Serpentine Nursery School Ltd

Inspection of Serpentine Nursery School Ltd Serpentine Nursery School, Waterdell House, 3 Burlington Road, BUXTON, Derbyshire SK17 9AR

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

All children thrive at this very inclusive nursery. Staff's learning intentions for children are very personalised. Children have a very positive attitude to their learning and their behaviour is exemplary. They develop the necessary skills required for their future learning. Children arrive excitedly with their parents to the nursery and quickly settle into their chosen play. All children are keen explorers and excited to have a go. Babies establish very strong relationships with staff and sit with them as they play. They show high levels of concentration, and focus as they carefully place rings on top of one another. Babies clap and beam with delight as staff enthusiastically celebrate their achievements. Toddlers expertly use paint brushes during art and craft activities. They show sustained levels of interest as they make marks on paper.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff ignite discussions with pre-school children to support their understanding and speaking skills. Children hold complex conversations with one another during imaginative play. Their range of vocabulary is vast. Children say, 'You be the pilot but don't go to sleep, I'll be the co-pilot.' Among themselves, they decide they want to fly to 'girl land'.

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The provision is outstanding

Children explore the stimulating environment without fear. Staff teach them to take small, age-appropriate risks to help them learn to keep themselves safe. Toddlers readily climb up and slide down the play equipment, demonstrating excellent balance and control. Pre-school children tell visitors how they enjoy swimming with their friends on nursery outings and 'feel safe' in the water. In the outdoor play area, pre-school children initiate running and hide and seek games between themselves. They confidently and safely navigate the space, manoeuvring themselves over various large obstacles with great agility.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers have sustained an excellent approach to ensuring all children achieve and reach their full potential. The manager has an extremely clear overview of how the curriculum is implemented in practice. Staff have a very secure understanding of how to support children's learning and development and how to keep them safe. As a result, all children are offered a well-structured curriculum that inspires them to be curious, independent and imaginative. n All staff, leaders and managers are ambitious and highly motivated in their work. They all effectively work as a team and have high expectations for all children. The manager has a clear understanding of the skills of her staff team. She works very closely with them to continually improve their excellent practice and support their professional development. For example, staff who work with

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need to do better?

7 March 2022 children under two years of age, have completed relevant training to help them gain a greater understanding of how very young children learn. n Partnerships with parents are very strong. For example, children's specific personal dietary requirements are adhered to extremely well. Staff provide parents with thorough and detailed information about the ingredients used in the meals provided for their children. Parents comment about how this reassures them that their children's dietary needs are fully respected and keeps them safe. They also comment that the nursery goes 'above and beyond' their expectations. n Key persons know their children extremely well. They carefully plan settling-in sessions that are unique to each child. Staff use this time to gather detailed information from parents about their child and observe the child in their play. They are very knowledgeable and focused on what they need to plan for

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need to do better?

children's learning, giving children opportunities they may not have elsewhere. Staff quickly assess and build on links with other professionals to secure additional funding and support health assessments. This ensures that children who need extra support make very good progress. n Staff skilfully use their excellent interaction, engagement and effective questioning to support children's learning. For example, staff recognise the interest that pre-school children have in volcanoes. Staff enthusiastically encourage children to experiment, explain their ideas, and work out how to make 'lava'. Children use pipettes, spoons and bottles to mix ingredients together. They squeal with delight as the 'lava' comes to the surface from within the model volcano. Children confidently describe what ingredients they use, such as 'vinegar' and 'bicarbonate of soda'. n Staff plan interesting and inspiring challenges and experiences for children to

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need to do better?

increase their large-muscle skills. For example, pre-school children competently walk along and jump off low-level balancing beams. Staff extend the activity and add additional beams at higher levels to challenge the children. Children show immense levels of perseverance to succeed as they balance and eventually jump off the highest placed beams independently. n All children show fantastic levels of behaviour. Pre-school children confidently use egg timers between themselves to share turns during imaginative play. They respect the toys and equipment they use, such as by independently clearing away their plates and cups after snack time. Toddlers eagerly help staff to clear away toys and activities. They enthusiastically remove paper covers from tables and know to place them in the bin.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a very secure knowledge of all safeguarding and child protection practice through regular and effective training. They are highly committed to keeping children safe, including being alert to the risks to children of being exposed to extremist views or behaviours. The manager monitors safeguarding practice extremely closely. She frequently tests the knowledge of staff to ensure they are up to date with all current safeguarding issues. The manager regularly scrutinises

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Safeguarding

7 March 2022 the suitability of staff to ensure they are appropriate to work with children. Staff are vigilant to children's safety at all times and deploy themselves effectively.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY347474 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 10214206 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 57 Number of children on roll 114 Name of registered person Serpentine Nursery School Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01298 26746 Date of previous inspection 24 September 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Serpentine Nursery School Ltd is located in Buxton, Derbyshire and registered in 2007. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, the manager holds qualified teacher status, with all remaining staff holding a qualification at level 6 or below, except for three staff who are unqualified. 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 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 setting and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation of an activity and evaluated this with the manager. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection, as well as written views from parents. n The inspector spoke with the manager, staff and the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including the evidence of staff qualifications and the suitability of the adults working with the children.

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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 March 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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