Little Ducklings Nursery Devon Ltd

Inspection of Little Ducklings Nursery Devon Ltd The Church Hall, Church Road, Exmouth EX8 1RZ

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

Children arrive happy and keen to attend. Staff provide support to help them settle in quickly. Children form trusting bonds with staff who help them feel secure throughout the day. For example, they help children to find their comforters when they need them, and follow younger children's care routines consistently. Children behave well and make friends with others. They learn how to share, take turns, help and play kindly.

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The provision requires improvement

Overall, staff provide a suitable curriculum of activities to support children's interests and aspects of learning. However, staff do not all plan activities well to target every child's individual development. Due to weaknesses in some staff's teaching skills, not all children are encouraged to fulfil their learning potential.

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The provision requires improvement

Children benefit from a good range of toys in designated areas with space to play freely. Younger children can see and choose toys from low units to lead their own exploration. Children enjoy creating with art materials, such as making cards and gifts for Mother's Day, and younger children explore sensory toys. Staff provide a quiet space where children enjoy looking at books and playing peacefully. Children hear staff using mathematical language in their play to help them learn about numbers and shapes.

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need to do better?

n The quality of teaching is not consistently good. Staff ensure children are happy and enjoy their play, but some staff do not challenge children well or help them to build on what they already know and can do. For example, staff ask children questions, but do not allow time for them to think and respond to encourage their communication and language skills. n Staff observe and monitor children's learning from the start to asses their development. However, they do not all use their assessments consistently well or shape activities to help children make good progress in all areas. Some staff are unclear on what they intend children to learn next, and some activities become overcrowded restricting children from learning more. n Staff help children to develop healthy lifestyles overall. Children benefit from nutritious meals and snacks and learn the importance of handwashing routines. They enjoy regular physical play. For example, children run, play ball games,

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need to do better?

ride wheeled toys and climb in the garden. Younger children learn the actions to songs. n Staff are kind and caring and respond well to children's individual care needs and feelings. They help children to develop some skills to prepare them for starting school. Children learn to manage their selfcare, such as putting on their coats and washing hands themselves to develop their independence. They enjoy

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need to do better?

14 March 2023 investigating new activities. n Staff do not supervise children appropriately at all times. On occasion, some staff do not directly supervise the children while they eat. When children sleep, they are not always within staff's sight or hearing to ensure they are safe. The provider has already started to address these weaknesses to assure children's safety. n Staff work with parents to find out about children's needs and learning from the start. They provide feedback each day regarding their child's well-being, care and the activities they have enjoyed. Parents share positive views of the care their children receive. For example, they state their children have gained good social skills and confidence since starting. They can get involved in their child's assessments and learning at home, and the children enjoy coming. n The setting has undergone significant change and challenges since opening

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need to do better?

earlier in the year. The management team has focused making improvements to the security of the premises and to ensure arrival and collection procedures are now safe and efficient. The team of staff are still becoming established in their roles. As such, the management team has not implemented effective supervision of staff to ensure they receive the coaching they need to develop better knowledge and skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Overall, staff have a suitable understanding of their child protection roles and responsibilities. They complete training that helps them to understand the risks to children of different types of abuse and neglect. They complete training to keep their knowledge up to date in most areas. The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) follows procedures appropriately in the event of a concern about a child's welfare. However, the DSL and staff do not have a clear understanding of when to notify the relevant agencies regarding any allegations against staff. The provider follows robust vetting procedures to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children.

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Due date

ensure that staff supervise children appropriately at all times, including when children are eating and sleeping 15/03/2023

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Due date

14 March 2023 ensure that the DSL and staff understand and follow the procedures in the event of an allegation being made against staff 21/03/2023

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Due date

improve the arrangements for staff supervision and coaching to improve the quality of teaching. 25/04/2023

p.4

should:

n develop the use of assessments and planned activities to ensure staff know what they intend all children to learn next and to help them make better progress in these areas.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2708232 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10281223 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Little Ducklings Nursery Devon Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07592249478 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Ducklings Nursery Devon Ltd registered in 2022. The group operates from Exmouth, Devon. It opens Monday to Thursday, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, all year round. The group receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. The owner employs six staff to work with children, four of whom hold appropriate qualifications at level 2 to 3 ,in addition to a cook.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 provider completed a learning walk around the premises and explained how those are used this to meet children's needs and deliver the curriculum. n The inspector observed activities and the quality of the staff's interactions with the children. She discussed the effectiveness of an activities with the acting manager. n The inspector sampled the documentation and talked to staff throughout the inspection. n The inspector took account of parents' 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

14 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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