Hedgehogs & Badgers Nursery School

Inspection of Badgers Nursery School Haywards Heath Football Club, Hanbury Stadium, Allen Road, Haywards Heath, Sussex RH16 3PT

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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 greeted at the nursery door by kind and smiling staff who help them settle quickly. They soon find their favourite toys and activities and there is a joyful sound of children chatting and playing with one another and staff. Children form strong attachments with staff who know them and their families well. This helps children feel emotionally secure and develops their self-esteem.

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The provision is good

Children learn to respect and understand the needs of others. Staff have high expectations for their behaviour. When children face challenges or feel overwhelmed, staff gently support them to understand their feelings and overcome their difficulties. This helps children learn to regulate their own behaviour while helping them recognise how others are feeling.

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The provision is good

Children are motivated and focused learners who enjoy playing in the safe and stimulating environment. They demonstrate good knowledge about the things that interest them, such as pretending to 'plug in' the toy cars or describing the parts of the toy plane. They listen carefully and show good attention when staff provide new information. For example, they are fascinated to learn how turtles lay their eggs in the sand. Children begin to develop the skills they need to become successful learners in the future.

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need to do better?

n The provider and manager are ambitious leaders who know their children and community well. They support staff by providing good professional development and supervision. This helps staff develop their knowledge and skills to provide consistency in the quality of education for children. n Staff create a well-designed and sequenced curriculum. They use their knowledge of the children's development to create a wide range of activities. Staff plan new topics every week to help children learn and develop their skills. However, sometimes this means that planned activities are too broad and do not fully reflect the children's individual interests, to extend their learning further. n Staff help all children to develop their communication and language skills. They understand that some children need more support, such as those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an

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need to do better?

additional language. Staff ensure that they engage in high quality interactions with children all day. For example, they listen carefully to what children are saying, they ask meaningful questions and give children time to reflect and answer. This helps children learn to express themselves effectively, such as asking for help when they need it. n Staff recognise that children's personal, social and emotional skills has been adversely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. They plan engaging activities

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need to do better?

23 March 2022 to help children learn to share and take turns. For example, children take turns rolling a ball to each other in a circle. Although some find this difficult, staff are quick to acknowledge and praise children when they succeed. This supports children's growing understanding of the needs of others. n Children enjoy lots of exercise and fresh air to support their physical skills and health. For example, they develop their movement and coordination as they run, chase hoops and play football in the large open space. They develop strength and control as they dig in the sand, ride in toy cars and splash in the water. Children learn good hygiene habits, such as washing their hands before they eat. n Some staff encourage children to explore their creative ideas. For example, children enjoy making collages with paper shapes, stickers and glitter. However, at times staff overly direct children's creative play. This limits the opportunities

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need to do better?

children have to make independent choices and to develop their own creative thinking. n Children find out about the environment as they discover the natural world. For instance, children are interested and engaged as they learn how plants grow. They describe parts of a plant, such as the 'leaf' and the 'root'. They notice changes in the environment, such as when they find a 'sleepy' bee outside. n Parents describe how their children thrive at nursery. Parent partnerships are strong. For example, parents work closely with staff to support children's emotional and physical well-being. Staff share regular updates with them about their children's learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The provider and manager ensure that all staff understand their responsibilities to keeping children safe. They have robust procedures in place for safer recruitment of staff, including suitability checks and supervised induction. Staff know the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect and how this might indicate children are at risk. This includes wider safeguarding issues, such as children being exposed to extreme views. They know how to record and refer their concerns in a timely manner, including how to whistle-blow if required. Staff work closely with other professionals to ensure the ongoing well-being of children. Staff speak with children about staying safe, such as when they are going outside to play.

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should:

n continue to support staff to plan activities and experiences that build on children's interests and extend their learning to a higher level n increase opportunities for children to express their own creative ideas to help

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should:

23 March 2022 them to develop their thinking and to make independent choices.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY562802 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10194240 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 26 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Mack, Selina Jane

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reference number

Telephone number 01444 457307 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Badgers Nursery School was registered in 2018 and is in Haywards Heath West Sussex. The nursery is open from 8.45am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, term time only. The provider owns a second nursery, Hedgehogs Nursery School, which is also in Haywards Heath. The nursery provides funded early education for children aged two-, three- and four-years old. There are seven staff, six of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 2 to level 5. The manager has a level 3 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. 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 provider and the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the intentions for children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff children and parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

23 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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