vigilant with children to ensure their safety. For example, when younger babies are learning to stand, staff gently provide support to save them from falling over. Staff implement robust food safety checks. They ensure that the food given to children is chopped up into small pieces to minimise the risk of choking. Staff closely monitor children who have allergies or dietary needs during mealtimes. They complete several checks prior to serving children to ensure the correct food is handed over.

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should:

n monitor noise levels in the pre-school room to support children's listening and speaking skills n review and improve the organisation of the daily routine before lunchtime in the pre-school room, to avoid unnecessary waiting for children to wash their hands.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2544534 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10215490 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 80 Number of children on roll 115 Name of registered person Perfect Start Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07932395668 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Perfect Start Children's Day Nursery registered in 2019. The nursery is situated in a residential area of Sevenoaks in Kent. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am until 6.15pm for 51 weeks of the year. It is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 26 staff, of whom 14 hold a relevant childcare qualification.

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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 inspector spoke with the senior management team throughout the inspection to keep them updated as the inspection progressed. n The inspector conducted a learning walk with the manager to discuss how the staff implement the curriculum. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to a sample of parents to gain 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

6 December 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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