1st Friends day nursery and creche Ltd

Inspection of 1st Friends day nursery and creche Ltd C/O Roko Health Club, Off Will Adams Way, Gillingham, Kent ME8 6BY

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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 and babies receive a warm welcome on arrival. Staff provide a calm and nurturing environment, which enables children to feel safe and secure. Children and babies settle quickly and demonstrate their strong bonds with staff. Staff know children extremely well and are attentive to their needs. Children are confident to explore and show a positive attitude to their learning.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time outside in the garden and have good opportunities to exercise in the fresh air. Staff are highly vigilant and teach children the importance of managing risks. For example, children safely manoeuvre across the balance beams. Children have a can-do attitude and understand their own physical capabilities. Children and babies gain good balance and coordination skills. Babies are effectively challenged to stand, enhancing their core skills and leg muscles ready for walking.

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The provision is good

Children and babies are developing a love of reading and enjoy a wide range of books and nursery rhymes. They select books independently and listen as staff enthusiastically read stories. Children join in with familiar words and phrases. They thoroughly enjoy using props to bring stories to life. Babies listen intently as staff sing to them, joining in with the familiar sounds. In addition to this, children and parents borrow books to read together at home, which promotes children's continued learning.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff are committed to providing high-quality care and education for all children. They reflect on the nursery and plan a broad curriculum that supports children effectively to make good progress. Additional funding is used appropriately to meet children's needs. For instance, the manager identifies and buys resources to promote children's individual learning needs. Staff carefully follow children's interests. They use information from observations and assessments to plan interesting activities. n Staff build on daily opportunities to develop children's speaking and listening skills. They narrate as children play and clearly emphasise key words in their interactions to help enhance their vocabulary. For example, children learn words such as 'opposite' and 'boasting'. Staff interactions with babies are gentle and endearing. Babies delight as staff playfully engage. This helps their understanding and speaking skills.

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need to do better?

n Children's independence is supported well. For instance, children enjoy making choices about their play based on their interests and clear away after themselves during lunchtime. Children's health and hygiene are also supported effectively. This is evident as children wash their own hands before eating and have

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need to do better?

3 March 2023 discussions about healthy foods and the importance of good oral health. This helps children to understand the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. n Parents are complimentary of the nursery. They comment that staff regularly share information with them about their child's learning and development. Staff provide ideas for parents on how to support their child's continued learning at home. Parents say that since their children have attended, their language development and confidence have improved. Parents discuss how they appreciate the opportunities provided to be directly involved in their children's learning such as attending story workshops with their children. n Staff organise small-group activities well. For instance, children thoroughly enjoy an interactive story time and make their own predictions relating to the ending of the book. However, at times, during whole-group activities, staff do not fully

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need to do better?

prepare or position themselves effectively. Consequently, some children cannot hear staff clearly and therefore cannot fully access the learning. n Children generally behave well. They respond positively as staff encourage them to participate in the tidying up. However, staff do not fully support children to develop their listening skills. For example, children are excited to contribute to discussions and answer questions. This sometimes results in them speaking loudly over one another or interrupting before eating peers. n Children learn about different country traditions, events and celebrations beyond their own. They explore positive cultural images, books and resources and learn to value the differences and similarities. For instance, they enjoy and benefit from connections and regular updates with a previous member of staff who now completes charity work in Cambodia. Children gain a good understanding of the

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and her staff recognise signs and symptoms that would cause them to be concerned for a child's welfare. They know how to report any concerns they may have about any children or the adults they encounter. Staff attend regular safeguarding training to keep their knowledge refreshed. The manager follows safer recruitment procedures, and processes are in place to ensure staff continue to be suitable to work with children. The environment is safe and secure.

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should:

n consider the organisation of group activities to ensure staff maximise all learning opportunities n support staff to consistently develop children's listening and turn-taking skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY423311 Local authority Medway Inspection number 10276706 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person 1st Friends Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01634382330 Date of previous inspection 28 July 2017

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Information about this early years setting

1st Friends day nursery and creche Ltd registered in 2011. The nursery and creche operates from the Roko Health Club in Gillingham, Kent. The nursery is open each weekday from 7am to 7pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery employs six staff; five of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications to level 3. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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 carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager.

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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

3 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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