Harp at Earls Colne

Inspection of Pine Trees Childrens Day Nursery The Essex Golf & Country Club, Airfield, Earls Colne, Colchester CO6 2NS

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this nursery. As they arrive, familiar staff greet them. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in the nursery. They confidently share their experiences with staff, who are keen to listen. Children tell staff that they have recently been to the zoo and seen a crocodile. Other children join in the conversation and share their stories. They talk about the crocodile's big teeth, and staff use this opportunity to talk to the children about the importance of looking after their own teeth.

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The provision is good

Babies and young children enjoy mark making in a variety of ways. In the garden, they practise using their large muscles as they paint a wall with paintbrushes, reaching as high as they can. Inside, children enjoy exploring the texture of the paint as they feel it between their fingers. Staff encourage them to explore the resources as they paint their hands and print them on paper.

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The provision is good

Young children collect bubbles on their hands and delight as they blow them back into the tray. Staff use descriptive words to support the children's language development, such as 'bubble', 'bounce', and 'pop'. Staff offer an abundance of praise and encouragement to help children build their confidence and boost their self-esteem.

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need to do better?

n The manager is enthusiastic and has a clear vision to develop a strong staff team. She identifies where staff need more support, including training. The manager creates flashcards for staff to help embed knowledge of the wider safeguarding issues, such as breast ironing and witchcraft, that pose a risk to children. n During the main part of the day, children benefit from a wide range of fun and interesting activities. For example, children use different-sized pom-poms to demonstrate the various sizes, big, medium and small. Younger children climb up the steps and go down the slide on the indoor climbing frame. However, at times of transition, such as early morning, children's play and learning can sometimes go unsupported, as there are too few staff to carry out additional roles, such as answering the door or telephone. n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well. For

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need to do better?

example, they plan focused activities that support children who are learning to share and take turns in group times. As a result, children make good progress from their starting points. n Children's speech and language development is well promoted within the nursery. Staff help children to develop a love of books. They understand that repetition helps children to learn and choose books that support their interests.

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need to do better?

1 December 2022 Children engage well as they call out familiar words at the end of the sentences. Staff support younger children's speech through stories. They sing to them to support their learning. For example, they sing songs to toddlers as they wash their hands. As a result, children are confident talkers. n Children are learning to have a positive attitude to early mathematics. Babies and toddlers start to learn basic shapes as they use shape blocks to paint and print. Older children are starting to learn the relationships between numbers as they play games in the garden. They learn that the number of fingers they hold up indicates the number of steps they can take forward towards the 'hungry wolf'. n Children behave well. Staff have consistent expectations of their behaviour. When children disagree, staff have a calm approach to help children understand their emotions and how their behaviour may affect others.

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need to do better?

n The manager has a clear idea of the skills that she wants children to learn before they move on to school. She explains that she wants children to develop their independence. However, sometimes, staff do too much for children, which limits these opportunities. For example, when children wish to role play with dressing-up clothes, staff dress them before giving them the opportunity to practise these skills first. n Partnerships with parents are positive. Staff share information about children's daily care and learning with parents. Parents comment that they appreciate the support they receive from the staff and are pleased with the progress that their children are making.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding is at the heart of this nursery. The manager regularly tests staff's knowledge with quizzes to make sure they have an excellent understanding of wider safeguarding concerns, such as female genital mutilation. The staffing team have a good understanding of their responsibilities to safeguard the children in their care. They know when and how to report concerns they have about a child in their care or about a colleague. Robust recruitment processes are in place to ensure that those working with children are safe to do so.

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should:

n review planning of transitions, such as when children arrive, to provide a rich learning experience similar to that offered to children at all other times n provide consistent opportunities for children to develop their independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2707705 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10265782 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 69 Number of children on roll 39 Name of registered person Harp Group Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01787 221653 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Pine Trees Children's Day Nursery registered in 2022 and is situated in Earls Colne, Colchester. The nursery employs three members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, 8am to 5.30pm, all year round. The nursery provides funded early years 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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

1 December 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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