Flora House Day Nursery

Inspection of Flora House Day Nursery 180 Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, County Durham DL3 8PA

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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 confident in this welcoming and nurturing nursery. Staff greet children with big smiles and cheery 'good mornings'. Children who are upset when they leave their parents are comforted with cuddles and caring words. Staff take time to help children settle when they arrive. This promotes children's feelings of being safe and secure in the environment. Children enjoy being outdoors and show their pleasure at learning to take measured risks. Younger children are encouraged to climb onto the slide. They learn how to manoeuvre their bodies to the top of the slide. They smile with pride as they accomplish their goal. Children relish the praise which they receive from staff for their achievements.

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The provision is good

Older children run around the garden excitedly chasing bubbles. They learn about the natural world as they shout 'the bubbles are escaping' as they blow high into the sky. Children show confidence in their physical skills as they jump up to catch the bubbles and bend down to reach the bubbles on the ground. Babies delight in practising their new walking skills. They look in amazement as they stand on their own, waving their arms and tentatively moving their legs forward. Staff encourage babies and tell them, 'You can do it' and 'You can walk.' This helps to develop children's motivation to have a go for themselves.

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need to do better?

n All staff know how to speak to children slowly and give children time to respond. They look at children as they talk to them and use the correct pronunciation. However, staff do not consistently extend children's vocabulary when they play or during routines. For example, on occasions, staff do not introduce new vocabulary or different words that have the same meanings into children's language. n Older children know to use soap and water to wash their hands after using the toilet or before eating. Staff help younger children learn to do this for themselves. However, at these times, staff do not help children to deepen their understanding of keeping themselves healthy. For instance, staff do not explain to children the reasons why they need to wash their hands. n Staff foster children's love of books across the nursery. They sit with babies as they feel the different textures on the pages of books. Children confidently take

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need to do better?

books to staff, knowing that they will be read. This helps to support children's emotional well-being and feelings of being valued. n Staff know children very well. They confidently discuss where children are in their learning and what it is they want children to learn next. Staff plan activities to support children with their future development. For example, they hold babies' hands and encourage them to pull themselves up to a standing position. n Children's behaviour is very good. Older children show high levels of respect for

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need to do better?

8 April 2022 each other. They automatically invite other children to join their play, moving aside and sharing resources. Staff are consistent in the ways they teach young children about sharing and taking turns. n Staff are very well supported by managers. For example, they have ongoing opportunities to engage in professional development opportunities to enhance their knowledge and practice. This helps children to benefit from a good range of learning experiences and develop a positive approach towards their own learning. n Managers and staff are proficient in supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities. They work in partnership with parents and other agencies to ensure that children and families get the help they need. n Parents are very complimentary about the service the nursery provides. They stress the value to their children and themselves of the discussions at the beginning and end of their child's day. Parents describe the friendliness, support

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need to do better?

and care of the staff team. Parents appreciate the flexibility of the nursery in helping them to meet the challenges of their working lives. n Managers have a clear vision for future developments at the nursery. For example, they discuss in detail the recent changes that have been made to the outdoor provision to support children's development. n Partnership with local schools is a key feature of the nursery. Managers talk of how they share information of children's development with their feeder schools. They hope, with the lifting of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, to restart visits to schools with children and parents. This helps children to be confident and prepared to enter the next phase of their learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a secure understanding of their responsibilities to protect children. They know the procedures to follow if they have concerns about children's welfare, including protecting children from extremist views. The manager and staff ensure that the premises are secure at all times and any potential hazards to children's safety are identified and minimised. Staff use robust policies and regular training to strengthen all aspects of safeguarding practice.

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should:

n extend children's communication skills even further by helping them to learn new vocabulary n help children to deepen their understanding of why they need to keep themselves healthy.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY348184 Local authority Darlington Inspection number 10229523 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 60 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person Flora House Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01325 462302 Date of previous inspection 25 October 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Flora House Day Nursery registered in 2003. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, one member of staff holds a qualification at level 6, 11 hold qualifications at level 3, and one member of staff is qualified to level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8am until 5.30pm. 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 nursery 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 nursery. n The manager and the inspector had a learning walk together. They observed activities in the indoor and outdoor learning environments used by children. n The inspector observed a focused activity and evaluated this with the manager. n The inspector spoke with the manager, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. Children's records were looked at by the inspector along with a range of other documentation, including policies and procedures. n Evidence of staff's qualifications and the suitability of all those working in the nursery was checked by the inspector.

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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

8 April 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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