Rocking Horse Kindergarten

Inspection of Rocking Horse Kindergarten Hollowell Way, Brownsover, Rugby CV21 1LT

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children are settled and happy throughout the nursery. Staff interactions with children are generally warm, positive and friendly. Babies and young children's care needs are well met. Staff encourage children to manage their self-care more independently as they grow. Pre-school children begin to learn to self-regulate their own behaviour. Staff use the 'calm corner' and emotions flashcards to teach them about the importance of their feelings. They encourage them to share and talk about these with their teachers and their peers.

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The provision is good

Babies, toddlers and pre-school children are very busy throughout nursery, particularly indoors. They are motivated to play, explore and learn. Staff use what they know about children's interests, age and stage of development to extend their learning in the moment. Babies enjoy exploring sensory materials, such as pasta and play dough. Toddlers like exploring small-world toys, such as cars, and building with bricks. Pre-school children play dramatic role-play games on their 'stage' area and sort objects by size, comparing big and small.

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The provision is good

The nursery is inclusive and the support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is good. Communication, language and literacy is well promoted. Staff talk to children, model language and introduce new vocabulary as they play. Staff engage children in music, singing and sharing books across the provision. Pre- school children like drawing pictures and learning about the sounds that letters make. All children make good progress.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are very reflective. They know the nursery's key strengths and have ambitious plans for future development. However, these are in the early stages, and they are yet to implement all of their planned strategies in practice. Staff feel supported in their roles. There is mentoring for apprentices in place so their practice swiftly becomes good. However, there is scope to further enhance staff's professional development to help elevate the quality of education to the highest level. n Staff know their key children well. They routinely observe them and check what they know and can do. Staff plan based on children's interests, and focus on closing gaps in learning. The curriculum is broad and the environment is well resourced, particularly inside. Children enjoy lots of physical play outside, such as riding on trikes and bikes. However, staff do not yet make the best use of the outside-learning environments. Therefore, there is room for managers to help

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need to do better?

staff further embed the curriculum securely across the provision, including outside. n The key-person system is strong. Children build secure attachments with key

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need to do better?

27 July 2022 staff as transitions are well supported, including settling in. Key persons also support children to adjust to change and become emotionally ready for moving on to school. n Staff find out about children's home lives on entry and keep updated of any changes. Children's diverse cultures are celebrated. Staff value other languages children speak and work with their parents to support them to become bilingual. There is a really respectful culture throughout the nursery. n Children generally behave well. Pre-school children follow staff direction; they are very cooperative and help with small tasks. However, on occasion, toddlers struggle to fully participate in key daily routines, such as tidying up or sitting down to lunch. Staff's verbal requests during these times are not always pitched at the right level. They do not utilise visual communication strategies consistently enough in practice to help all toddlers cooperate with these

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need to do better?

routines. n Children's good health is promoted. Staff embed hygiene regimes, such as washing hands, before eating. The nursery cook provides a nutritious and well- balanced menu for all children, which takes into account their dietary needs. Staff invite their local dentist to talk to the children about the importance of brushing their teeth. They also provide advice and guidance to parents about how to support children's well-being. n Parents are highly positive about this nursery. They are pleased with the progress their children make and how happy they are to attend. Staff ensure parents are kept well-informed, which leads to a 'joined up' approach in supporting every child. This has a positive impact on the continuity in children's care and learning between the setting and home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The premises is clean, safe and secure. Recruitment processes are good. All managers and staff are suitably vetted. New staff benefit from robust induction so they fully understand their key responsibilities. Managers and staff have very strong safeguarding knowledge. They identify possible child protection or neglect concerns and swiftly manage these. The nursery designated safeguarding lead is highly knowledgeable in her role. She provides key updates and good support to all managers and staff in relation to safeguarding. Relationships with relevant external professionals are good. This helps to protect children from harm.

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should:

n support staff to make even better use of the outside-learning environments to help further embed the curriculum securely across the provision

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should:

27 July 2022 n help staff to utilise visual-communication strategies more consistently in practice, specifically in toddler room, to help these children further their participation in key daily routines and cooperate fully during transition times n implement the already planned strategies to extend staff's professional development to help elevate the quality of education even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY471080 Local authority Warwickshire Inspection number 10220211 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 89 Number of children on roll 78 Name of registered person Simnir Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01788562116 Date of previous inspection 25 August 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Rocking Horse Kindergarten registered in 2013. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, 12 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery operates all year around. Sessions are available Monday to Friday from 7am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspectors viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspectors completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspectors talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspectors spoke with the provider and manager about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspectors observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspectors carried out joint observations of a literacy activity in pre-school with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspectors. n The manager showed the inspectors documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff. n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19

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Inspection activities

pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider.

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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

27 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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