The Townsend Nursery

Inspection of The Townsend Nursery Stretton Grandison, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2TS

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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 thrive at this warm and welcoming nursery. They arrive extremely happy and eager to begin their day. Children smile broadly and confidently say good morning to the kind and nurturing staff. Children quickly identify their name on their coat peg and carefully put their belongings away. Older children are very kind to younger children. They help them to find their peg and put their lunch box in the appropriate place. Children's behaviour is exceedingly good. They fully understand the routines of the day and know what is expected from them.

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The provision is outstanding

Children benefit from a thoughtful and highly ambitious curriculum. Staff carefully consider children's individual needs, learning styles, and interests when planning activities. Children are highly engaged and motivated to learn. They enthusiastically explore the wide array of high-quality resources, both indoors and outdoors. Young children lead their learning as they engage in repetitive play, such as filling and emptying different sized containers with water and sand. Children listen attentively and follow instructions. They concentrate as they weigh and measure the ingredients to make bread and carefully add them to the bowl. Staff explain that they need one thousand and fifty grams of flour. Children correctly identify numbers, such as zero, one and five on the weighing scales. They develop strength in their arms and hands in readiness for early writing as staff encourage them to vigorously knead the dough. Children develop excellent communication

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The provision is outstanding

and language skills. They delight in singing songs and rhymes. Children engage in deep and meaningful conversations with staff throughout the day. Staff support them to make links to past learning experiences. For example, they excitedly talk about the wheat they saw growing in the field. Staff are highly skilled in introducing and embedding new vocabulary. As children explore a single piece of wheat, staff ask them if they can remember what it is called and gently remind them it is called a kernel.

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The provision is outstanding

Children develop a love of books. They listen attentively as staff enthusiastically read stories to them. Children play games to help them learn to link letters and sounds. They jump with joy when a member of staff produces a card displaying the initial letter of their name. Children learn about similarities and difference. They talk about animals which live on different continents. Staff explain that the elephants that live in India have different ears to the elephants that live in Africa.

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need to do better?

n The experienced manager is also the provider of this outstanding nursery. She has an excellent knowledge and understanding of child development. The manager works alongside her staff team on a daily basis. She uses her expertise to further enhance staff's already excellent knowledge and skills. Together, they

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need to do better?

8 July 2022 provide children with the highest levels of education and care. n The manager and staff know children extremely well. They regularly observe children's play and make meticulous assessments of what children know and can do. Staff use this detailed information to plan precisely for children's next steps in learning. Children make excellent progress in all areas of learning. n Staff provide a rich and varied curriculum. They use highly innovative ways to build on children's existing knowledge. To learn where milk comes from, staff took children to visit a calf on the farm. Children's learning was further enhanced when the manager invited a local cheese maker to visit the nursery to make cheese with the children. n The manager effectively supports her staff team to ensure children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive prompt, targeted early help and support. Children with SEND have strong relationships with their key person.

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need to do better?

The staff and manager work exceptionally well with parents and other professionals to create individual learning plans to close any minor gaps in their learning. Any additional funding the nursery receives is used solely to benefit children's individual needs, such as purchasing further resources to support their play. Children with SEND make rapid progress in their learning and development. n Children who speak English as an additional language are extremely confident and self-assured. They interact positively with visitors and proudly show them their achievements, such as writing their name. Staff gather a wide range of information from parents on induction. They seek key words in their home language from parents which staff use in the beginning to support children's understanding of English words and phrases. Children promptly become fluent and confident communicators. n Children develop outstanding physical skills. They display a can-do attitude.

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need to do better?

Children have fun as they enthusiastically take part in sports days activities. Staff provide children with medals for their achievements which children proudly wear. n The staff team have exemplary relationships with parents. They share lots of information about children's progress. For example, through daily discussions, emails and an online learning platform. Parents are extremely happy with the care and education children receive at the nursery. They comment on the excellent communications they receive, the nurturing staff and how proud and grateful they are to be part of the nursery community. n Children have a wealth of opportunities to learn about their community and the world they live in. Staff regularly take them to visit places of interest. Children tell visitors they are going to the aquarium soon and that they are very excited. Children are keen to explain how they are getting there and announce they are

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need to do better?

travelling 'on a big bus'. n The manager and staff team strive for excellence at all times. Staff want to be the best they can be and are eager to continue with their professional development to enhance their already outstanding knowledge and skills. The manager displays the same passion and quickly secures training for her staff which is tailored around their individual interests and needs.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff place a strong focus on safeguarding children and families. The nursery building and gardens are extremely well-maintained. Staff carry out daily checks on all areas of the nursery to ensure children play in a safe and secure environment. Staff demonstrate an excellent awareness of the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They know exactly the procedures to follow should they have any concerns about a child in their care. Staff teach children how to keep themselves safe. For example, they remind them to wear their hats when they play outside in the sun and to drink water to keep themselves hydrated.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 223603 Local authority Herefordshire Inspection number 10116459 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 26 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Davies, Susan

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reference number

Telephone number 01223670426 Date of previous inspection 7 July 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The Townsend Nursery registered in 1999. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, the provider, who is the manager, has early years professional status and other staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery operates from 9am until 12.30pm on Monday and on the other four weekdays from 9am until 3.45pm during term time. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three-, and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This is 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 this into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The inspector viewed the nursery and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises with the provider. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this has on children's learning. n The provider and inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to staff and children during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through written documentation. n The inspector looked at required documentation, including paediatric first aid certificates and evidence of staff suitability.

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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 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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