St Thomas' Hospital Day Nursery

Inspection of St Thomas' Hospital Day Nursery Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, c/o St Thomas Hospital Day Nursery, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH

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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

Children are developing good relationships with each other and staff. Older children say they like playing with their friends, especially outside. Babies show strong bonds with staff. They enjoy lots of cuddles and support, which helps them to feel safe and secure. Children show a good understanding of expectations for their behaviour. Staff support them well in learning about sharing and taking turns. Children respond well to daily routines. They keenly help to tidy away toys and know to walk sensibly to the outside play areas.

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The provision is good

Children with additional needs are supported well and are making good progress from their starting points. Staff are aware of children's individual needs and plan an appropriate curriculum to support their learning. Although children are supported with their communication and language, especially children who speak English as an additional language (EAL), staff do not make best use of opportunities to include children's home languages in everyday routines,

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The provision is good

Children are developing good physical skills. Older children skilfully use large climbing equipment. They develop their coordination while using rope ladders and crossing the bridge on the frame. Toddlers develop good balancing skills and spatial awareness as they carefully walk across the stepping stones.

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The provision is good

Children develop their interest and love of books as they look at books independently and keenly join in with stories read by staff. Well-planned group times successfully promote children's language skills. For example, staff link stories, songs and props to fully enhance children's learning experience. As a result, children listen to stories well and join in with key words. They actively join in, singing familiar songs with the actions.

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need to do better?

n Managers evaluate the quality of the service effectively. They show a commitment to promoting continuous improvement. For example, they involve staff and parents in projects such as the garden committee, who are developing the use of the outside play areas. n Managers and staff have safely managed the current refurbishment of the setting. Staff implement appropriate risk assessments and safety procedures at all times. Parents have been kept well informed about each stage of the project. As a result, any disruptions to children's learning have been minimised. n Parents are happy with the care provided to their children and have seen their children make good progress. They find the staff caring and friendly. Parents are informed about the curriculum that is provided, which enables them to further support children's learning at home. Parents value the continuity of care by staff

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need to do better?

1 December 2022 who have worked at the setting for many years and say that this helps their children to feel settled. n Children particularly like sensory play and exploring different textures. Older children enjoy collecting and exploring leaves, while babies and toddlers enjoy playing in the sand and water. n Children enjoy relaxed mealtimes. They talk to staff about the different fruits they like at snack time. They are offered a balanced diet and develop healthy eating habits as they make choices of the foods they want to eat at lunchtime. Babies are supported well in developing their feeding skills. Good systems are in place to ensure children's individual dietary needs are known and respected. n Staff actively promote children's good health and implement good hygiene routines. They ensure that children gain lots of regular exercise and encourage children to develop good self-care skills. For example, children know to wash

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need to do better?

their hands before and after meals, and older children put on their coats and use the bathroom independently. n Staff work effectively as a well-established team. They ensure all required documents are well maintained. Managers work in the group rooms to offer support and continuously improve staff practice. Staff attend relevant training courses to enhance their continual professional development. n Staff ensure effective systems are in place to work with parents and other agencies. They share information appropriately and identify the needs of children who require additional support. Therefore, they receive targeted support at an early stage. n Staff plan a good range of activities across all areas of learning during indoor and outdoor play. They show a good understanding of their key children's individual learning needs. As a result, children are making good progress and are purposefully engaged in play.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff complete safeguarding training so that they know what to do if they have any concerns about children's welfare or if any allegations are raised against staff. Policies and procedures are regularly updated and shared with parents. Following a recent incident regarding the emergency evacuation procedure, staff have completed fire marshal training and implement new procedures. However, these procedures are in their infancy and require monitoring by managers to ensure they are fully embedded in staff's practice, to ensure children's well-being and safety. Robust vetting and recruitment systems are in place. Managers complete regular supervision meetings with staff to monitor their ongoing suitability to work with children.

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should:

1 December 2022 n strengthen systems to support children who speak EAL, using opportunities to include children's home languages in everyday routines n monitor the implementation of the new emergency evacuation procedure to ensure it is fully embedded in staff's practice to promote children's well-being and safety.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY268854 Local authority Lambeth Inspection number 10261216 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 102 Number of children on roll 55 Name of registered person Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust

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reference number

Telephone number 020 7188 6449 Date of previous inspection 16 December 2016

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Information about this early years setting

St Thomas' Hospital Day Nursery registered in 2003. The nursery is open each weekday, from 7am to 7pm, all year round, except for bank holidays. The nursery is in receipt of funding to provide free early education to children aged three and four years. There are 25 staff, all of whom hold relevant early years qualifications from level 3 to level 6.

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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 provider and have 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 deputy manager and the inspectors completed a learning walk together to discuss the curriculum they offer and how the setting is organised. n The inspectors held discussions with staff, parents and children and took account of their views. n The inspectors sampled a range of required documentation, including children's records and staff vetting and recruitment and their qualifications. n The inspectors and manager completed a joint observation of staff during an activity and assessed the impact of teaching on children's learning.

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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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