Cleverkidz

Inspection of Cleverkidz Tithe Farm Road, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU5 5JB

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children are settled and happy in this nurturing setting. They have secure bonds with their key person and other staff, who know them well. Babies giggle with delight when they beat their favourite drums and staff clap in time to their rhythm. Children respond to the high expectations and positive attitudes displayed by staff. They are enthusiastic and quickly become engaged in activities. For example, children work together and solve problems as they make ramps for cars. They discover how to adjust the slope of these to make the cars go faster. They persevere at tasks, such as working out how to make a wide vehicle travel down a narrow slope. Staff celebrate children's achievements with them, building children's self-esteem.

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The provision is good

Children are polite to one another and staff, remembering to say 'please' and 'thank you'. They are gaining a practical awareness of other ways of life. For instance, children have many opportunities to talk about their home life, the festivals they celebrate and the food they eat. Children develop their physical skills. Babies build strength in their leg muscles as they stand at a low table outside. Older children select appropriate tools to cut and roll their coloured dough, helping to develop their smaller hand muscles.

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need to do better?

n The manager, deputy manager and directors are committed to improving the setting and ensuring that changes are sustainable. The manager is an inspiration to staff, sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with them and involving staff in any developments. This has played a major part in significantly improving the nursery and addressing actions raised at the last inspection. n Staff confidently check what each child has learned and plan their next steps, competently incorporating these into the daily planning. This helps to ensure that every child makes good progress from their starting points. The manager uses additional funding effectively to offer children further opportunities that meet their needs. He and the deputy manager support staff in quickly identifying where children need more support, helping to ensure that no child falls behind in their learning. n Staff report that they enjoy working at the nursery. They receive regular

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need to do better?

supervision and managers support them to assess their practice and build on this, for example, through completing further training. n Staff offer well-tailored support to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They work in close partnership with parents and other professionals. This ensures that children's care is consistent, their development is promoted and they make good progress. n Staff fully appreciate the importance of supporting children's communication

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need to do better?

6 March 2023 skills, completing additional training to aid them in this. Staff speak clearly and narrate what children are doing. This particularly supports younger children and those who speak English as an additional language and they frequently repeat words and sentences, using these appropriately in their play. n Children of all ages enjoy looking at books. Staff share their enthusiasm and read with animation, capturing children's attention. Children eagerly join in, often repeating story lines as part of their play. Children enjoy working in small groups to look at letters and sounds. The manager has checked that these are presented using the same methods used at the local schools, ensuring consistency in children's learning. n Children have many opportunities to develop their understanding of counting and numbers. For example, older children look at a ruler and enjoy matching the numbers to number cards. They count the correct number of blocks using

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need to do better?

mathematical language, such as 'more' and 'less'. n Children's behaviour is generally good. Staff support them in learning to manage this, for example in understanding how to share. However, on occasion, staff do not help children to understand the effect of their behaviour on others. n Parents speak highly of the nursery and all have noted the improvements since the last inspection. They report that they appreciate the good communication with staff so that they always know what their children have been doing. However, staff do not offer as much support as possible to aid parents in building on their children's learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff have a very clear understanding of safeguarding. The manager ensures this is kept up to date by supporting staff to refresh their training and through frequent discussions. Staff know how to recognise and report concerns about children's welfare to the correct professional. They are aware of wider safeguarding issues, such as radicalisation and the possible dangers associated with use of the internet. They take appropriate action to protect children at all times. The manager and nursery owners ensure that the nursery, both inside and outside, is safe and maintained in an appropriate condition for children to use, further promoting children's welfare and safety.

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should:

n support staff to develop further their management of children's behaviour, to consistently help children understand the impact of their actions n offer parents further support in extending their children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY278278 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 10252862 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 122 Number of children on roll 96 Name of registered person Cleverkidz Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01582 868000 Date of previous inspection 23 August 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Cleverkidz registered in 2004 and is situated in Houghton Regis, Dunstable. The nursery employs 22 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or 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 The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provision. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector observed staff interaction with children during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n Meetings were held between the inspector, the manager, the deputy manager and a nursery director. The inspector looked at relevant documentation and saw evidence of the suitability of staff. n The inspector held discussions with staff, children and parents at appropriate times 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

6 March 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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