Garden Cottage Nursery At Kent College

Inspection of Garden Cottage Nursery At Kent College Kent College Junior School, Church Hill, Harbledown, Canterbury, Kent CT2 9AQ

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely focused on their play as they interact with devoted and attentive staff. Children extend their independence from an early age. Babies build muscle strength as they enthusiastically play with an extensive range of resources, which develop their mobility and hand-eye coordination. Children are highly inquisitive, for instance, they use trial and error as they join tubes using a variety of connectors. They confidently express their ideas to friends as they become self- aware.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is exceptional. They learn to manage their feelings and treat each other with kindness. Children develop social skills as they work in teams to complete tasks. For example, they combined their strength to push a plunger into a tube filled with play dough. The children excitedly commented on the wiggly worm shaped dough that emerged through the holes. Children gain a high sense of satisfaction in their collective achievements.

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The provision is outstanding

Children feel safe and thrive on the secure emotional attachments they have forged with the nurturing staff. They learn about different feelings and emotions. For instance, they draw pictures of things that make them happy. Children enjoy revisiting their pictures and talk about what they have drawn in detail. They make exceptional progress in the truly inspiring environment created by highly professional and knowledgeable staff.

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need to do better?

n The manager is passionate about the nursery and devoted to ensuring they foster an extended family environment for babies and children. For instance, they provide a family style breakfast club where children attending the school eat breakfast with their siblings in the nursery. The manager and her team have a clear ethos and are intent on continually evolving the outstanding facilities available. n Parents are very impressed with the help, advice and support they receive, including during COVID-19 restrictions. The deputy manager put in place a wealth of resources to support parents via an online platform. This includes information on activities for children at different stages of development, with links to websites for further support. Parents commented that they particularly liked making chia seed slime with their children. Parents state that the strong personal bonds their children have established with the staff makes leaving them

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need to do better?

at the nursery immeasurably easier as they know they are well cared for. n The manager has in place exceptionally supportive settling-in procedures to ensure babies and children receive the comfort and support they need. This is mirrored in the outstanding procedures in place for children as they transition

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need to do better?

18 February 2022 from room to room and on to school. Staff support children's understanding of what makes them and others unique. The nursery and school work exceptionally well together to ensure children are at the forefront of everything they do. n Staff have an exceptional knowledge of how to captivate children's attention. They build on children's knowledge and interests to enable them to construct a curriculum that is ambitious. Staff expertly support children as they develop their own ideas. For instance, children make their own laptops as they open folded paper and make marks to represent the keys with paint stamps. Children confidently lead activities as they create imaginative new resources. n The manager is extremely committed to supporting the staff team. She places a high priority on helping staff develop professionally to continually maintain the high quality of education children receive. Staff say that they are extremely well

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need to do better?

supported. n Staff provide children with an abundance of experiences and opportunities that enhance their life experiences. For example, staff make skilful use of technology to help explain how different trains operate. They make story time interactive and bring it to life. Staff enrich children's knowledge of the world around them. For instance, they sing songs and learn dances from different countries. Children are learning about their own cultural heritage and the wider community. n Staff have an excellent understanding of children's learning and care needs to ensure they achieve the best possible outcomes. Children's progress is constantly monitored, and highly effective plans are in place to ensure every child makes tremendous progress. Staff make sure any additional interventions are thoroughly entwined into daily activities and routines. As a result, all children are incredibly well supported throughout their time at the nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager has a very secure knowledge of safeguarding and child protection. They clearly describe their roles and responsibility to keep children safe and the procedures to follow if they are concerned about a child in their care. They have implemented highly effective monitoring procedures to ensure all staff keep their safeguarding training up to date. The manager and staff have an excellent understanding of wider safeguarding issues, such as protecting children from extreme views and beliefs. A culture of implementing detailed risk assessments ensures that children play in a safe and secure environment. Robust recruitment procedures and regular checks of ongoing suitability ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY553970 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10174714 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 32 Number of children on roll 47

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Name of registered person

Kent College (Canterbury) Enterprises Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01227763231 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Garden Cottage Nursery At Kent College registered in 2018. It is in the grounds of Kent College Junior School in Harbledown, near Canterbury, Kent. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6.30pm for most of the year. The provider employs 15 staff of whom two hold a relevant early years qualification at level 4, nine at level 3 and one member of staff holds a level 6 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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n During the learning walk the manager explained how they plan the daily routines and curriculum for the babies and children. n The manager carried out joint observations with the inspector. They then reflected on the intent for the activities and the impact these had had on babies' and children's learning and development. n Parents' views on the service they received were taken into consideration through letters of reference and discussions with parents during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities in the Lodge and Cottage buildings and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.

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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

18 February 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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