The Meadows Nursery School

Inspection of The Meadows Nursery School 5-6 Fletcher Close, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 2BW

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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 happy to arrive at the setting. They are welcomed into their room by their key person and quickly settle in. Children form close relationships with the staff. Babies enjoy sitting on adults knees for a cuddle, helping them to feel secure and safe. Children immerse themselves in the variety of sensory play experiences. For instance, they watch with fascination as the gloop mixture changes texture in their hands. Younger children explore cooked spaghetti. They squeeze it through their fingers, helping to develop their fine motor skills. Children play alongside their friends, splashing in the water tray. They use different-sized containers and watering cans to fill, empty and pour.

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The provision is good

Children learn to play cooperatively with their peers. When children struggle, staff support their behaviour well. They help children to understand the impact their behaviour has on others. For example, staff talk to children about what might make their friends happy or sad. Staff give children ample opportunities to express themselves creatively through open-ended art activities. For instance, children enjoy using paint to make marks, labelling what they have made. Staff praise them for their efforts, commenting on how much they like their work. This helps to build children's confidence and self-esteem.

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need to do better?

n The new manager has a secure knowledge and understanding of child development. This is reflected in the curriculum that she has developed and is implementing across the nursery. The manager is effective at evaluating the strengths and areas for further development within the setting. n All children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, have meaningful learning opportunities. Staff support children's individual needs well. For example, they use visual cues to help children understand what is going to be happening next. This has led to children making good progress. n Staff develop positive partnerships with other professionals. Parents are happy with the care that the staff provide. They report that staff have given good support to their children and helped them to settle in. However, staff do not consistently share information about children's individual learning and

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need to do better?

development with parents, to enable them to further extend their learning at home. n Staff provide good support for children's communication and language. For example, they read stories to children and interact with them throughout activities. The manager has implemented a reading library so that children can take home books to share with their families. This helps children to foster a love of reading.

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need to do better?

4 August 2022 n Staff focus on supporting children to be ready for the next stage of their education. Throughout the year, they adapt routines to develop children's independence further, such as encouraging children to self-register when they arrive. Throughout the year, staff adapt what they are doing to stretch children further. For example, they progressively change how children find their own name and self-register. n Overall, staff plan for children's learning, considering their individual needs and interests. Staff observe what children already know and can do, and use this to inform their assessments. However, some staff are still developing their understanding of identifying clear intentions for planned activities. At times, this means that staff's interactions do not provide the best possible teaching. n Staff support children to develop their independence. For instance, during mealtimes, they encourage children to have a go at opening their own food

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need to do better?

packets. Older children learn to manage their own self-care. They are competent at washing their hands and going to the toilet on their own. n Children develop good hand strength and coordination. For example, they use small screwdrivers and tools to twist screws into wooden cars. This helps children to prepare for early writing. In addition, children manipulate play dough into different shapes, which develops their fine-motor skills. n Staff report that they feel valued and supported in both their work and personal life. Managers ensure staff complete the mandatory training to keep their knowledge up to date. They monitor and support staff practice through regular supervision and observations. n The manager uses additional funding for individual children effectively. For example, she has used it to give children experiences they would otherwise not have and to purchase resources that are being used effectively to support their

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures that staff have a secure understanding of how to keep children safe from harm. She provides staff with regular training and tests their knowledge during staff meetings and discussions. Therefore, staff are confident to talk about the possible signs and symptoms of different types of abuse, such as county lines. All staff know the procedure to follow if they are concerned about the safety and welfare of children. Staff adequately supervise the children to maintain their safety. There are robust and secure procedures in place to stop people entering or leaving the building unpermitted. For example, the door is alarmed and there is a camera on the outside.

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should:

4 August 2022 n build on partnerships with parents to ensure even more information is shared, so that they are fully involved in their child's learning and development and know how to support them at home n ensure that staff embed their understanding of curriculum intentions, to improve the quality of interactions and help children make even more progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 511228 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 10214515 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 45 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person Places For Children Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01323 440144 Date of previous inspection 7 October 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The Meadows Nursery School registered in 2001 and is situated in Hailsham. It is part of a chain of six private nurseries operating in East Sussex, Surrey and Kent. The nursery opens from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. There are 11 members of staff, 10 of whom hold relevant early years qualifications. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four 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 manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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 August 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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