Seedling Nursery

Inspection of Seedling Nursery Seedling Nursery, 14 Kenilworth Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 4QS

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children make excellent progress at this nursery. They are happy and secure, and build exceptional relationships with staff. Children display impeccable behavioural skills. Staff support and reinforce these using visual prompts along with positive language. Children have access to large, open, well-organised spaces, which are clean and inviting. Children follow embedded routines meticulously, demonstrating a secure understanding of the nursery rules. They benefit from high-quality adult interactions, which propel their learning forward, based on their identified interests. There is a unique and highly ambitious curriculum in place for all children, which staff deliver skilfully. Children are enthusiastic about their learning and can remember what they have been taught. Multiple children talked about their learning around space from the previous week, discussing large rockets and moon rocks with each other.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's care routines are carried out sensitively. The nursery provides an exceptionally healthy menu, promoting diverse meals which consist of a starter and a main course. Dietary requirements and allergies are successfully considered and there are clear procedures for ensuring these are adhered to. All children have access to a large gym area where staff promote physical development, including climbing and balancing equipment and ball skills. Children have exciting opportunities to join in with extra activities provided by external companies, such as dance, which they engage with eagerly. The curriculum for this is fully aligned with that of the nursery as the manager provides the person leading these sessions with information on the key skills they want them to help children develop.

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need to do better?

n The manager is an inspirational leader. She has embedded a well-designed curriculum that has clear intent about what they want children to learn by the end of pre-school. She supports her staff fully in implementing this to achieve these goals. n The quality of education and teaching is exceptional. Children are confident and inquisitive learners. The impact of the curriculum is evident through the excellent progress children make as staff put children at the heart of all they do. n Staff teach children the skills they need to be independent. Children in the baby room are encouraged to find their own shoes or slippers. Children in the toddler room and both pre-school rooms routinely clear away their own cups and plates after eating. Staff understand the importance of children being independent learners and this is built into their curriculum. n The manager is passionate about developing children's communication skills

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need to do better?

from their starting points. Staff promote this by placing emphasis on reading stories and singing with the children wholeheartedly. Recently, staff have

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need to do better?

5 May 2022 implemented a new initiative where children are encouraged to create and tell stories based on key principles. Children join in excitedly and keenly. Staff use sign language strategies when communicating with children, which helps to instil confidence in those children still developing their verbal communication. n Staff know their key children extremely well. They provide children with individual settling-in procedures to get to know them carefully. Staff hold spotlight meetings with their key children's parents to share and gather information about their home interests. This helps inform staff about children's next steps in learning. Staff skilfully use the information they obtain to promote children's future development. n Babies and toddlers' key next steps in learning are promoted using 'chatter bags'. These bags contain exciting resources and activity ideas. They are are used during small-group learning for young children. Staff engage in purposeful

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need to do better?

interactions with children so that they flourish. n Recognition and support given to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are comprehensive and staff are proactive in their approach. For example, staff have recently split the pre-school children into two groups to meet the needs of these children. The children have responded positively to the change, demonstrating its impact. The special educational needs coordinator is committed to his role and supports the manager and all staff with his expertise. n Parent partnerships are well established through highly effective communication. Parents report that they are extremely happy with the service provided. They comment positively on the excellent progress their children have made since starting at the setting and the exceptional support they have received. This includes those children who speak English as an additional language, who have

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need to do better?

been able to develop their English language rapidly. n The manager has a great overview of the quality of the setting. She gives staff the opportunity to reflect on their practice and supports their professional development. The manager is passionate about early years education and provision. She is working with a local member of parliament to review issues faced by the sector. She wants to continue this work with other settings in the local area to share her knowledge.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have extensive knowledge of safeguarding, keeping children safe and how to refer any concerns they have. There are effective safer recruitment procedures in place. The nursery premises are secure. The external door and some internal doors operate a keypad entry system. There are comprehensive risk assessments, and health and safety checks are carried out by a senior member of staff daily. Procedures for visitors are robust and maintained. Children often access the wider community and therefore learn how to stay safe outside the nursery setting. Staff understand the importance of ensuring mobile phones are always kept away from the children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY560943 Local authority Warwickshire Inspection number 10194234 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 75 Number of children on roll 76 Name of registered person Gather Inn Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01926 312 820 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Seedling Nursery originally opened in 2016 and re-registered with Ofsted in 2018. The nursery is in the town centre of Leamington Spa and opens from 7.45am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. There are 20 members of staff employed in total. Of these, 14 hold relevant childcare qualifications. The nursery receives funding to provide early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors Natalie Herbert Josephine Heath

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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 completed a learning walk with the inspector, where they discussed the curriculum. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector observed the interactions between children and staff during varied activities and play opportunities. n The inspector conducted a leadership and management meeting with the manager and members of the leadership team. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector spoke to children, staff and parents at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the setting.

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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

5 May 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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