Thurston Childcare

Inspection of Thurston Childcare Church Road, Thurston, BURY ST. EDMUNDS, Suffolk IP31 3RU

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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

Babies and toddlers thoroughly enjoy their time in this exceptionally calm, caring and nurturing setting. They come in readily. As parents pass their babies over to staff, the babies snuggle comfortably into staff, demonstrating how settled and secure they feel. Babies confidently snuggle into staff's arms to have their bottles. Staff continue with established routines for feeding and sleeping, supporting children to feel safe and develop a strong sense of belonging. Staff are extremely alert to ensuring that all children are fully included in all events and activities of the day.

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The provision is outstanding

Children play alongside each other harmoniously. They are safe and busy as they explore the varied and interesting range of activities available to them. Staff provide a lovely range of activities, both indoors and outside, that promote all areas of learning. They pay exceptionally good attention to planning for outdoors. This helps ensure that those children who learn best from being outside, can do so. Children spend a significant amount of their day outdoors, playing with balls and wheeled toys, and sitting with staff to look at books together. They are highly motivated and eager to join in. Staff support children's natural instincts to discover and explore. Children delight in exploring the texture of everyday items, such as fabric and pinecones.

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need to do better?

n Staff consistently deliver the highest quality of teaching. They are exceedingly responsive to children's individual needs. Staff are led by what children want to do and expertly extend activities. For example, when children explore 'treasure baskets' of natural materials, staff suggest that they go outside and find other things to put in it. Children readily go off to find stones and sticks to add to the basket. n Staff know the children extremely well and have high expectations of what they can achieve. They talk confidently about where children are in their learning and development and what they need to do to support their continuing progress. Staff are confident to carry through their findings into planning, and their teaching meets the unique needs of each child. This helps to ensure that every child makes the best possible progress in their learning and development. n Staff ensure that equality and inclusion are at the heart of everything they do

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need to do better?

with the children. They engage children in exciting and purposeful play. Children for whom there are possible special educational needs are supported exceptionally well. Staff complete additional training to ensure that they are confident to meet children's medical needs. n Children feel incredibly safe and secure in their relationships with staff. They develop close emotional attachments, confidently seeking out staff for

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need to do better?

5 July 2022 reassurance and to share in their play. Staff skilfully talk with children and challenge their thinking. They respond positively to the babbles and gestures of babies. Staff engage children in conversation, actively listen to what children have to say and expertly extend and develop their vocabulary. n Children behave well and respond positively to the high expectations of staff. Even very young children understand the consistent ground rules and know what is expected of them. Staff are highly effective role models. They talk to children in a calm, respectful manner. Staff give meaningful praise for children's individual efforts. Children thoroughly enjoy this and beam with delight. n Staff build exceptionally friendly and trusting relationships with parents. Communication between them and staff is excellent and exceptionally informative. Parents describe staff as being like 'one big extended family' and

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need to do better?

appreciate the support staff give them as a family. Parents highly value the nurturing nature of the staff. n The management team is highly effective in driving improvement. They rigorously monitor all aspects of practice to inform continuous improvement, leading to exceptional provision and outcomes for children. Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to achieving excellence in all areas. They are enthusiastic and work exceptionally well together as part of a friendly and motivated team. n The management team implements a highly effective programme of supervision and appraisal for all staff to manage their performance, foster a culture of mutual support, and build on the already outstanding practice. Staff have opportunities to share their skills and learn from their colleagues, to improve their practice even further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything that happens in this setting. Staff have an excellent understanding of their responsibilities to protect the welfare of children. They are aware of the indicators of abuse and know how to report concerns. Staff understand how to support vulnerable families. They are aware of their duty to prevent children being drawn into situations that put them at significant risk of harm. There is an effective recruitment and selection procedure to ensure that those working with children are suitable to do so. Staff feel confident to report concerns about colleagues.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY442936 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 10235685 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Thurston Pre-School Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01359 234993 Date of previous inspection 29 September 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Thurston Childcare registered in 2012 and is situated in Thurston, Suffolk. It employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The setting opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays and for a week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm. The setting provides care for children aged from three months to two years.

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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 and the manager completed a tour of the setting to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n Staff spoke with the inspector at appropriate times throughout the inspection, and the inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the management team and also discussed self-evaluation. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector, through discussion and written testimonials.

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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

5 July 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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