Chestnut Nursery Schools @the Diamond Centre

Inspection of Chestnut Nursery Schools @the Diamond Centre Sprowston Diamond Centre, School Lane, Sprowston, Norwich, Norfolk NR7 8TR

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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 clearly enjoy their time at this stimulating nursery. They demonstrate that they feel safe as they confidently settle to their favourite activities, supported by interested staff. Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress with their speaking and listening. They share their views and opinions with staff and visitors, knowing that they will be listened to. For instance, they are keen to describe how they are helping to set up a planting activity. Parents report that they feel that they, and their children, are well supported.

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate excellent levels of behaviour. They play cooperatively with their friends. Children use strategies that staff teach them to help them to take turns, such as using a sand timer to judge when it it their turn to play with a favourite toy. When children are still learning how to play together, staff swiftly offer support that teaches children how to manage their disagreements.

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The provision is good

Children learn how their food grows as they plant fruit and vegetables. They explore living things as they examine the bug hotels in the well-equipped garden. All children, including those with special education needs and/or disabilities make progress in their learning, as staff plan effectively for their needs.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers focus clearly on supporting children's speaking and listening skills. During a musical activity, young children are encouraged to share their favourite nursery rhymes. Staff and children sing these together. Staff are diligent in ensuring that they sing slowly and clearly and make sure that children are taught the skills necessary to join in. Young children learn that their choices will be respected, and the joy of using their voices to sing as well as speak. n Staff bring books and stories to life by creating sensory experiences that mirror the stories. For instance, when exploring a book about a bear hunt, they create a sensory activity that provides children the opportunity to act out the adventures in the book. Children are entranced as staff read the story. They laugh gleefully as they pretend to be on their own bear hunt. This helps children gain a love of books and develops their imaginative play.

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need to do better?

n Staff naturally introduce mathematical language in their interactions with children. When planting seeds, staff encourage children to consider the quantity of soil that they will need to fill their plant pots. They count the seeds and compare the number of children to the available resources. Children develop mathematical skills that they will need for later learning. n Staff gather useful information about children's home languages and cultures. They use this information to plan activities that celebrate the diversity in their

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need to do better?

21 April 2022 setting. Key words that children hear in the languages used in their homes are gathered when children first start. These are used to help them settle and feel safe. Children learn that all their languages and cultures are valued, which prepares them for life in modern Britain. n Leaders and managers are ambitious for the setting. For instance, they conduct regular observations of staff and have recently developed video observations to support staff to reflect on their own practice. They have devised strategies, such as key questions and prompts for learning, that link to planned activities. These help staff understand how to extend children's learning. Staff report feeling well supported and are keen to further develop their teaching skills. n Staff plan to develop children's independence skills in preparation for school. They teach children to be independent in their self-care, such as putting on their

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need to do better?

coats and washing their hands. However, sometimes, staff choose to remove items, such as scissors, rather than teach children how to use them safely. They miss some opportunities to teach children skills that they will need at school. n Although all children make good progress, staff, occasionally, miss opportunities to provide effective support for children's next steps in their learning. Consequently, opportunities to consistently extend children's learning are, sometimes, lost.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers implement robust recruitment strategies. They check staff suitability to work with children regularly. Staff are trained to understand the signs and symptoms that show children may be at risk of harm. They understand how to spot and report wider safeguarding concerns, such as children being at risk of radicalisation or female genital mutilation. Leaders and managers implement robust procedures to record and explore injuries that children sustain outside of the setting. Staff are clear about how and when to raise safeguarding concerns outside the setting if leaders and managers do not take necessary action to safeguard children.

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should:

n provide further support for staff to help them recognise the importance of taking every opportunity to fully implement the nursery's curriculum intention to promote children's independence skills n develop monitoring and evaluation further, so that leaders and managers precisely identify all areas for improvement and implement strategies that ensure that teaching is consistently of the highest quality.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2545286 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10215525 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 53 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person Chestnut Nursery School (Norfolk) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01603927277 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Chestnut Nursery Schools @the Diamond Centre opened in July 2019 in Sprowston, Norfolk. It is managed by Chestnut Nursery School (Norfolk) Limited. The nursery employs five permanent members of staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday throughout the year, from 8am to 6.30pm. The setting 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 manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. 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 provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager.

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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

21 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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