Muddy Puddles Nursery

Inspection of Muddy Puddles Nursery YMCA Norfolk, Aylsham Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR3 2HF

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are well settled. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in the care of staff. Older children confidently speak to the inspector, inviting her to join their games, and pretend to read familiar books to her. From a young age, children are encouraged to make choices and to become independent. They competently put on their coats, take themselves to the toilet and pour themselves a drink of milk or water. They mop up small spills with a paper towel and recall how to safely carry scissors. Children choose what they want to do next and confidently move between activities and the indoor and outdoor areas.

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The provision is good

Staff encourage exploratory play and set out inviting resources for children to investigate. For instance, babies develop their sensory skills as they explore trays of coloured rice, flowers and small containers. They scoop rice and listen to the sound of it falling as they pour it out. Babies examine the flowers carefully and concentrate as they pluck the petals. Older children pretend to make 'hot chocolate', using real tea cups, water and tea leaves. They offer the drinks to their friends, warning them, 'Careful, it's hot!', as they blow on their own drink, pretending to cool it down.

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need to do better?

n The manager has a strong vision for the future of the setting and plans to continue developing and improving the service further. However, she does not currently monitor staff performance incisively enough to promote consistently strong practice across the setting. n Staff deliver a broad curriculum and plan activities based on children's interests and their knowledge of what children know and can do already. They encourage children to recall previous learning experiences as they introduce activities to build on their skills and knowledge. Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well. They identify when children are in need of additional support and work well with external professionals and parents to promote positive outcomes for all children. n Parents praise the range of creative and physical activities offered by the 'lovely' staff. They comment on the wide range of materials children use to create their

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need to do better?

artwork and how proud they are to share what they have made. Parents report how much their children enjoy using the on-site 'soft play' and how they have mastered other new skills, such as riding a bicycle and writing their name, during their time at the setting. They also appreciate staff's suggestions for activities to try at home. n Staff promote children's speech and language development well. Staff introduce new vocabulary with plenty of repetition and demonstrate the correct pronunciation. Children delight in familiar songs and actions. Babies clap and say

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need to do better?

18 April 2023 'pop' as staff sing a song about pea pods. Toddlers copy staff's actions to make soapy bubbles to a handwashing song. Older children laugh and bounce to a song about 'jumping beans'. n Children have ample opportunities to be physically active, and they enjoy being outside. They play a limbo game using a skipping rope, climb on large log piles, race their friends and roll hula hoops down the hill. Children delight in releasing butterflies after many weeks of caring for caterpillars and watching their cocoons excitedly. They notice the colours of the insects' wings and wonder if butterflies feel scared the first time they try to fly. n Staff have a warm, engaging manner with children. They listen with interest to children's ideas and ask questions to extend their thinking. For instance, children transport hay from a sensory tray to give their toy animals something to eat. Staff encourage them to find more animals that like to eat hay and some soil for

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need to do better?

the toy pigs. Staff name the different body parts of the animals and answer children's questions, such as how pigs feed their piglets. n Staff use positive phrases to communicate their expectations for children's behaviour. For example, they remind children to use 'kind hands' and say 'be gentle'. However, when children struggle to take turns or be kind, or when they become disruptive, staff do not always employ effective strategies to help children regulate their own behaviour.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager is confident in her role as designated safeguarding lead and has a good knowledge of local child protection issues. She ensures that all staff receive regular safeguarding training and information on wider safeguarding topics, such as 'Prevent' duty. Staff understand their responsibilities in helping to keep children safe. They know the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm and how to report concerns. Staff also understand the whistle-blowing procedure and how to report concerns regarding adults who work with children. When appointing new staff, the manager follows thorough recruitment processes to assure herself that staff are suitable.

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should:

n extend opportunities for staff to enhance their professional development and fully embed the arrangements for supervision and coaching in order to promote consistently high-quality education across the setting n enhance and extend behaviour strategies to promote children's social skills, understanding of emotions and how their behaviour impacts others.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2628544 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10281126 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 90 Number of children on roll 103 Name of registered person YMCA Norfolk

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reference number

Telephone number 01603 343090 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Muddy Puddles Nursery registered in 2021 and is situated in Norwich. The setting employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, from 8am to 6pm. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting 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 her evaluation of the setting. n The manager took the inspector on a learning walk across all areas of the premises to explain how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed the quality of interactions during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The manager completed two joint observations of activities and evaluated these with the inspector. n The inspector spoke to children, staff and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of all persons working on the premises.

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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

18 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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