Serendipitys Day Nursery and Pre-school

Inspection of Serendipitys Day Nursery and Pre-school Cotgrave Futures Building, Candleby Lane, Cotgrave, NOTTINGHAM, Nottinghamshire NG12 3JG

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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

When children arrive, they light up the room with a beaming smile on their face. This indicates they feel happy, safe and secure in the nursery. Children enjoy the outstanding interactions with staff and eagerly explore in the exciting environment that has been created for them. For example, babies investigate the enchanting sensory bottles. Toddlers cannot resist the enticing bug habitat, which follows on from their discovery of a spider on the way to nursery. This contributes to their understanding of the natural world. Pre-school children go into a cosy tent to re- enact popular stories, demonstrating their imaginative skills.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's physical development is given the highest priority in the nursery. Babies show exceptional balancing skills as they walk across the milk crates unaided. Toddlers copy staff and use knives safely to cut up fruit and vegetables. Pre-school children take part in a daily running session, where they follow instructions to copy staff's actions. For example, they reach up high and then bend to touch their toes then run across the tennis court. Children persevere and thoroughly enjoy developing their problem-solving skills. For example, with little or no intervention from staff they skilfully create a den using material, poles and string. They carefully wrap string around the poles to secure the roof of the den. This shows how children's creative skills are actively supported. Children show respect and kindness. When children play alongside staff in the sand, they offer staff a car to play with, displaying care and thoughtfulness to adults.

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need to do better?

n The extremely dedicated and knowledgeable manager and well-established staff team work tirelessly to help all children have the best possible start. The manager plans meticulous support for staff, including regular individual meetings and team meetings, alongside monitoring their teaching. Through access to childcare research, staff extend their knowledge further. One example of this is baby room staff discovering the benefits of babies walking bare foot and being able to develop sensory experiences through their feet. Gaps in staff practice are quickly identified and addressed. For example, staff are attending a mathematics workshop to enhance their already good knowledge and skills of teaching this subject. n Through the manager's and staff's stringent assessment of each individual child's progress, they have developed a curriculum that is heavily focused on developing children's speech and language. Staff working with babies respond

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need to do better?

immediately to their babbling, talking to them and repeating their developing words. Staff working with toddlers have implemented activities that target language development in small groups of children. Staff in pre-school are competent at sign language, which they use as additional communication tool

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need to do better?

14 March 2022 for non-verbal children. This contributes exceptionally well to the inclusion of children with special educational needs/and or disabilities in group times. n Staff instinctively know what children like to play with. They know when to interact with children and when to allow them to explore and play independently. This results in children of all ages being highly engaged in what they are doing. n Staff expertly introduce opportunities to support children in building on their knowledge about healthy lifestyles. For example, when eating lunch of salmon risotto, staff tell children salmon is especially good to eat as it provides Omega 3 to help develop their brains. n The manager makes excellent use of additional funding available to children, which has a highly positive impact on their lives. For example, children receive targeted one-to-one support from staff. Some funding is used to ensure children

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need to do better?

receive healthy, home-cooked meals. n Staff encourage children constantly, and their enthusiasm is infectious. For example, staff see every opportunity as a learning experience. When toddlers go on a bug hunt, staff encourage them to use their emerging literacy skills and find the same bug in a book. This interest is further explored when children take their bugs indoors and discover mathematical concepts, such as their worms burrow, 'under' and, 'over' the wood. Finally, toddlers explore their creativity to make their own bugs using a variety of resources. n Staff tirelessly ensure they make children feel unique. For example, they celebrate children who speak English as an additional language or have a different culture. Staff provide them with the opportunity to explore and share their lentil soup recipe ingredients in the mud kitchen. Children delight in sharing aspects of their home life. n Staff work closely with parents. They keep them informed about all aspects of

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need to do better?

their children's care and learning. Parents are extremely positive about the nursery and the impact it has had on their child's development. Staff guide parents on how they can extend children's learning at home through good use of electronic communication. The home lending library has been especially successful in ensuring children develop a love of books and reading.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a comprehensive knowledge of the types of abuse and the signs that may indicate that a child is at risk of harm. Furthermore, staff are confident in reporting any safeguarding concerns to relevant agencies. The manager has a strong ethos in place to ensure that vulnerable children are monitored and remain safe and secure. The nursery is safe and exceptionally bright and clean. There are rigorous hygiene practices adopted to prevent the spread of infection. For example, staff sanitise toilets after children have used the bathroom. The human resources department of the nursery ensures there are robust recruitment procedures and regular checks for the ongoing suitability of staff to work with children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY377210 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10138651 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 74 Number of children on roll 87 Name of registered person Serendipitys Child Care Services Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0115 9891701 Date of previous inspection 1 December 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Serendipitys Day Nursery and Pre-school registered in 2008. They are in Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including one who hold an early years degree. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery also offers an early morning session from 7.15am until 8am. 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 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 area manager, manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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 manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to several parents and took account of written feedback offered.

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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

14 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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