The Co-operative Childcare Watford South

Inspection of The Co-operative Childcare Watford South 1- 3 Altham Gardens, South Oxhey, WATFORD WD19 6HJ

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is outstanding

The nursery provides an exceptional service in which every child is highly valued. Children thrive in this stimulating nursery, where they are free to play, explore, imagine and learn. The manager and staff encourage concepts of kindness, courtesy and respect for others. They are superb role models and are very calm, patient and kind. Children enjoy opportunities to be involved in the community. For example, they frequently visit a local residential home, where they have wonderful opportunities to engage with the older generation. They begin to learn empathy and become caring, confident children.

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The provision is outstanding

Children benefit from a wealth of exciting and stimulating activities and play opportunities. Babies delight in the superb sensory experiences available that encourage their investigative skills exceptionally well. Toddlers thoroughly enjoy water play and proudly demonstrate how they can transfer water from one utensil to another. Staff continually use mathematical language, such as 'full' and 'empty'. They skilfully extend children's learning by explaining how they can compare the different amounts of water by using the numbers on the side of the measuring cylinder. Pre-school children delight in experimenting with torches. They put their hands in front of the lights and excitedly demonstrate how they can make shadows with their fingers. Children have the best possible start to their education and are superbly prepared for their future learning at school.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff create a rich and exciting curriculum, tailored precisely to each child's interests and learning needs. Staff use excellent observation, assessment and planning systems to understand the uniqueness of each child and fully support their learning. n Staff provide children with an excellent foundation on which to build their future learning. The exemplary settling-in procedures ensure that every child begins their nursery life in a positive way. Children form extremely warm and loving relationships with their key members of staff, which help them to feel emotionally secure. n Staff highly value children's views and accommodate their ideas for activities within the educational programme. For example, a 'children's council' has been set up to give children the opportunity to choose activities and resources. This helps to ensure that children are extremely happy and well motivated. n The nursery holds a silver award in the 'Green Flag Eco-Schools' programme.

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need to do better?

The programme represents the ethos of the nursery, including social responsibilities and the importance of protecting the world around them. Children on the 'eco board' meet up monthly to discuss ways of looking after their environment, including 'litter picking' and turning off the lights when they

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need to do better?

24 January 2023 leave the room. Children are actively encouraged to be respectful and contribute positively to society. They collect food items for the local food bank and raise funds for many charities. n Children have access to a wealth of books in all areas of the nursery, including outdoors. They enjoy listening to stories and often take home a story sack to share with their families. The nursery environment is rich in print, which helps to develop their early literacy skills. n Children learn excellent practices for a safe and healthy lifestyle. They enjoy a varied range of nutritious meals and snacks, freshly prepared by the nursery chef. All staff are aware of children's dietary requirements. They give high priority to children's health, safety and well-being. As a result, children are nurtured and exceptionally well cared for. Children love to be out in the wonderful nursery garden, which is full of exciting and interesting spaces. Babies

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need to do better?

enjoy using their own outdoor space, where they can explore the environment safely. n Parents are valued partners and are very enthusiastic to share their views of the nursery. They describe the manager and staff as 'amazing'. Staff keep parents extremely well informed about their children's learning through an online app. Parents receive regular newsletters and they appreciate the excellent ideas for activities to support their children's learning at home. n Children benefit from a wealth of valuable opportunities to enrich their experiences. Older children have been learning about 'people who help us'. They thoroughly enjoyed the visit from a dentist. This prompted many exciting activities, including pretending to be a dentist in the role-play area. During a visit from police officers, children have great fun trying on their handcuffs and speaking on their walkie-talkies. n The management team has excellent systems in place to provide high-quality

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need to do better?

supervision, training and guidance to support all staff. The manager regularly monitors staff performance and the quality of teaching. This works well in celebrating the outstanding practice in the nursery, as well as identifying areas for development. Excellent self-evaluation means that the manager is continually extending the service the nursery provides for families and children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have an excellent understanding of safeguarding children. They attend regular training, including the wider issues of protecting children, such as the 'Prevent' duty and county lines. The manager uses quizzes and discussions of scenarios, to check staff's understanding of safeguarding children. Rigorous recruitment procedures ensure that the staff team is suitable, qualified and experienced to work with children. The providers have gone 'above and beyond' the minimum requirements and have attained the 'Millie's Mark' award, which means that all staff have attended pediatric first-aid training. This helps to reassure parents of the provider's total commitment to promoting their children's welfare.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY278043 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10265215 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 60 Number of children on roll 100 Name of registered person Places For Children (PFP) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0208 421 7500 Date of previous inspection 30 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The Co-operative Childcare Watford South registered in 2004. The nursery employs 26 members of childcare staff. Of these, 20 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery has 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 setting. n The manager showed the inspector around the areas that children access. They discussed how staff organise the setting and plan the curriculum and experiences for children. n The inspector carried out two joint observations with the nursery manager. n The inspector held discussions with staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector looked at a sample of the nursery's documents. This included evidence about staff suitability and training.

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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

24 January 2023 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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