Muddy Ducks Nursery

Inspection of Muddy Ducks Nursery Dinton Pastures, Davis Street, Hurst, Reading, Berkshire RG10 0TH

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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 are happy to attend the nursery. They leave their parents at the door and come in happily, demonstrating that they feel safe and secure. Staff have high expectations for children's learning and offer an ambitious curriculum. Children have a positive attitude to their learning; they take part in activities with enthusiasm and excitement. For example, after reading the book 'The Three Little Pigs', staff provide children with hay, sticks and bricks so they can recreate the story. Children concentrate as the use small trowels to scoop 'gloop' to cement the bricks together. All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make good progress from their starting points.

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The provision is good

Children have positive attitudes to learning and take part in activities with great enthusiasm and excitement. They energetically challenge themselves as they use a large selection of resources that encourage them to be adventurous and physically active. Children have a wealth of opportunities to practise their physical skills. For example, they expertly navigate their way to the top of the small tree and climbing frames. They boldly assess risks and test out their physical abilities.

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The provision is good

Children play harmoniously together, and collaborate as they work as a team, such as when making an obstacle course out of planks and crates. Children are kind as they offer each other their hands to help them balance across the planks. They confidently develop the skills and abilities they will need for the future.

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need to do better?

n Staff have a good understanding of how young children learn and develop. They provide a varied curriculum using their observations and assessments to build on what children already know and can do. Staff plan experiences and opportunities based on children's current interests. They support children to develop their understanding of nature very well. For instance, children link previous experiences, such as different smells of flowers, as they plant bulbs in the garden. n Overall, children's communication and language skills are supported well. Older children repeat new words such as 'bulbs' and 'perennial'. Staff sit alongside children in areas, such as the home corner, and join in with their play. However, staff do not consistently make the most of opportunities to extend children's communication skills even further. For example, at times, staff are not quick to identify younger children who would benefit from adult interaction.

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need to do better?

n Children have ample opportunities to develop their imaginations. For instance, they concentrate intently when scooping and tipping soil into cake trays in the mud kitchen. Staff support children effectively to learn to play with others. As other children approach, staff demonstrate how to interact during imaginary

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need to do better?

18 March 2022 play, such as by showing children how to read a recipe card to their friends. Staff skilfully extend this asking older children if they can write the recipe to take home. This supports children's early literacy skills. n Children readily use mathematics in everyday play. For example, they count the number of scoops that it takes to fill their trucks with stone in the garden. Furthermore, staff challenge children to predict how many balls will fit a bucket. n Children in this nursery are encouraged to be independent. For example, children remove their own coats and boots, they pour their own drinks at mealtimes. This develops children's confidence in their own abilities. n Children's behaviour is very good. Staff are positive role models. They provide lots of praise and encouragement to children. This is demonstrated as they show young children how to interact with others. Staff model how to take turns,

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need to do better?

children go on to copy the positive example provided and share resources well. n Parents are very happy with the nursery. They say that they would highly recommend the nursery to others. Parents comment that they are happy with the progress their children make at the nursery. However, staff do not effectively share with parents what they can do at home to help extend their children's learning and development even further. n Managers seek training opportunities for staff to further develop their knowledge. Regular supervisions with staff are carried out, with targets set to support them in their roles. Managers support staff well-being and evaluate workloads. Staff report they feel supported and a valued member of the team.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The managers and staff complete regular safeguarding training. Staff know the procedures to follow should they have a concern about a child's well-being. They have a good understanding of how to keep children safe and wider safeguarding issues. Staff are able to identify the signs and symptoms of abuse. Staff make sure that children are able to play in a safe and secure environment, using risk assessments and following detailed policies and procedures. Robust recruitment and vetting procedures are in place to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children and have a clear understanding of their role.

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should:

n enhance the good partnerships with parents further so that all parents consistently receive information about how they can support their child's individual learning at home n support staff to be more vigilant in recognising when children would benefit from adult interaction to encourage their early communication even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2498269 Local authority Wokingham Inspection number 10191488 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 24 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Muddy Ducks Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07935228600 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Muddy Ducks Nursery registered in 2018. It is located in Reading, Berkshire. The nursery employs nine members of staff. Of these, two staff hold relevant qualifications at level 6. Five staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 4, level 3 and level 2. 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 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 setting. n The inspector completed a learning walk around the nursery with the manager. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector observed the interaction between staff and children and spoke with children at appropriate times. n The inspector checked some documentation and held a discussion with the manager. n The inspector considered the views of staff and parents during the inspection.

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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 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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