Little Blue Van (Great Amwell)

Inspection of Little Blue Van (Great Amwell) Parish Hall, Hillside Lane, Great Amwell, Ware, Hertfordshire SG12 9SH

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children are happy and feel safe in this nurturing and caring environment. They develop close and trusting relationships with staff, who put children's well-being and security at the heart of everything they do. Children communicate their feelings well. They confidently tell visitors what they do outside of the nursery, such as visiting the park with their mum, dad and sister.

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The provision is good

Children invite their friends and staff to join in their play. They wait patiently for their turn to pay for a pretend cake. Children have plenty of fun and excitedly take part in messy play. After squeezing a plastic container, they enjoy watching red paint spurt into a tray. Children watch, listen to, and follow staff's clear instructions. After carefully dipping raw potato in paint, they press it onto a piece of paper and reveal the mark it makes. Children show a sense of pride at this achievement and smile at staff who give them plenty of praise. They show perseverance as they repeat this action to make a pattern. Children learn how to keep themselves safe through gentle reminders from staff.

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need to do better?

n The provider and staff are dedicated to ensuring that all children receive high- quality care and education. They are proud to have made improvements to administration within the nursery to help reduce the unnecessary use of paper. In addition, staff use an online system to report useful information to parents about their children's care and learning. n All parents give positive feedback about the nursery. They talk about how quickly their children settle in. Parents report that staff are 'good with communication'. They also talk about how they are invited to parents' evenings and that they speak to staff about their children's care every day. Parents say that 'the outdoor facilities are really good'. They comment that 'staff are very creative with the way that they set up activities to fire children's imagination'. n Children benefit from a wide variety of learning opportunities in the extensive outdoor play areas available to them. For example, they have plenty of fun

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need to do better?

playing in the field as they run after hoops and explore the natural environment. Children are eager to show staff that they can climb to the top of large play equipment safely. The undercover area next to the nursery enables outdoor play in all types of weather. n Staff regularly conduct risk assessments of areas used by children. They carry out daily safety checks to ensure that the environment remains safe and secure. Staff are effectively deployed throughout the nursery. These measures help to ensure that children's safety and well-being are promoted. n Staff encourage children to become independent. Children learn the importance of caring for themselves. They are able to use the toilet independently. They

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need to do better?

28 March 2022 also know that they must wash and dry their hands afterwards, and before eating. These are important skills in preparation for their eventual move on to school. n Children learn about simple mathematical concepts. At snack time, they are encouraged to think about and compare the difference in the size of their water bottles to find out which one is taller. Children show very good concentration and decision-making skills. They push bricks together to build a tower, making sure that they have the correct shape and size. n Children are extremely well behaved. Staff help children to understand what is expected of them. Children take part in a weekly mindfulness and yoga session, supported by an appropriately trained member of staff. The nursery environment is very calm and children are positively engaged in exciting learning opportunities. n Staff are provided with regular supervision meetings and training opportunities

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need to do better?

to help develop their skills and knowledge. However, the impact of training is not consistently evaluated to ensure staff further increase their knowledge and skills. n Staff complete initial and ongoing observations of children. However, the provider does not sharply monitor how well assessments of children are used to provide the very best level of challenge for each child during group activities.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The provider ensures that robust recruitment and induction procedures are implemented. This helps to ensure that all staff are suitable and have a clear understanding of their responsibilities. The provider and deputy manager have completed training for designated safeguarding lead persons. This ensures that someone is always on hand to provide support and advice. Staff show a clear understanding of child protection and wider safeguarding issues. They are aware of the procedures to follow if they have any concerns about a child or adult. Staff supervise children when they are eating and ensure that they are always within their sight and/or hearing.

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should:

n reflect more closely on the impact of training to help evaluate how this contributes to the continued quality of teaching to support children's learning n review staff's use of assessments during group activities to ensure that they consistently support the learning needs of all children as well as possible.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY479685 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10076170 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 82 Name of registered person Little Blue Van (GA) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07770963701 Date of previous inspection 21 March 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Little Blue Van (Great Amwell) registered in 2014. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 8.30am until 3pm. The before- and after- school clubs operate from 7.45am until 8.30am and from 3.15pm 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 provider and this has been taken into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk of the nursery, inside and outside. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the deputy manager and they evaluated this together. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing when they attend the nursery. n Parents and staff spoke with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including the suitability checks of all adults 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

28 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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