Little Conkers

Inspection of Little Conkers Scout Association, 7th Stevenage, Nokeside, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG2 8EY

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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

All children are valued and respected in this highly inclusive nursery. They form close attachments to staff and demonstrate they feel safe and secure in their surroundings. All children are fully included in activities and experiences. They develop their sensory skills very well. Babies explore textures, such as rice and oats. Attentive staff pour these ingredients onto babies' hands and they enjoy the sensation of it trickling through their fingers. Older children explore what happens when they mix paint colours together. They use a range of vocabulary as they chat to each other. For instance, they use the word 'connected' to describe how two parts of their paintings are joined together.

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The provision is good

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are superbly supported to learn and develop. The recent addition of 'The Hub' room means they have a space tailored to their educational needs, where they feel safe and secure. Each child has a highly trained key person, who expertly implements their individual education plan. At times when children can free flow between rooms and outside, the garden is a highly popular place to be. All children have opportunities to explore nature, such as investigating what is happening at the bug hotel. They are highly excited to watch the construction of a new road track and talk about how they will use this to ride their bikes on.

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need to do better?

n During the COVID-19 pandemic, the provider has made effective changes to help keep children and staff safe. In order to keep social distancing, parents are currently not coming into the building. Children are met at the door by their attentive key person. This consistent care and attention results in children quickly settling and immediately engaging in meaningful play. n The inspired provider has the highest ambition for every child to develop a love of learning and achieve to the best of their abilities. She uses funding effectively to help meet children's needs. The support for children with SEND is outstanding. Staff work closely with parents and seek advice from other professionals. They use the knowledge gained to great effect to ensure that every child has high-quality learning experiences. n Each room in the nursery has an environment tailored to children's educational and emotional needs. The baby room is calm and staff are attentive to their

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need to do better?

every need. The pre-school rooms are full of activity, where children have a wealth of learning opportunities. 'The Hub' has space and sensory activities where children with SEND feel safe to explore. This results in children feeling happy and their behaviour is good. n Partnerships with parents are very good. Parents say that staff share information with them about their child's progress and provide advice on how to support

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need to do better?

7 January 2022 their child at home. Parents and their children's key persons work together to identify children's next steps in learning and development. This ensures continuity in children's care and learning. n The provider and her management team use robust recruitment and selection procedures. They carefully identify staff who are suitable and share their vision for high-quality care and education. A comprehensive induction procedure helps staff to quickly understand their role and responsibilities. n The provider supports her staff team very well and builds a positive atmosphere for staff well-being. She has strong systems in place to observe, monitor and supervise staff. Continuous professional development is given the highest priority. Many staff have transitioned from being unqualified to now being qualified room leaders. Staff in the baby room talk confidently about how training, which looks at how babies' brains develop, has had an impact on their

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need to do better?

practice. The provider is an excellent role model and is building on her already high-level qualification by undertaking a Master's degree in working with children with special educational needs. n Overall, staff support children's learning well and are extremely attentive to their emotional needs. However, staff do not always have the highest expectations for what the pre-school children can learn. They provide resources and activities based on children's interests, but do not always understand how to use these to extend children's knowledge and thinking skills further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff update their safeguarding knowledge continually through training, discussion and staff meetings. They regularly discuss safeguarding scenarios and undertake questionnaires to strengthen their knowledge further. Staff confidently know the signs that indicate a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect and the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child's well- being. They demonstrate a clear understanding of when children may be influenced by radical or extremist views. Staff vigilantly provide a safe and secure environment for all children. All accidents and incidents are closely monitored and further safety measures are implemented where they are needed.

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should:

n support staff to further understand how to plan activities and experiences that build on pre-school children's interests and extend their learning to higher levels.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY556990 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10174941 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 40 Number of children on roll 86 Name of registered person Currell, Rebecca Dawn

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reference number

Telephone number 07810770530 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Conkers registered in 2018. The nursery employs 21 members of staff. Of these, 16 hold early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The provider holds early years teacher status. The nursery opens from 7.30am until 6pm, all year round. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year- old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting 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 her evaluation of the setting. n The provider and inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n Two joint observations were carried out and discussed between the inspector and provider. n Staff, children and parents spoke with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector looked at a sample of the nursery's documentation during a meeting with the provider. This included reviewing information about safeguarding, staff suitability and training.

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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

7 January 2022 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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