Muddy Wellies Nursery at YMCA

Inspection of Muddy Wellies Nursery at YMCA Youth Centre, Dartmouth Road, Paignton, Devon TQ4 6NX

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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 develop in confidence in this friendly nursery. Staff welcome children and their parents warmly each morning. Children settle very quickly into playing. They encourage their friends to play with them. For instance, they pick up a toy crocodile and pretend to make it talk to their friends. Children enjoy the variety of activities on offer, such as playing in the home corner or with play dough. Babies enthusiastically join in with group times. For example, they sing songs with staff and their friends during 'mat time'. Children are well behaved and happy.

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The provision is good

The new management team has put in place an effective new curriculum. Children cheerfully spend lots of time learning outdoors. They explore the natural world in their own forest school area. Children freely talk to each other about what they have learned. Staff promote a love of reading. For example, they read stories to children in the new 'woodland den' area. Children look at books independently and sing nursery rhymes linked to the story to each other. Children excitedly ask their parents if they can chose a book to take home from the library. Children make good progress across the curriculum.

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need to do better?

n Leadership and management are strong. The new manager and deputy manager work well alongside each other. They are proactive in seeking help from outside agencies when needed. They have made considerable positive changes to the nursery already. For example, they have put in place an effective new system for recording and monitoring safeguarding concerns. n The manager has a clear vision for the curriculum, with a focus on reading, communication and language and outdoor learning. Staff work well in teams to plan adult-led activities which build on what children already know and need to know next. They use themes to help children make links to different areas of learning. For example, staff teach children to compare sizes of objects after reading the story of 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears'. The curriculum is effective. n The special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator (SENDCo) quickly

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need to do better?

identifies children in need of extra support. She works well alongside other agencies to put in place plans to support children. The SENDCo has put in place a new training programme for staff to help children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). However, these strategies are not yet fully embedded, and sometimes, children with SEND need more support in activities to be fully included. n Children become deeply involved in their activities. Staff take an interest in the children's ideas. Staff develop children's thinking through questioning and talking to them. For instance, children play in the popular mud kitchen, scooping mud and water from the ground. Staff talk to the children, who happily pretend they

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need to do better?

13 April 2023 are making them mud soup. Children learn to be imaginative and develop their speech as they play. n Children's behaviour is good. Children have good relationships with staff. Babies and toddlers happily cuddle into staff for comfort. Children share toys and equipment with their friends. For example, children readily work alongside each other to create paintings on huge pieces of paper. n Staff are dedicated and enthusiastic. They are keen to provide children with a wide variety of exciting experiences. Children particularly enjoy dancing to music with the staff. However, at times, the noise level in the nursery can be a little too loud. At these times, it is difficult for children to sleep or concentrate to take part in other adult-led activities. n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents appreciate the interest the 'amazing' staff take in their children's well-being. They praise the good communication

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need to do better?

they receive about their children's progress, such as through daily discussions and parents' evenings. Parents are particularly happy with the changes the new manager has made. For example, they appreciate the new nursery entrance where they can talk more comfortably to staff.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures staff regularly update their safeguarding training. Staff have a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse. They have the opportunity to discuss safeguarding concerns as part of team meetings. The manager has implemented a clear new system of recording concerns and acts on them accordingly. Staff understand the whistle-blowing procedures within the nursery and are very clear on how to report potential concerns about a colleague. The manager undertakes thorough risk assessments of the premises. She has put in place additional safeguarding measures, such as using keypads to lock doors within the nursery.

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should:

n provide further training for staff to enable them to fully support children with SEND during group activities n consider the timings of activities so children can sleep or learn in a calm environment.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 139449 Local authority Torbay Inspection number 10280236 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 70 Number of children on roll 63 Name of registered person YMCA South Devon

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reference number

Telephone number 01803 551578 Date of previous inspection 15 August 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Muddy Wellies Nursery at YMCA registered in 1996. It is a charitable limited company that runs from Paignton, Devon. The nursery is open from 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday, all year round except for a week at Christmas. The nursery is in receipt of funding for early education for children aged two, three and four years. The manager and deputy manager both hold relevant qualifications at level 6. There are an additional 12 members of staff. Of these, one holds a level 5 qualification, 10 hold a level 3 qualification and there is one apprentice.

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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 provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children spoke to/communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The SENDCo spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a group

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Inspection activities

activity. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector relevant documentation and the inspector reviewed evidence about the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

13 April 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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