Dickory Dock Nursery

Inspection of Dickory Dock Nursery Dickory Dock Nursery, 58 Margetson Crescent, SHEFFIELD S5 9NB

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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 Good

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The provision is outstanding

Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), thoroughly enjoy their time at this stimulating and warm, welcoming nursery. They make very strong and sustained progress in all aspects of their development. Children are extremely well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including starting school. For example, children confidently and imaginatively create their own dramatic story using natural resources based on their favourite witch tales. They accurately use a rich vocabulary for 'mixing the ingredients', stirring the 'cauldron' and 'casting spells'.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are safe and secure. They are extremely well behaved. Babies build very strong bonds with the experienced and skilled staff who care for them. They rapidly acquire the confidence to explore the world around them. For instance, they love to dive their hands into trays of floury substances and watch it trickle through their fingers. Children learn how to take care of themselves and live healthily. For example, they regularly participate in highly motivating gymnastic and yoga activities and enjoy nutritious meals based on food from around the world.

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The provision is outstanding

Parents are highly appreciative of the professionalism, warmth and care the managers and their staff show at all times. They welcomed the strong measures staff took to keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and, in particular, the very positive support for children's personal and social development.

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need to do better?

n The experienced and ambitious management team provides thorough and considerate leadership. They are extremely well supported by their fully committed staff team. The managers skilfully evaluate the effectiveness of the nursery to make sure that it constantly improves. Staff are passionate about their roles. They make full use of quality training to create exciting education programmes to support, for example, children's speaking skills, emotional well- being and readiness for school. n Staff develop children's speaking and listening skills extremely well. They skilfully plan, for example, to introduce children at each age group to a rich and broad vocabulary built on their own interests and widening knowledge of the world. They ensure children hear new words frequently and help make them memorable. For example, two-year-olds love to 'squash, squeeze, stretch, stamp' and 'smash' their modelling material in musical 'dough gym' activities.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide highly effective support to children with SEND. Staff identify possible gaps in children's development at an early stage and act promptly to address them. They plan very precisely to help children achieve key steps. Staff work closely with other professionals, such as speech therapists and local

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need to do better?

21 October 2022 authority advisors, to ensure children achieve their potential. They make excellent use of any additional funding to meet children's individual needs and create a supportive learning environment. n Children develop a love of books and stories. They are very well prepared for developing their reading skills. Staff identify a range of songs, rhymes and books that children will experience as they progress through the nursery. Babies love singing traditional songs, such as 'Wind the bobbin up', and enthusiastically match the actions to the song. This helps them develop common cultural and language experiences as well as their physical skills. Staff read with skill and enthusiasm. Staff make excellent use of puppets, costumes and role play to make reading experiences memorable. n Children are extremely well behaved and considerate to each other. They follow the nursery chant 'choose it, use it and put it away' very effectively. They enjoy

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need to do better?

taking responsibility for tidying away their own toys as they go along and working together to clear away as sessions end. Children engage in friendly discussions as they eat their nutritious meals and snacks while serving themselves and trying exciting new food. n Staff promote children's personal development, health and well-being extremely well. Children's decision-making skills and sense of fairness are strongly developed. For example, staff teach children how to cast a vote for activities they would like to be made available. Throughout the nursery, all children enjoy learning key words and phrases from the home languages children speak, such as Spanish, Kurdish and Japanese. Children learn about their different cultures and faiths. n Parents welcome their involvement in the life of the nursery. They appreciate staff's extensive knowledge of their children and the support they offer for their children's learning and development at home. For instance, staff performed

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need to do better?

useful videos of storytelling, yoga and dance activities for parents to follow during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents welcome the very detailed and reassuring pictures and information on their children's learning throughout the day.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a very strong understanding of how to care for children and keep them safe. The designated safeguarding lead supports staff to ensure their knowledge of safeguarding procedures are deeply embedded and fully up to date. Staff are very sensitive to any changes in children's emotions or behaviours that may suggest there is a concern. They know precisely how to securely record any worries about children's safety and who to report them to. Staff have an excellent understanding of how to support children who may witness a worrying event.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY260159 Local authority Sheffield Inspection number 10229481 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 51 Number of children on roll 103 Name of registered person Dickory Dock Nursery

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reference number

Telephone number 0114 2338679 Date of previous inspection 2 February 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Dickory Dock Nursery registered in 2003 and is located in Sheffield. The nursery opens from 7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, except for two weeks at Christmas and on bank holidays. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one at level 5. They provide 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 two managers conducted a learning walk with the inspector to review children's learning experiences. n The children talked to the inspector about their activities. n The manager and the inspector conducted a joint observation of children's activities. n The inspector held discussions with members of staff throughout the nursery. n The inspector discussed the management and organisation of the nursery with the managers. He reviewed relevant documents. n The inspector held discussions to seek the views of parents.

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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

21 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.

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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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