Home from Home Day Nursery School

Inspection of Home from Home Day Nursery School 52a Bernard Street, St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 5QN

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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 attending this family run, enjoyable and exciting day nursery receive the very best start to their education. Staff here offer a highly inclusive experience for each child. Children are confident and resilient. They learn techniques that help them to understand and regulate their emotions in different situations, for example through yoga and mindfulness techniques using petals.

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The provision is outstanding

Babies are extremely confident in their environment. They have very strong relationships with staff and are confident to explore independently. Children demonstrate excellent skills in forming close friendships with their peers. For example, children initiate turn taking using sand timers and praise each other when playing cooperatively, helping to build self-esteem and confidence in their friends.

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The provision is outstanding

Children happily explore their environment and are fully given the freedom to do so from each age group. Children have excellent opportunities to make choices in their play and extend learning opportunities with the help of knowledgeable adults who are passionate about what they do. For example, children talk about watering plants and what nutrients they may need. The superb garden areas provide children with a range of rich experiences. Children from all age groups have access to all learning opportunities at all times in this space.

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need to do better?

n The nursery has an exceptionally warm and welcoming ethos. Staff strive to ensure that every family feels included. The provider has taken huge strides in ensuring that the nursery is diverse and reflective of children's many differing types of families. n Parents are very involved in their children's learning. Staff have a robust settling- in process where they will visit the homes of children and families before they start to attend. Parents are extremely happy with the nursery and say that staff are 'incredible end to end'. Staff use social events and a parent committee to make sure that parents' voices are heard. Consistency between children's learning at the nursery and at home is seamless. n Support for children's language development is outstanding. Babies and children are consistently immersed in rich, vibrant language as staff narrate their day. Babies engage in songs and rhymes, Toddlers lift flaps and enjoy stories, and

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need to do better?

older children begin to understand initial sounds in words. Real-life examples, such as cookbooks, help children to understand the value of written language. Children acquire new vocabulary at a rapid rate and become effective and expressive communicators. n Strongly embedded routines support children's exemplary behaviour. For example, when it is lunchtime, children sit patiently sharing a menu around with

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need to do better?

22 June 2022 their peers. They take turns to serve their own lunch and use manners with each other. n Transitions within the nursery are extremely effective. Children of all ages are able to share areas and seek new and exciting experiences between rooms and age groups. The routine is very strong and staff encourage independence from the beginning of a child's journey. This means that children can make choices about what they want to do. n Staff are genuinely respectful and caring with children. They listen to them and provide considerate care routines. For example, before any care routines, such as wiping noses or changing nappies, staff ask children and tell them what will happen. This shows how staff value children, their rights and their sense of safety and security. n Staff are exceptionally happy in their work. They say that they are part of a team that feels like a family. The excellent support that staff receive when

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need to do better?

training promotes their great understanding and deep awareness of their role and responsibilities. Leaders encourage all staff to build on their knowledge by devising in-house training. The leadership team recognises that the staff are the nursery's biggest asset. The team invests a great deal of time in coaching staff and supporting them with mental well-being initiatives. n Children show high levels of independence in readiness for school. For example, staff encourage children to make their own choices and be confident learners. Those children working at higher levels are consistently challenged. Staff work closely with parents and schools to support transitions. Teachers visit the nursery to meet children, and the staff share detailed information regarding children's development. Children are exceptionally well prepared to start school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff demonstrate a very strong understanding of the nursery's policies and procedures for safeguarding children in their care. They know how to recognise the indicators of a wide range of possible abuse situations and how to report their concerns. The manager ensures that staff receive regular training and are kept updated about any new safeguarding matters. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to assure the suitability of all staff.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 123566 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10127258 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person Collins, Linda

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reference number

Telephone number 01727 811 212 Date of previous inspection 18 December 2014

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Information about this early years setting

Home from Home Day Nursery School registered in 1994. The nursery opens Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.15am to 7pm and children attend for a variety of sessions. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff who work directly with the children. Of these, three are qualified to degree level and 17 staff are qualified at levels 2, 3 or 4. 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 provision. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the curriculum and what it is that they want the children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n Children spoke to the inspector about the activities they were doing. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nursery manager and the nominated individual. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager, the nominated individual and the nursery administrator. She looked at relevant documentation

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Inspection activities

and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n A number of parents provided written feedback to the inspector, who took account of their views.

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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

22 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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