Munchkins Nursery And Pre School

Inspection of Munchkins Nursery And Pre School Unit 4, Sharp House, Hemmells, Laindon, Basildon, Essex SS15 6UJ

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children settle quickly on arrival and show that they feel safe and secure in the welcoming environment. They benefit from lovely, warm interactions with staff. Babies laugh delightedly as staff sing songs and talk animatedly to them. Older children are keen to talk about special events at home and share their ideas. Children eagerly explore and make choices about which of the wide range of interesting activities to access. They are given plenty of opportunities to develop their independence and confidence. Older children serve themselves breakfast then put on their shoes and collect their hats to go outside. They are eager to join in and take turns with resources. For example, children don chefs' hats and aprons to bake banana bread. They enthusiastically mash bananas and take turns to mix the wet and dry ingredients together in a big bowl. Staff support children to take turns and to wait for resources patiently.

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The provision is good

Children's physical skills are well supported. They have access to large equipment and toys to challenge their balance and strength, as well as a variety of tools to practise using the small muscles in their hands. For example, children use a hammer to tap golf tees into watermelons then use the hammer's claw to remove them. They practise following the safety rules and glow with pride as staff praise their successes. Staff know children well and have high expectations for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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need to do better?

n Staff provide a broad and balanced curriculum that follows children's interests and supports their development. They offer a variety of activities across all areas of learning. Staff present activities and resources in interesting ways to capture children's attention. For instance, children eagerly explore a potion-making activity in the garden. They carefully select flowers and practise pouring water from large containers into little bottles and pots. Children enjoy smelling and feeling the different materials, supported by staff who provide key words to extend their vocabulary. n Staff interactions with children are warm and responsive. They listen carefully to children and ask relevant questions to spark and maintain conversations. Staff share jokes with children and children laugh delightedly. They make good use of songs and rhymes both spontaneously and as part of the daily routine across all

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need to do better?

rooms. This helps to create a happy atmosphere and supports children's speech and language from an early age. n The two special educational needs coordinators work effectively with children with SEND. They swiftly identify the children who need support and liaise with parents to ensure that each child's needs are met. Excellent partnership working with external professionals ensures that children received highly tailored

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need to do better?

4 July 2022 interventions and consistent support arrangements. This helps all children to make good progress from their starting points. Staff also make links with schools to promote children's smooth transition to their next stage in learning. n Children's behaviour is good and they understand the setting's rules appropriately for their age. Staff are good role models who use positive phrasing to remind children what is expected of them. They encourage children to take turns and praise them for kind behaviour. This helps to build children's self- esteem and confidence. n The directors and manager made arrangements to support staff well-being and recognise the pressures faced by staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, including providing a permanent counselling service. Staff speak positively about this support and their relationships with colleagues. The management team regularly monitors staff performance. However, there is scope to sharpen peer

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need to do better?

observations and feedback to help individuals improve their teaching skills and practice to a consistently high level. n Children are motivated to learn and show good levels of concentration and perseverance. For example, older children focus as they use tweezers to pick up and place a number of pom-poms to match wooden numbers. Babies are encouraged to begin feeding themselves and are given time and opportunities to practise this. Staff provide 'taste-safe' materials for babies play with to strengthen the small muscles in their hands. n Staff establish positive relationships with parents and share information about children's care needs and daily activities. Parents generally speak highly of the setting and how their children enjoy attending. They feel their children are happy and safe. However, some parents do not understand what their children are learning and how they can best support this at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff access safeguarding and child protection training regularly. They know the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They understand how to identify and report concerns, including those involving potential radicalisation. When appointing new staff, the manager and directors follow thorough recruitment processes to assure themselves that staff are suitable.

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should:

n develop systems for peer observations and supervision further to ensure a sharp focus on improving individual staff practice and providing feedback to support staff in delivering the curriculum more effectively n strengthen parent partnership arrangements to involve all parents more fully to

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should:

4 July 2022 understand their child's progress and learning, and ways they can support learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2549086 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10215674 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 82 Name of registered person Munchkins Daycare (Laindon) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07803237754 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Munchkins Nursery and Pre School registered in 2019. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, 7am to 6.30pm, all year round. It employs 22 childcare staff, of whom 13 hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The setting 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 setting 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 her evaluation of the setting. n The manager took the inspector on a learning walk across all areas of the premises to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed the quality of interactions during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector held a number of discussions with the manager and directors. She looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of all persons working on the premises. n Three joint observations were carried out and evaluated by the inspector and the manager. n The inspector spoke to children, staff and parents at appropriate times during the inspection.

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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

4 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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