Ducklings Day Nursery

Inspection of Ducklings Day Nursery 1 Royal Croft, Liverpool, Merseyside L12 2BJ

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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 and parents receive a wonderfully warm welcome from staff as they arrive at the nursery. Special video messages sent to children by their key persons during the COVID-19 pandemic have helped children to settle back into nursery life easily. Children are extremely happy and well cared for by exemplary practitioners. They develop strong independence skills and manage their own personal care needs exceptionally well. For example, children skilfully chop and prepare their own fruit at snack time and pour their own drinks. They show pride in their nursery environment, tidying up during the day and taking care when using resources.

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive at this nursery. The carefully considered, bespoke curriculum precisely meets children's individual needs, and as a result all children make exceptional progress from their starting points. Staff are extremely quick to praise children, and all children's achievements, both small and large, are celebrated. This enables children to develop high levels of confidence and self-esteem. Children's behaviour and attitudes are exemplary. They have exceptional levels of engagement. Children concentrate deeply, remain on the task and seek challenge in their self-chosen play.

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need to do better?

n Children receive an excellent, language-rich environment as staff actively participate in their play. There is a buzz of excitement as children confidently chat away to staff and each other. Children's impressive range of vocabulary rapidly expands as they are immersed in new language. For example, they confidently use words such as 'decayed' as they investigate bean pods outside. n Children's development of literacy and their love of books are promoted exceptionally well. Children are delighted when a 'mystery reader' comes to nursery to read a new story. Parents, grandparents and people from the local community share a variety of stories, sometimes in different languages. This fascinates children, and they learn more about the wider world. n Children are encouraged to skilfully recall their previous experiences and learning. For example, they confidently remember and retell complex stories about current political issues in great detail. Children show great empathy

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need to do better?

toward the characters in the story and are keen to share their thoughts and feelings. n Children have opportunities to learn about, understand and respect the similarities and differences between themselves and other people. Children learn about different features people have, such as those with prosthetic limbs. They understand and talk about how 'not all disabilities are visible.' n Staff have a superb understanding of how to skilfully sequence children's learning. They adapt activities to meet the needs of all children. For example,

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need to do better?

15 August 2022 crawling babies have access to a sand pit on the floor while 'cruising' toddlers access a sand table as they learn to balance and stand. n Children spontaneously use mathematical language in their play. For example, a child uses the word 'huge' when noticing a spider, and staff help others to understand what this means by providing magnifying glasses of different sizes, explaining that the biggest one is 'huge.' n Staff encourage children to show respect and care for living creatures. Intrigued children help to care for Barry, the nursery's giant snail. Furthermore, children have visited the local vets with the nursery manager and her dog. They have experienced first hand how to care for animals. n Staff are highly effective in supporting children's understanding of keeping safe and healthy. Children learn about how their bodies work and comment that they are 'sweating' due to the hot weather. As a result, children learn about keeping

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need to do better?

safe in extreme heat and make sensible choices to aid their own good health, such as drinking plenty of water to keep 'hydrated'. n During meals, children learn that eating a balanced diet and nutritious food helps them to grow. They identify that calcium is in milk and understand that it is good for healthy bones and teeth. Children explain that 'too many cakes and sweets will give us cavities.' As a result, children have a detailed understanding of how to maintain healthy teeth. n The nursery's knowledgeable and experienced manager provides exceptional leadership and support to her well-qualified team. Staff continuously reflect on their practice and strive to further their skills and knowledge. This leads to an embedded culture of reflection and continuous improvement. For example, following training in mathematics, maths is now skilfully interwoven through activities for all age groups. n Staff work closely with parents and schools to support transitions. Teachers visit

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need to do better?

the nursery to meet children, and staff share detailed information regarding children's development. Older siblings have visited the nursery to talk about school life with the children and the positive experiences they have had at school. Children are exceptionally well prepared to start school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Recruitment and selection procedures are robust and leaders have high expectations of all staff. All staff, including domestic staff, are highly trained and have an impressive understanding of their role in protecting children. They have excellent knowledge of how to identify potential signs of abuse and the procedures they would use to report any concerns for a child's welfare. Children's well-being and safety are paramount. Risk assessments are embedded in practice and provide children with a very safe environment to play and learn. Staff teach children about staying safe. For example, children participate in risk assessments and learn how to use resources and equipment safely.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY273328 Local authority Liverpool Inspection number 10109698 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 30 Number of children on roll 46

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Name of registered person

Carol Elizabeth Butler and Neil Thomas Butler Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 0151 228 8081 Date of previous inspection 4 August 2014

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Information about this early years setting

Ducklings Day Nursery registered in 2004. It is situated in Liverpool. The nursery employs 15 members of staff. Of these, one holds a childcare qualification at level 6 and has also achieved early years teacher status. One holds a childcare qualification at level 5, one holds level 4, seven hold level 3, and four hold level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery 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 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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

15 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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