Shepherds Hill Nursery

Inspection of Shepherds Hill Nursery Shepherds Hill House, Northwood Road, Harefield, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB9 6PT

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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 clearly feel safe, happy and secure in this high-quality, child-orientated nursery. They confidently leave their parents at the door and excitedly enter the nursery in anticipation of their day. Children form exceptionally close bonds with staff, who are extremely attentive to their individual needs.

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The provision is outstanding

Children have excellent opportunities to access fresh air, green space and exercise. Children can choose whether they would like to play outside or indoors. Staff place a strong emphasis on children's well-being. Children learn about healthy eating and enjoy nutritious and balanced home-cooked meals.

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The provision is outstanding

Children develop a love of nature and the natural world. For example, they grow sunflowers and runner beans in the nursery 'kitchen garden' and marvel at the solitary bees that have taken up residence in the bee house. Children learn about birds who visit the outdoor play space. They use reference posters to identify different birds and tell the staff, 'that is a robin.'

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The provision is outstanding

The manager and staff supported children and families extremely well during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, they filmed each other reading children's favourite stories and singing sessions and posted the videos onto social media. This ensured that children and their families kept a strong bond with the staff. This practice has been embedded into the nurseries routine and parents say how they look forward to the daily posts, photographs and news.

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need to do better?

n The extremely skilful staff ensure children have opportunities to learn and practise mathematical skills in unique ways and in every aspect of their play. For example, staff take children to the nearby corn field where they use rulers to measure the corn. As the corn grows taller children decide they need tape measures as the rulers are not long enough. This means children gain a greater depth of understanding about number and measurements. In addition, children are challenged to find out how many objects they can fit into a matchbox. Children very excitedly show the inspector how many gems and stones they have collected from the sand pit. n The setting is led by a highly competent manager and deputy manager, who have an uncompromising commitment to improving the children's learning experiences. They place a strong focus on providing training opportunities for staff, such as supporting them to complete early years qualifications. They give

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need to do better?

constructive feedback for improvement and model high-quality teaching. As a result, the quality of education across the setting is outstanding. Staff say that they feel highly valued and supported in their role by the manager and other

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need to do better?

28 July 2022 colleagues. n Top priority is given to children's emotional health and well-being. Staff help children to understand their feelings and emotions. When children feel cross, staff sit alongside them and calmly acknowledge how they are feeling. These skilful interactions enable children to find their own ways to deal with their emotions and they are very soon back engaged in effective play and learning. For example, when two children want the same toy, they ask a member of staff to put on a timer and decide collaboratively who will have the toy first. They then willingly swap when the timer goes off. n The manager and her team place the utmost importance on understanding and supporting the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They work extremely closely with other professionals and parents to establish highly focused support and ensure staff understand how to

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need to do better?

best support their individual needs. As a result, all children make incredible progress and are extremely well prepared to move on to their next stage of learning, including school. Staff work closely with parents and partners in education and health to put consistent strategies in place to support children's learning and development. n Staff provide excellent support for children's developing communication and language skills. Their interactions with children are thoughtful, timely and sensitive. Staff use innovative techniques to enable children to learn to concentrate. For example, staff select small groups of children to take part in specific activities such as 'bucket time' where children learn to be patient and listen to specific instructions. Children benefit from a curriculum that their key persons have meticulously designed to ensure they are inquisitive and resilient and develop a thirst for knowledge and a love of learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff give the utmost priority to children's safety and well-being. Safeguarding policies and procedures are very well understood. As a result, staff are highly confident in what they must do should they have any concerns about children's well-being or the conduct of their colleagues. Staff are also aware of wider safeguarding issues, such as how families may become exposed to radical or extreme views. Robust recruitment procedures help to ensure all staff working at the nursery are suitable to work with children. Managers provide new staff with a thorough induction around safeguarding and child supervision responsibilities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY335953 Local authority Hillingdon Inspection number 10138012 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 26 Number of children on roll 45 Name of registered person Shepherds Hill Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01895 825732 Date of previous inspection 11 August 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Shepherds Hill Nursery registered in 2006. The nursery operates from Shepherds Hill House in Harefield, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It is open from 8am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday except Christmas and bank holidays. The setting employs nine members of staff, five of whom hold appropriate early years level three qualifications. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four.

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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 manager and the inspector completed a learning walk and discussed how the curriculum and setting are organised. n Parents, children and staff spoke to the inspector at convenient times during the inspection, and their views were taken into account. n The manager completed a joint observation with the inspector to evaluate the quality of teaching. n The inspector observed the quality of education and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector reviewed a sample of relevant documents, including suitability checks, policies, procedures and other records regarding health and safety.

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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

28 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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