Scallywags (Medway) Limited

Inspection of Scallywags (Medway) Limited Playfootball.Net, London Road, Rainham, GILLINGHAM, Kent ME8 7RJ

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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 flourish in the attractive, nurturing and stimulating nursery. They form extremely strong attachments with the empathetic, warm and kind staff. Children's laughter and happy voices can be heard throughout the day. Staff create a home- from-home environment for children that is safe and joyful.

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The provision is outstanding

Children confidently explore and discover exciting resources and inspiring activities in the calm and relaxed rooms. They have time and space to experiment and try out new ways of doing things. For instance, young babies eagerly copy and make sounds when they bang wooden spoons together. Older children become deeply focused and fascinated when they stir and dissolve colourful sweets in water. Toddlers relish the sensation of sticky 'gloop', that is scented with lemon, on their hands.

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The provision is outstanding

Children develop a strong sense of who they are when they negotiate and think about the needs of others. Their behaviour is exemplary, and they demonstrate an excellent understanding of the age-appropriate rules of the nursery. This supports them to develop their self-control and resilience. Staff lead by example, modelling positive attitudes and an understanding of children's feelings and emotions. For instance, babies are instantly soothed to prevent them from becoming overly distressed or tired.

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The provision is outstanding

Children learn to respect and value one another. Their cultures, languages and festivals become an integral part of nursery life. Children learn about the world around them as they begin their own exciting adventures as enthusiastic life-long learners.

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need to do better?

n The nursery is superbly led by an inspirational team of directors and managers. Their dedication to staff, children and parents is exceptional. A culture of safety and well-being is fully embedded and at the heart of everyone's practice. Staff describe their love of working at the nursery and praise the excellent support they receive. An outstanding programme of training, mentoring and supervision helps all staff to maintain their strong professional skills and knowledge. n Staff know the children extremely well. From the moment children start, staff plan and deliver a curriculum that is closely tailored to their individual needs and interests. Staff accurately record children's progress and development. This helps them to sequence children's learning precisely as they move through the nursery rooms. Children are fully prepared with the skills they need to support their future learning, including when they go to school.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children to develop their communication and language skills

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need to do better?

7 June 2022 extremely well. They consistently repeat songs, rhymes and sounds for babies. Older children engage in long conversations with attentive staff. Additional funding is used exceptionally well to further support children's speaking and communication skills, including those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. For example, a speech therapist regularly works with staff and children to provide specific interventions and activities. n Children benefit from inspirational teaching to support their interests and learning. For instance, when older children learn about eyes and their senses, they use words such as 'vision' and 'sight'. Children make links between themselves and others when they notice their similarities and differences. Children are fascinated when they look into the eyes of staff to see the contact lenses they are wearing. n Staff create an exceptional environment inside and outside to help all children

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need to do better?

gain confidence and develop their physical skills. Staff are superb at letting children explore and discover while providing them with age-appropriate challenges. For example, babies confidently extend their physical abilities when they crawl and climb over the low climbing frame. Older children expertly and steadily run across the bridge, and up and down steps. n Staff foster children's love of books. For instance, children snuggle up to staff wherever they are to listen to stories, such as under the climbing frame or next to the sand tray. Parents borrow books to take home to read to their children, including some written in their home languages. This helps to instil a love of reading in children. n Staff skilfully help children to be fully independent and capable of looking after their own personal needs. Young children put on their shoes and feed themselves, while older children confidently get dressed, use the toilet and eat

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need to do better?

using cutlery. The dedicated chef provides exceptionally well-balanced and nutritious meals to support children's awareness of healthy eating. n Partnerships with parents are superb. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a full schedule of learning was delivered by staff online and in learning packs to any children not attending the nursery during this time. Parents praised the staff for going 'above and beyond' in maintaining contact with them and their children throughout. Parents are fully welcomed into the nursery at the beginning and end of the day. They build a very strong rapport with staff when they share information about their children's learning and development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders' and staff's commitment to safeguarding children is excellent. A robust recruitment and induction process ensures the suitability of all staff working with children. Regular training and support for staff ensures they are fully aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. They know how to refer their concerns in a timely way, including how to raise concerns about the conduct of a colleague should they need to. Staff are eloquent and confident when they talk about safeguarding issues, such as county lines and the 'Prevent' duty guidance. They

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Safeguarding

7 June 2022 actively support parents to keep children safe, such as by signposting them to where they can seek additional advice and help.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY459674 Local authority Medway Inspection number 10228791 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 104 Number of children on roll 190 Name of registered person Scallywags (Medway) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01634 232300 Date of previous inspection 1 December 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Scallywags (Medway) Ltd registered in 2013 and is located in Rainham, Kent. The nursery is open on weekdays from 7.30am to 6.30pm, all year round. They receive funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 48 members of staff, of whom 26 hold relevant childcare qualifications from level 2 to level 5. Of the two managers, one is qualified at level 3 and one is qualified at level 5.

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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 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 joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector spoke with children, staff and parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed 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

7 June 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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