The Lindfield Nursery

Inspection of The Lindfield Nursery King Edward Hall, 24 High Street, Lindfield, Haywards Heath RH16 2HH

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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 are keen to enter the nursery. They are warmly welcomed by staff who help them settle and engage in activities. Children choose where they want to play and enjoy exploring the indoor and outdoor environments as they wish. This encourages their independence. Staff play alongside children in the role-play area and make cakes. Children wear chef's hats and relish using whisks and bowls to make cupcakes. They engage in imaginative play, which supports their language and communication skills.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy listening to stories. Staff enthusiastically read books using expression and animation. Children remain focused and engaged. They join in and answer questions about the text. This helps children to understand the vocabulary and storyline.

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The provision is good

Children benefit from high expectations, and the staff team works effectively with others to support all children. For example, children who speak English as an additional language receive effective support. Staff use strategies, such as picture cards and signs, to help them communicate and understand language. This ensures that all children are included and have the best learning opportunities.

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need to do better?

n Staff use all the information they gather from parents and their own observations to build a comprehensive picture of each child. This helps them to meet each child's individual needs. For example, staff provide toys that they know children will prefer, such as toys that spin and move, to engage their interest and help them settle at the start of the session. n Staff provide an inclusive environment. They use funding effectively to provide resources to support children's individual needs. For example, staff have used funding to create a sensory corner. This enables children to have a safe area to play calmly and relax. n Children enjoy sociable mealtimes, and staff provide opportunities for them to develop their independence and learn about healthy eating. For instance, staff supervise children during mealtimes to keep them safe. They discuss with them the benefits of fruit and vegetables, which helps to promote healthy eating.

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need to do better?

Children enjoy opportunities to pour their own drinks, and they do this competently. n Staff provide good opportunities to develop children's physical skills. For example, children experiment with different movements. They climb on a large caterpillar and crawl through the tunnel to develop gross motor skills. Staff play ball games with the children and give them instructions to follow. They encourage children to take turns and share the equipment. Consequently,

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need to do better?

1 December 2022 children are kind to each other and are developing good social skills. n Staff provide a variety of ways to promote children's early writing skills. For instance, children use different resources to make marks. They use brushes to paint with water on walls outside and make marks on vertical workspaces. This provides accessible opportunities for all children to develop their early writing skills. n Parents speak highly of the staff and the good bonds they have developed with the children. The manager communicates well with parents. For example, she provides daily feedback and weekly updates online. Parents also receive information about their child's progress. Staff meet with parents each term to provide a progress report and share the next steps they are working on. Parents can add their observations and comments to this. Staff provide information, such as school readiness guidance. This helps parents to prepare their children for the

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need to do better?

transition to school. n The management team has recently attended training to update its knowledge and skills. It is developing new strategies to support children's learning. However, this has not been fully cascaded to staff through training, and strategies are not yet fully embedded. n Staff support children's behaviour well. For example, they use positive praise and encouragement, which boosts children's self-esteem and encourages perseverance. Children respond well and have a 'can-do' attitude.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date and complete safeguarding training. This helps them to recognise the signs that a child could be at risk from harm or abuse. For example, they have a secure understanding of radicalisation and female genital mutilation. Staff know how to record and report any potential concerns about children when necessary. Staff complete risk assessments, which helps to keep children safe. For example, they have secure procedures in place to cater for children with allergies and intolerances. The manager ensures that thorough recruitment and vetting processes are in place. This includes obtaining Disclosure and Barring Service checks and checking staff's ongoing suitability to work with children.

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should:

n continue to develop the knowledge and skills of all staff by cascading strategies to strengthen teaching further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2603598 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10263382 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Nichola Hill and Claire Hardacre Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 07921223163 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Lindfield Nursery registered in 2020. It is based in the King Edward Hall in Lindfield. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3pm, term time only. The nursery accepts funding for the free provision of education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs seven staff, of whom four hold a level 3 qualification.

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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 manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the 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

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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