Banana Moon Day Nursery St Albans

Inspection of Banana Moon Day Nursery St Albans Prime House, 14 Porters Wood, St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 6PQ

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children are very settled in this nursery. They are eager to arrive and happy to start their day. They have close bonds with the staff and demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in their care. For example, younger babies move towards members of staff when a visitor arrives in the room. Babies enjoy listening to the sounds the musical instruments make. They bang the drums alongside the staff as they sing songs the children know. Other children shake the maracas and explore all the different sounds. Some children join in the actions to the songs. They delight when staff praise them for getting their body parts right when singing about their head, shoulders, knees and toes.

p.2

The provision is good

Older children show high levels of concentration. Using pens and pencils, children develop their early writing skills. They create their own versions of fruit and vegetables. Next, they use their newly developed scissor skills to cut out the fruit and vegetables. Staff discuss with children what their favourite fruit and vegetables are.

p.2

The provision is good

Children are well behaved and have a positive attitude to learning. Staff use children's interests to create activities. They ensure that children always have access to activities they enjoy. This helps children to enjoy the learning taking place.

p.2

need to do better?

n The new provider, manager and staff team have made lots of improvements and these are recognised by parents. The provider and the manager have high aspirations for the nursery. Staff say that they feel very well supported by the manager. Effective supervision meetings ensure that staff continue to make professional progress. Staff demonstrate they are happy in their work by their positive approach to the nursery day. n Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the nursery worked hard to stay in contact with families. Using online videos, staff created activities and read stories to children. Children were able to access these from home and join in independently. Art and craft packs were available for those families who continued shielding. This supported children to still make progress at home. n Staff promote healthy lifestyles across the nursery. Babies eat healthy meals and snacks and have access to outside physical play daily. In their room there is a lot

p.2

need to do better?

of space for them to explore and develop their early walking skills. Older children practise cutting their own fruit and vegetables, trying each one as they cut them. Later they complete obstacle courses while out in the garden area. n Staff have excellent knowledge of their children. They understand the next steps in their learning and create activities to develop these further. However, staff do

p.2

need to do better?

31 May 2022 not consistently ensure that children are aware of the learning taking place. Therefore, children are not always able to revisit what they have already learned. n Children develop good communication and language skills. Staff talk to children a lot and engage in conversations throughout the day. They introduce words to extend older children's vocabulary. In the baby room, staff repeat words back to children. However, this is not always pitched at the right level for all babies. Therefore, some children make limited progress in their language development. n Parents are extremely happy with the nursery and the progress their children are making. They are complimentary about the communication they receive about their children. All parents are aware of how to access information about their children's developmental progress. n Transitions into the nursery and throughout the nursery are managed well. New

p.2

need to do better?

children starting the nursery complete thorough settling-in sessions and spend time with their new key person. When children move to a another room in the nursery, they make plenty of trips to their new room to stay and play, before becoming settled and moving over. Staff ensure a smooth transition of information. Transitions from nursery to school are not as smooth. Reception teachers are invited into the nursery to meet children in their own surroundings. However, staff do not focus sharply enough on the skills children need to develop, to better prepare them for their transition to school.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff have good knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse. They are aware of the whistle-blowing policy and when to use this. They are confident in their knowledge of the reporting lines for allegations against members of staff. Staff understand the wider issues in society, such as the 'Prevent' duty guidance and county lines. Regular training ensures that staff's knowledge is kept up to date. Risk assessments of the setting are completed daily to ensure that children are kept safe.

p.3

should:

n support staff even more to develop their understanding of teaching and learning, to make sure children are aware of the learning taking place n strengthen staff's understanding of how to support language development for younger babies n help staff to consider how they support children through transitions to school so that children are better prepared for the next stage in their learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2546898 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10215595 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 70 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person Shiny Stars Ltd

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 07956307200 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Banana Moon Day Nursery St Albans registered in 2019. The nursery employs 11 members of staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, all year round, except for public holidays and at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

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 the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector completed a joint observation together. n The inspector spoke with parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n Discussions were held with the leadership and management team. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

31 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6