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Early years · Early years inspection (EIF)

Pendley Day Nursery

Inspected 18 Oct 2022 · published 24 Nov 2022 · URN 2605167

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Summary

Requires improvement

Ann Austen

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Inspection date verified

    18 Oct 2022

  • Inspectors verified

    Ann Austen

  • Behaviour and attitudes verified

    Requires improvement

  • Leadership and management verified

    Requires improvement

  • Overall effectiveness verified

    Requires improvement

  • Personal development verified

    Requires improvement

  • Quality of education verified

    Requires improvement

  • Postcode verified

    HP23 5NS

  • Name on report verified

    Pendley Day Nursery

  • URN verified

    2605167

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.

  • OverallRequires improvement
  • Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
  • Leadership and managementRequires improvement
  • Personal developmentRequires improvement
  • Quality of educationRequires improvement

6% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Requires improvement (17,905 inspections).

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

−21Mixedmore positive than 7% of reports of this type graded Requires improvement
OutstandingGoodRIInadequate

Reads more critically than most reports of this type graded Requires improvement.

Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.

Praiseenjoyeffectiveconsistentlysafe
Criticismnot alwaysharmnot consistentlyvariablelimitedgapsnot confident

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsWhat needs to improveSafeguardingAbout the inspection positive critical
  • Findings424w−9
  • Safeguarding175w−8
  • What needs to improve268w−38

Strengths

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No standout praise found.

Concerns

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No strong criticism found.

Next steps

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What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
7
Words of findings
831
about usual (typical 857)
Reading level
Hard
Flesch 44, typical 53
Average sentence
16 words
Next steps
8
typical 8
Hedged sentences
8%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 30%Safeguarding 12%What needs to improve 19%About the inspection 38%

Full report text

Inspection of Pendley Day Nursery Grass Roots Stadium, Cow Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5NS

p.1

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

p.1

The provision requires improvement

Children are not consistently provided with a curriculum that challenges and extends their learning and development. The quality of interactions between the staff and children is variable. Furthermore, on occasions, more experienced staff become preoccupied completing daily routines, such as sweeping the floor and dealing with administration tasks. This distracts from the quality of teaching provided and leaves less-experienced staff, at times, struggling to teach and support the children in their care. Sometimes, children begin to wander around with limited purpose to their play and noise levels begin to rise.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Nevertheless, children demonstrate that they enjoy their time at the club. Older children are taught how to use scissors safely and demonstrate growing precision as they snip paper. They eagerly search for minibeasts under autumn leaves and use toy diggers to scoop up the soil. However, resources to further support children's imaginary play in the outdoor area are minimal, and rigid routines often interrupt children's involvement in the activities they are enjoying. This also restricts opportunities for children to continue to develop their play and ideas, including those children who prefer to learn outside.

p.2

need to do better?

n The provider and manager demonstrate a willingness to make further improvements to enhance the quality of care and education provided for the children. They are continuing to receive ongoing advice and support from the local authority. The recruitment of additional staff is also planned. n Staff knowledge of the curriculum and its implementation varies. The quality of teaching is inconsistant across the nursery. Staff do not always spontaneously build on what children know and can already do as they play. Therefore, learning opportunities are lost. n Staff attend supervision meetings and regular staff meetings take place to discuss practice issues and to reinforce child protection knowledge. However, this requires further evaluation to ensure staff have the knowledge and skills to raise the quality of the curriculum and learning opportunities provided for the children. n Younger children develop their hand-to-eye coordination skills as they place

p.2

need to do better?

beads onto wooden rods. They are taught the names of different play fruits and are shown how to use a spoon to stir the fruits in a pretend bowl. However, overall, the learning environment provided for younger children does not support them to develop high levels of curiosity and concentration. n Staff greet children on their arrival and support less confident children to settle. This helps children to form attachments and supports their emotional well-being. Children are encouraged to develop their self-care skills and sense of

p.2

need to do better?

18 October 2022 responsibility. For example, younger children learn how to use cutlery appropriately to feed themselves. Older children are encouraged to independently find their name card on arrival and enjoy placing it on the registration tree. n Staff support children to understand the importance of following appropriate hygiene routines, such as the need to wash their hands after using the toilet and before snack. Children with known medical needs have care plans in place. This supports staff to ensure children are given any required medication at the correct times. However, the manager does not always ensure that a written record is kept of all medication administered to children. This is a legal requirement. n Staff support older children to develop their literacy skills. Older children enjoy listening to familiar stories, show an interest in the illustrations and repeat familiar phrases. They enjoy using paint and chalks to make marks on paper and

p.2

need to do better?

on the outdoor chalk board. Older children count objects and enthusiastically recite 'five, four, three, two, one, blast off' as they pretend to launch a rocket.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The manager and staff demonstrate a sound knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse. They understand referral procedures and their responsibilities to keep children safe from harm. This includes what action to take if an allegation of abuse is made against a member of staff. Management follow appropriate recruitment and induction procedures. Suitability checks are completed to ensure all staff working with the children are suitable. Management and staff complete regular risk assessments to identify and minimise any potential risks of harm to children.

p.3

Due date

improve and embed the implementation of the curriculum, including staff deployment and their interactions with the children, to ensure all children receive consistently meaningful and challenging learning experiences that build on what they already know and can do 27/01/2023

p.3

Due date

18 October 2022 improve professional development opportunities to identify gaps in knowledge, skills and practice that will help raise the quality of the curriculum and learning activities provided for children 27/01/2023

p.3

Due date

ensure a written record is maintained each time medication is given to children. 19/10/2022

p.4

should:

n enhance the learning environment for children aged under two, and extend the range of resources provided in the outdoor area to enable all children to explore and develop their own play and ideas n support staff further in following daily routines while still recognising and allowing children time to develop and complete activities they are enjoying.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 2605167 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10257664 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 55 Number of children on roll 45 Name of registered person Pendley Day Nursery Limited

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01442 891144 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Pendley Day Nursery registered in 2020 and operates from the Grass Roots Stadium in Tring, Hertfordshire. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Four members of staff hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 4. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

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 suitably of the premises. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years curriculum is organised. She spoke to the registered individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed staff's interactions with the children during indoor and outdoor activities and assessed the impact this has on the children's progress and achievements. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and discussed the children's progress and achievements. n A sample of the nursery documents were reviewed by the inspector. This

p.6

Inspection activities

included evidence of staff suitability and training. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

18 October 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

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p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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