Helitots Day Nursery

Inspection of Helitots Day Nursery R N A S Culdrose, Hms Seahawk, Helston, Cornwall TR12 7RH

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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 Good

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The provision is outstanding

Children are excited to arrive at this welcoming nursery. They enthusiastically greet adults and their friends as they settle quickly. Children rapidly become engaged in activities. They show high levels of fascination and concentration as they play. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make excellent progress as there is an ambitious curriculum. Knowledgeable adults diligently plan activities that excite and challenge all children. Babies explore the garden, learning to toddle and climb up to the slide. Their faces shine with their achievements. Older children discuss the 'dragon' in their small-world castle. They decide that dragons breathe fire and might be dangerous. They build walls around the castle with bricks to keep the castle safe.

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The provision is outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well. They play collaboratively, considering what each other needs. While creating a meal in the home corner, they pass each other tools and check that everyone has what they need. During the routine, they work together to tidy up and help get the next activity ready. Children are extremely confident and adults have high expectations for them. They give the children lots of respect and effective support. Children have a can-do attitude and look for solutions to problems. They stay focused in their learning and persevere when challenges arise.

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need to do better?

n Children develop excellent communication and language skills. Adults expertly label pictures in books for babies. They repeat words back, extending babies' knowledge. Older children increase their vocabulary as they learn about the world around them. They keep land snails as pets and discuss the humidity snails need, before fetching water spray bottles to create this. They ask an adult to be the 'dragon' and breathe fire onto their meal so they can cook it. Babies learn about numbers through rhymes and adults counting objects as they play. Older children count how many children voted for a book at circle time. They learn about shapes as they construct with magnetic shapes. n Leaders and managers are very reflective and ambitious for all children to succeed. They find solutions to any barriers and adapt the setting quickly to meet the needs of the children. Recently, they renovated a large part of the

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need to do better?

garden to create more physical challenge for all children. The older children thoroughly enjoy this space. They have learned to climb the climbing wall. They test their ideas, creating bridges and obstacle courses with the large planks of wood and slices of tree trunks. All children explore the water tray and watch objects sinking and floating. n Children are very respectful and have lovely manners. Adults support them by having consistent rules and expectations. Children thrive as they know what is

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need to do better?

30 May 2022 expected and what they can achieve. Older children use safety knives in the role play area to chop real fruit and vegetables. Adults keep a watchful eye but trust the children to have a go safely. Babies and toddlers have their needs met by sensitive and caring adults. This ensures that the babies and toddlers feel secure and valued. They are calm and happy and able to explore because of this sense of security. n Partnerships with parents are extremely effective. Parents value the care and support their children receive. Parents receive lots of information about the nursery and the activities that are planned. They also receive regular updates about their children's progress. The setting has open days and 'fun afternoons' that parents and families are invited to. This gives parents an excellent opportunity to get to know the staff well and see how the nursery is run. n Leaders and managers have strong partnerships with the Royal Naval Air Station

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need to do better?

(RNAS) community and the local schools. This ensures that they work well together to support each child and their families. Children with SEND have their needs identified quickly by knowledgeable staff. Effective strategies are put into place to support them, so they make rapid progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders ensure all staff have excellent knowledge of how to safeguard children. Staff receive regular training and are supported to embed this knowledge. They know how to identify potential signs of concern in children and how to report these. Staff are very knowledgeable about all issues of safeguarding, including the 'Prevent' duty. Staff carry out regular risk assessments throughout the setting to keep children safe. They teach children about risk and how to keep themselves safe. Leaders use very robust recruitment and retention processes to ensure all staff are suitable to work with young children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY444366 Local authority Cornwall Inspection number 10235716 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 60 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Helitots Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01326 552662 Date of previous inspection 3 February 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Helitots Day Nursery registered in 2012. It is situated on the base of RNAS Culdrose near Helston in Cornwall. It opens Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5.30pm, all year. The nursery receives early years government funding for children aged two, three and four years old. There are eight staff, of whom, two hold relevant qualifications at level 4 and six are qualified to level 3.

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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 her evaluation of the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at nursery. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the quality of the education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a craft activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed the evidence of the 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

30 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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