Mama Bear's Day Nursery

Inspection of Mama Bear's Day Nursery 216 Allison Road, Brislington, Bristol BS4 4NZ

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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 engage well in a broad range of experiences. The curriculum supports their interests and encourages them to develop new ones across all areas of their learning. Children develop good communication and language skills. Babies hear new words. Staff provide good commentary as babies build with the blocks. Babies have good eye contact when staff respond consistently to their vocalisations. Babies love listening to familiar songs and sway in time to the rhythm. Toddlers listen well to instructions. They stop and wiggle their fingers and help to tidy away. Children are keen to help and, those that are not, staff give specific tasks to guide them. Older children thoroughly enjoy sharing a story. Staff encourage them to share their ideas and to make connections with their own experiences.

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The provision is good

Children settle quickly into nursery life. They build strong bonds with friendly and approachable staff. Young babies reach for cuddles when they are tired and reward staff with a smile. Children confidently explore the well-resourced and accessible environment. Young babies crawl, reach and pull themselves up to acquire their chosen toy. Toddlers confidently push themselves along on balance bikes, negotiating space safely. Children show curiosity as they explore various construction resources. Toddlers persevere to build structures, testing their ideas, such as changing a large block for two smaller ones to make their tower more stable. Staff question children effectively encouraging them to think of new ways to connect the pieces and provide new vocabulary. Older children show good understanding of how the light box works and are keen to share their discoveries with staff and teach them.

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need to do better?

n The manager has good insight into the design of the curriculum and what children need to learn next. Staff implement the curriculum well and know how to build on what children know and can do. Staff sequence children's learning effectively, for example, through 'I wonder' themes. They interact with children well, encouraging them to explore their ideas and make discoveries. For example, babies and younger children thoroughly enjoy investigating how animals and vehicles move in the shaving foam, alongside other sensory opportunities. n There is good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff plan effectively to help reduce any gaps in children's learning and to help them make progress. Staff work closely with parents and other agencies to help ensure they meet children's individual needs successfully. n Older children show interest in group activities, such as 'Bucket Time' and are

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need to do better?

keen to see the new resources. Most children remain focused and demonstrate good attention. However, staff do not always ensure that all children understand

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need to do better?

15 February 2023 expectations and that they include children at their level of understanding. n Children behave well, overall. Staff support children well to be kind to each other and use age-appropriate strategies to manage behavioural expectations. Staff work closely with parents to encourage consistency between the home and setting. Staff record and monitor any behavioural concerns effectively and seek support from other professionals when required. n Staff provide children with healthy snacks and meals, which meet their special dietary requirements and preferences. Staff support those children with a special diet well. For example, children have a special place mat and staff sit with these children to help reduce the possibility of children sharing food. n For the most part, staff encourage children to be independent. However, there are some inconsistencies. For example, staff do not consider adapting practice to

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need to do better?

support children to serve their meals and to feed themselves. Children struggle to serve couscous with a fork and to eat couscous and stew with a knife and fork and therefore, use their hands. n Leaders and managers use self-evaluation well to identify ways to move forward, such as embedding the new curriculum approach and including more opportunities to celebrate children's home cultures and traditions. Staff are well supported to improve the quality of their teaching. Leaders empower staff to make decisions for example, to assess and review the learning environments to enable children to be fully engaged in all areas of their learning. They support staff well to access training. They receive regular guidance and coaching for example, through staff meetings, peer observations and supervisions to raise the quality of their interactions.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff provide a safe and secure environment for children to explore. They use their risk assessment effectively, to identify any potential risks. There are robust recruitment and induction arrangements to ensure staff are suitable for their role. All staff receive regular training to ensure they understand and implement the nursery's policies and procedures. Staff have good knowledge of the possible signs that a child is at risk of harm. The designated safeguarding lead understands her responsibility to report any concerns about a child or a member of staff to relevant agencies.

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should:

n guide staff to provide further opportunities for children to gain independence n review the organisation of focused preschool activities to enable all children to understand expectations and be fully engaged.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY267805 Local authority Bristol City of Inspection number 10278042 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 80 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Mama Bear's Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0117 9728234 Date of previous inspection 24 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Mama Bear's Day Nursery registered in 2004. It is one of 23 nurseries owned by the company. It is located in Brislington, Bristol. The nursery opens each weekday from 7.30am to 7pm for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The manager, who holds qualified teacher status, supports eleven members of staff who work directly with children; of these, four hold early years qualifications at level 3 and five hold qualifications at level 2.

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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 area manager and the manager took the inspector on a learning walk and discussed the early years curriculum. n The manager and inspector conducted a joint observation together in the preschool room. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection and the views of parents were considered. n The inspector conducted professional discussions with the leadership team, staff, special educational needs coordinator and designated safeguarding lead. n The inspector reviewed documentation.

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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

15 February 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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