Dean Close Little Trees Day Nursery, Lansdown

Inspection of Dean Close Little Trees Day Nursery, Lansdown 1 Queens Road, Cheltenham GL50 2LR

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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

Staff provide children with an environment that is tailored to their developmental levels. Babies practise their gross motor skills. They cruise around low-level furniture and staff hold their hands, encouraging them to take steps. Toddlers learn early writing skills when they use pens to make marks on paper. Older children are introduced to new letter sounds and eagerly share with their friends what words they know that begin with that sound. They beam with happiness when they receive words of praise from staff.

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate they are safe and secure. Babies enjoy comfort from staff when they need reassurance and quickly settle. Toddlers confidently communicate with staff and tell them when they have 'finished' what they are eating. Older children approach staff to ask them if they can play with new toys. Children value the support and guidance they receive from staff and confidently communicate with them.

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The provision is good

All staff know the children well and identify quickly if children require additional support to aid their learning. Key persons and the special educational needs coordinator work closely with parents and outside agencies to provide children with special educational needs and/or disabilities the support they need to make progress.

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need to do better?

n Leaders construct an ambitious curriculum that the staff imbed throughout the nursery. They construct planning and activities to meet the individual needs of all children in their care. They use this to facilitate learning and extend the interests of the children. Children make good progress from their starting points. n Children display very good behaviour. Babies smile and giggle together as they explore the sandpit. Toddlers listen intently to each other during group discussions at mealtimes. Older children invite their friends into their play and say 'come and play'. Any conflict is quickly resolved with limited support needed from staff. Children learn the importance of forming friendships and respecting others. n Children learn to be independent. Staff give babies and toddlers opportunities to feed themselves at mealtimes. Older children independently access the toilet and confidently make choices in their play. However, this is not always consistent

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need to do better?

throughout the nursery. Staff wipe toddlers' noses for them and do not give them the opportunity to attempt to take off their own wellies and put on their own shoes after garden play. Therefore, not all children receive the same opportunity to learn and practise their independent skills. n Children choose and engage in various activities during free play. Toddlers make

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need to do better?

11 November 2022 train tracks and say 'choo, choo' as they push their trains around the track. Older children make a 'picnic' with their friends and incorporate various different equipment. However, children are not consistently encouraged to tidy their environment when they move to a new activity. They do not learn the importance of keeping their play space tidy and free from hazards. n Partnership with parents is good. Parents share that their children are happy to attend nursery and speak of the kind and caring staff. They report on the good communication they receive from staff when they collect their children and via the online system, which provides information of their children's development and what they do from day to day at nursery. n Staff provide children with an environment that is rich with language. Staff are sensitive to babies sounds and they introduce new vocabulary into their play,

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need to do better?

using words like 'sprinkle' and 'smooth' during sensory exploration. Toddlers enjoy story time; they are eager to be involved and label the pictures. Staff ask questions such as 'what sound does a bee make?' Children are keen to answer and share their knowledge. Older children excitedly explore the dinosaurs and label 'triceratops' and 'diplodocus'. Staff extend this, asking them if they know any more dinosaur names and introduce them to new ones. Children are curious and eager to learn, explore and share language.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff and leaders understand the importance of their role to help keep children safe. They can recognise the signs and symptoms that maybe indicators a child is a risk. Staff understand the procedures to follow should they require support from outside agencies. They also are aware of who to contact should they have concerns regarding staff conduct. Leaders are safer recruitment trained and there is a thorough recruitment and induction process to ensure staff are suitable to work with children. Ongoing staff suitability is monitored through regular supervision meetings. Staff provide a safe and secure environment for children to play and learn.

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should:

n provide children with the freedom to develop their independence and self-help skills consistently n help children to understand the importance of keeping their play space tidy, so they learn how to keep themselves and others safe.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY553141 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10259814 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 93 Number of children on roll 111 Name of registered person Dean Close Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01242 241349 Date of previous inspection 25 May 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Dean Close Little Trees Day Nursery, Lansdown, (formerly Treetops (dcnl) Cheltenham), registered in 2017. It is situated in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. It operates from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The nursery employs 35 members of staff. Of these, five have relevant childcare qualifications at level 6, including early years teacher status, early years professional status and qualified teacher status, one member of staff has a relevant childcare qualification at level 5 and 16 other staff have relevant childcare qualifications at level 3 and level 2. Thirteen staff are unqualified, these include the chef, chef assistant and housekeeper. The nursery is in receipt of early education government funding for three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at nursery. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

11 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.

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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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