YMCA Little Ducklings Nursery

Inspection of YMCA Little Ducklings Nursery 19 & 20 Teal Avenue, Lyneham, Chippenham SN15 4QA

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children arrive at the nursery and enter happily. Pre-school children hang up their belongings and are eager to join in with staff who are leading a 'wake and shake' activity. Children show they have formed secure relationships with staff, who are keen to hear about what they did with their families at the weekend. Babies receive warmth and cuddles from the staff as they look at books together. Staff support young children to roll balls down a slide, climb the steps to follow them and go down the slide themselves.

p.2

The provision is good

The manager has a clear vision for what she wants children to learn as they progress through the nursery and on to school. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those at risk of falling behind, make good progress in relation to their starting points. This includes children who receive additional funding.

p.2

The provision is good

Older children show excitement about the activities, cheering when they know they can join in with painting, for example. They concentrate well, are keen to share their ideas and show real motivation towards their learning. Toddlers are eager to join in with a dough activity. They join in with rolling the dough and making star shapes, which they then stick on the window.

p.2

need to do better?

n The manager is committed to developing the nursery and has clear priorities for improvement. For instance, she has plans to extend the garden, to introduce forest school sessions, and to train a member of staff to run these. She intends for these to widen children's opportunities for outdoor learning. In addition, she has developed the older children's community engagement and created a community larder. This has enhanced children's understanding of the people in their local area. n Children's behaviour is good, and staff are positive role models. They praise children for their achievements, saying 'good job', which boosts children's self- esteem. Children are encouraged to talk about their feelings and emotions from a young age. Toddlers can say if they are 'happy' or 'sad'. Older children describe how they feel using words such as 'loved' and 'scared', when talking about the 'boom' of the fireworks.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children have lots of opportunities to develop their physical skills. Babies are helped to progress from crawling to cruising and walking, and staff plan the resources and environment to support this. Older children enjoy running around outdoors playing games, and they climb and balance on various equipment. n Children develop good levels of independence from a young age. Toddlers collect their place mats, cups and plates and then clear their plates away,

p.2

need to do better?

7 November 2022 gaining skills in readiness to move on to pre-school. Children take themselves to the toilet, wash their hands and put on their coats and boots to go outdoors to play. n Staff support children's speech and language well, overall. Staff narrate what young children are doing, repeat words back to them correctly and model new vocabulary. Staff working with older children ask them open questions to encourage their thinking, and support them to remember and talk about what they have previously learned. Children recall that leaves fall off the trees in autumn and that the acorns they find grow on trees. n Partnerships with parents are positive. They report that they are well informed about their children's days and are happy with the progress their children are making. They receive weekly challenges so they can complete activities with their children at home, such as going on a nature walk to collect autumn

p.2

need to do better?

resources to bring into nursery. However, parents do not always know what their children's next steps are to enable them to continue to focus on and support these at home. n Staff know the children and what they need to learn next very well, including children with SEND and children who are at risk of falling behind. However, sometimes group activities do not focus precisely on children's next steps to help them make even better progress and to close any gaps more quickly.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a sound knowledge of child protection and safeguarding issues. They know the procedures to follow if they are concerned about a child's welfare or the behaviour of a colleague. Recruitment procedures are effective in checking staff are suitable to work with children. Staff check the premises for risks and minimise these, such as by pouring stagnant water out of troughs in the garden.

p.3

should:

n enhance partnerships with parents so that information is regularly shared about their children's next steps and how they can continue learning at home n train staff to plan more precisely for individual children's next steps during group activities, to help them make even better progress.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2594608 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10249203 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 58 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person YMCA Brunel Group

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01249 890278 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

YMCA Little Ducklings Nursery registered in June 2020. It operates from two houses in Lyneham, Wiltshire. Nine members of staff work with the children. The manager is qualified at level 6, three members of staff are qualified at level 3 and three have qualifications at level 2. The nursery is open all year round, from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

p.4

Information about this inspection

Inspectors Charlotte Jenkin Rosie Pritchard

p.4

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspectors carried out a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspectors about their friends and what they like to do at nursery. n The inspectors talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspectors observed the quality of education being provided and the impact this was having on children's learning. n The inspectors carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspectors spoke to parents and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspectors relevant documentation, including suitability checks, qualification, and training certificates.

p.5

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.5

Inspection activities

7 November 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.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

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.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

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

p.6