Dandelions Day Nursery And Family Centre

Inspection of Dandelions Day Nursery And Family Centre Monument Place, Churton Road, Farndon, Chester, Cheshire CH3 6QP

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is good

Children have a good start to their education at this nursery. They form strong attachments with adults and build friendships with other children. Children are safe and happy. They enjoy music classes and visits to the local area. Children become part of their local community. For example, children have taken part in local craft sessions and sang carols to local residents.

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The provision is good

Children take part in a broad variety of activities that are planned to meet their individual needs. Children are challenged in their learning and staff have high expectations of them. They make good progress. Children behave well and follow instructions. They understand what rules they need to follow and why.

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The provision is good

Children learn to show care and concern for living things as they find a worm and woodlouse in the soil. They develop their hand-eye coordination as they plant vegetables that they have grown on from seeds. They learn the names of different parts of plants and of the tools they use. Children develop their physical skills in the extensive outdoor areas which all children access daily. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, children leave their parents at the gate. This has helped children to settle.

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need to do better?

n Staff regularly observe children and know them well. They track children's progress to identify what children need to learn next. For example, children who are beginning to walk are given access to walkers to support their development. Additional funding is used well to support children's learning. Children's knowledge and skills develop over time. n Children develop their independence skills, such as putting on their own puddle suits and 'wellies'. However, younger children are not always encouraged to feed themselves. This means that they do not have enough practise to develop these skills before moving on to the next room in the nursery. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Staff are quick to identify children who may need support and seek advice from the nursery's special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator (SENDCo). The setting works alongside other agencies, such as the

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need to do better?

local authority and health visitors, to help it to acquire any support that children need. Children with SEND achieve good outcomes. n At mealtimes, children develop their communication skills as they socialise with their peers. However, toddlers become restless, and their behaviour deteriorates, as they wait too long for their meals to be served. This means their focus is taken away from enjoying an otherwise positive and interactive experience.

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need to do better?

8 June 2022 n Children are content in their play, on their own and collaboratively with others. For example, children develop their physical skills as they independently build towers that are taller than themselves. They are delighted as the towers come crashing down. Pre-school children create obstacle courses, carefully placing each wooden block into position after thoughtful discussion. They help each other to cross the blocks, celebrating their achievements. This supports children's positive self-esteem and helps them to develop confidence and resilience. n Role play is used as a tool to help children develop their creativity and imagination. Staff join in with children's play as they pretend to be in a hospital. They apply bandages and children lie down to rest. Children are encouraged to expand on each other's ideas and to express their own thoughts. n Staff attend regular training that is relevant to their role. For example, staff have

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need to do better?

learned about different approaches to learning, which they have used to develop their teaching. The manager promotes a culture of continual development at the nursery, which helps to ensure that staff practice is always improving. n Parents are very happy with the care provided. They value conversations with their child's key person, who speaks to them each day. Parents praise the 'family feel' and 'lovely staff team'. Staff regularly communicate with parents using an online app, sharing observations and assessments of children's progress. This helps parents to understand how they can support children's learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of different types of abuse. They know what signs to look out for and how to report any concerns that they have. Staff sign each day to declare that they remain suitable to work with children. Children are counted as they go outside and come back inside, which helps staff to account for children's whereabouts at all times. Children's dietary requirements are well catered for. Separate meals are provided which are labelled. This helps to avoid any cross contamination and keep those with allergies safe from harm.

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should:

n develop effective monitoring procedures to ensure that staff give children opportunities to practise key skills, such as feeding themselves n consider how lunchtime routines are managed so that toddlers do not wait too long for their meals to be served.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY489026 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10236660 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 86 Number of children on roll 88 Name of registered person Dandelions Early Childhood Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01829 272 277 Date of previous inspection 25 August 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Dandelions Day Nursery And Family Centre registered in 2015. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds a level 7 qualification, two hold a level 6, two hold a level 5, one holds a level 4 and eight hold a level 3 qualification. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. 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 nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the nursery and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The SENDCo spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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 inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and deputy manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

8 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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