Small Friends Children's Day Nursery

Inspection of Small Friends Children's Day Nursery 15 Rectory Grove, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 2HA

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children absolutely thrive and flourish in this inclusive, loving nursery. They embrace each other's similarities and differences and show a deep understanding of how they can include and help their friends. For example, to communicate with sign language. Children form unbreakable bonds with staff and each other. They show extremely high levels of social skills and empathy for their ages. For example, children ask each other if they have food on their faces. They caringly tell each other if they have and when they have rubbed it all off.

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The provision is outstanding

Children benefit from a curriculum that completely encompasses and values their ideas and opinions. For example, children chose to have a pretend play café. This led to activities, such as writing food orders, food tasting and fruit painting, all ideas from the children and led by the children. Children are independent learners. They embrace new knowledge and implement it into their play with the help of extremely skilled staff. Children acquire excellent communication and language skills. They confidently rhyme words, such as cow and how. They develop a strong love of reading, confidently recalling stories and making up their own.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely well behaved and know exactly what is expected of them. They learn table manners and listen to instructions beautifully. Even the youngest of children develop high levels of independence, such as helping to tidy up and putting rubbish in the bin. Children develop a deep understanding of how to keep themselves safe and healthy. Children remind each other to slow down in case they fall over. Staff remind children to drink water otherwise they might get a headache.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff have an excellent understanding of how children learn. They tailor their interactions to exactly what the individual children need. Staff engage children to high levels with their passion and enthusiasm. Children are mesmerised by staff's interactions. For example, the voices and actions they make while using puppets to sing with them. The sharp focus on staff's professional development means that teaching is consistently of very high quality. n Following children's lead in play is at the heart of the curriculum. Staff place a high importance on focusing on what children are interested in and want to learn about. Consequently, children show extremely high levels of engagement, are active learners and feel valued and included. Even the youngest of children actively answer questions. They excitedly contribute their ideas for a shark to be the animal in a song and its sound should be 'Chomp, Chomp'.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from a first-rate, skilled staff team. Staff have high expectations of themselves. They are excellent role models for children to copy. Staff

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need to do better?

25 May 2022 demonstrate drinking water to keep hydrated. They treat each other and children with the utmost respect. Staff use impeccable manners and excellent social skills. Consequently, children learn these skills rapidly and make excellent progress. n Staff are skilled at supporting children's emotional intelligence and well-being. For example, when reading 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears', staff encourage children to think of ways that Goldilocks could make the bears feel better. Children kindly share suggestions, such as mending the chairs, saying sorry and giving them cuddles. Even the youngest of children are helped to manage their emotions. Staff help them to recognise when they are sad. They help them to develop ways to positively communicate what they need to feel better. n Children acquire excellent literacy skills. They are provided with superb opportunities to recognise and write letters and words in all aspects of the

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need to do better?

nursery. For example, writing recipes, food orders, their own name cards and to label things, such as photos of flowers. Communication and language skills are also exceptionally well supported. Staff add new words into children's language, such as magma, erupt and lava. This helps expands children's vocabulary to high levels. Consequently, children make rapid progress and are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, such as school. n Staff well-being is a high priority for the management. Staff say they are extremely valued and can approach leaders with any concerns they have. Leaders really listen to staff feedback and make changes based on staff's views. Staff have recently been given access to a reward system to value them for the hard work they do. n Partnerships with parents are superb. Parents comment at how incredibly well staff get to know children and their individual personalities, so they feel safe and

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need to do better?

secure. The managers, in partnership with parents, use funding to the maximum benefit of the children attending.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have an excellent understanding of safeguarding, including wider safeguarding issues, such as the risks of radicalisation. They know the action to take if they have a concern, including how to report concerns outside of the nursery. The provider conducts robust vetting procedures for new staff. All staff undergo thorough training in safeguarding on a regular basis. The manager checks staff's ongoing suitability to ensure they continue to be suitable to work with children. Staff ensure the environment is safe and secure. They educate children on how to keep themselves and others safe.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY152460 Local authority Southend-on-Sea Inspection number 10238453 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 113 Name of registered person Small Friends Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01702 471235 Date of previous inspection 22 July 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Small Friends Children's Day Nursery registered in 2001. It employs 25 members of childcare staff. Of these, 19 hold early years qualifications at level 2 and above. One member of staff holds early years teacher status. The nursery operates Monday to Friday all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm. 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 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 the children to learn. 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 Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation of an activity. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector in person and through written testimonials. n The inspector spoke with two Reception class teachers who were visiting the nursery. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

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

25 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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