Pipsqueaks

Inspection of Pipsqueaks Harris House, North Road, Queenborough, Kent ME11 5HA

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children and families are welcomed by smiling, friendly staff who know them well at this happy and safe setting. Children play well with their friends. They display high levels of independence. They are kind to each other. They help set up snack time, sharing out the snacks and showing their friends how to cut up strawberries and slice apples. Staff create an environment which meets the needs of all children. They are good role models. Children benefit from a range of activities and resources set out for them that interest and engage them.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of children, frequently praising their efforts and encouraging them to keep on trying. Staff and children celebrate each other's successes, high fiving each other when they all work hard together. Children have very positive attitudes to their learning. They delight in exploring large bubbles which they make with hoops in a tray. Staff have successfully prioritised gaps in children's learning since the COVID-19 pandemic. They extend children's language through stories and thoughtful conversations. For example, they explain to the children how their bubbles make rainbows when the light 'splits'. Children remain engrossed and engaged making their own rainbows.

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need to do better?

n The manager is proactive in seeking advice and support from the local authority and this has had a significant impact on raising the quality of the setting. The manager is driven and determined. She recognises the journey that the setting has been on and the challenges they have faced. She is passionate about ensuring that children receive high-quality care and education. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Children who had not previously attended for a full day, now attend regularly. Staff work very closely with parents to support positive behaviour. Adults are patient and calm in their interactions with children. They encourage children to 'talk it out' to help support their emotional well-being. n Staff are a close-knit team who support each other well. They attend regular local network meetings with other settings to share practice. They have attended training to improve their overall understanding of young children's

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need to do better?

learning and development. This has led to positive improvements within the provision. However, the manager has not fully focused professional development opportunities on supporting each individual staff member to develop their skills even further, to ensure continuity of practice. n Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the setting. They say their children have made significant progress in their speech, physical and social skills. They report that their children have 'so much fun' and do not want to leave at the end of the day. They appreciate the ideas that they are given to help their children

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need to do better?

12 April 2023 at home and say that the lending library has helped their children to develop a love of books. n Children know the rules and routines of the setting well. They immediately help at snack time, setting it up and reminding each other to wash their hands. They pour their own drinks and wipe their own noses. Staff respond to children with praise and encouragement. They have very positive relationships, frequently laughing and talking together. n Staff plan an interesting and motivating curriculum, extending children's learning and building on their interests. Staff set up a hospital role-play area to support children's understanding. They support children's mathematical knowledge describing different angles. Language development is prioritised and children relish in listening to stories and joining in with puppets, listening intently. n Leaders and managers have a range of plans for the future. They are highly

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need to do better?

reflective. They have invested in the environment and resources and adapted all areas of the setting. Children have access to a wide range of activities and opportunities to support their next steps. They have introduced new initiatives and report that these are having a positive impact. n Children with English as an additional language are well supported. For example, staff have learned words in Bulgarian to help children settle in. Staff share in religious and cultural festivals to widen children's experiences, sharing different foods. This helps children understand more about the world around them.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have significantly improved their safeguarding knowledge. They can recognise a range of signs and symptoms of abuse. They share regular safeguarding scenarios as a team. They are confident to talk about what would concern them about children's welfare. They know who to go to for advice and support. They can explain what they would do if they were concerned about a colleague or the manager. The manager has successfully improved her knowledge of safer recruitment and has effective recruitment procedures in place. She ensures that there are arrangements in place to check the ongoing suitability of staff. The setting is safe and secure.

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should:

n strengthen staff training and professional development opportunities further, to focus more precisely on helping all staff to build on their knowledge, understanding and skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY257399 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10265656 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 44 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Harris, Lindsay Susannah

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reference number

Telephone number 01795 666420 Date of previous inspection 9 November 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Pipsqueaks is a privately run nursery. It registered in 2003 and operates from a two-storey building in Queenborough, Isle of Sheppey, Kent. The nursery is open each weekday, from 7am to 6pm, for approximately 45 weeks of the year. The nursery is in receipt of funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are seven members of staff, six of whom hold recognised early years qualifications. One member of staff has qualified teacher status.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during lunchtime. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of 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

12 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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