Setting EY494770

Report for childcare on domestic premises

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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 arrive eager and ready to learn. Staff greet them warmly at the door and children quickly settle into playing with others. Staff respond to children as they play. They join in with games and follow children's storylines as they play with the dinosaurs. Children get plenty of different experiences and learning opportunities. Staff take children to the nearby woods. Children learn to use tools safely to create with natural materials. They receive safety messages about what they can pick. For example, they know they can pick the apples in the orchard and the blackberries from the hedgerow when with staff. They use these to bake apple and blackberry crumble for snack time.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy going on walks in the local area with staff. They visit the farm shop to buy food for snacks. After recent rain, staff take children on 'muddy puddle' walks. Children gain self-care and independence skills. They try to put on wellington boots and coats, so they can jump in the puddles.

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The provision is good

Staff know the children well. They use information about what children like and can do to plan for what children need to learn next. Staff prepare children well for the move into pre-school and school. They take children on visits to meet new teachers and ask teachers to come and meet children at the setting.

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need to do better?

n Children get plenty of chances to be outdoors and learn about the natural world. Younger children have great conversations with friends and staff about the pet guinea pigs. Staff offer new words, ask questions and encourage children to recall what they know about the animals. Children tell staff the colours they can see on the guinea pig's fur. They remember not to put fingers through the wires of the cage in case the guinea pig bites them. Older children play cooperatively. They develop physical skills as they kick, throw and catch balls. They ask others, including staff, to join in, showing good sharing and turn taking. n Staff provide lots of group activities for children. These include ones they plan themselves as well as external teachers coming in to do physical activities such as yoga. Most children engage well at the start. Sometimes the activities are new to the children or go on too long. Children become unsettled and bored.

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need to do better?

Staff do not act quickly enough to help children cope with this. n Partnership with parents and others is good. Staff and parents talk daily at drop- off and collection. Parents tell staff what children do at home and staff share what children have learned. For example, they used children's interest in aeroplanes, from their holidays abroad, to plan further learning. Children use boxes to create their own 'aeroplanes', make 'passports and 'fly' to different countries. Children also got to fly model aeroplanes as staff arranged for a visit

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need to do better?

8 September 2022 to the setting from a local person who makes model planes. Staff read stories and encourage children to use books to find out facts about flying and aeroplanes. n When there are changes in the routine, such as for mealtimes, staff do not organise these well. They do not talk with each other and the children to explain what is happening. Some staff go off to heat up food for the children. Others ask children to fetch lunch boxes or wash their hands. Others try to get children involved in a group activity singing action rhymes. Some children join in the activity, others wander about or play with toys. Staff do not provide clear messages so children remain confused and do not know what they should do. n Children's behaviour is good. They share well with others and take turns when playing together. For example, children pass each other puzzle pieces. They wait patiently as others fit their pieces into the puzzle. Staff encourage children to

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need to do better?

look at the pieces, describe what they see and then work out where they fit. They make suggestions using language such as top, bottom, up, down or turn the piece left or right. Children take note of what they see and work out where the different pieces fit, solving problems.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures. They understand the potential signs and symptoms that may mean a child is at risk of harm. They know how to report concerns including allegations against staff. Staff carry out thorough risk assessments of the indoor and outdoor play spaces. Staff involve children in helping think about risks and what to do about them. They recall that when the turkey makes loud noises this means it is angry and they need to stay away from the netting on its enclosure. Children know to put on safety helmets when using the wheeled toys and steer well to avoid hitting others or obstacles.

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should:

n make sure staff communicate better when there are changes in the routine to help other staff and children understand what needs to happen next n build on the ways in which managers and staff plan and deliver the curriculum to make sure it takes account of children's changing needs and interests.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494770 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10220858 Type of provision Childcare on 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 20 Number of children on roll 32

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 October 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Merriott Childcare provides a service on domestic premises at the home of the manager, in the village of Merriott, South Somerset. The setting is open between 6am and 6pm on Monday to Friday, all year round. There are six members of staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 6, four hold appropriate childcare qualifications at level 3 and one holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 2. The setting 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 deputy manager, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the setting and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at the setting. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children, indoors and outdoors, and through carrying out a joint observation of a physical activity with the managers. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The managers provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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 September 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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