The Old Station Nursery Dover

Inspection of Choochoos Day Nursery Crabble Road, DOVER, Kent CT17 0QD

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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 settle well and develop strong bonds with staff. Staff have a strong key- person approach and offer children warm and nurturing relationships. For example, babies enjoy cuddles from staff if they are feeling tired or have just woken up. Older children show excitement to see their key person as they arrive at nursery. Children form good friendships with each other and learn to show compassion for their friends. For example, they show concern for their friend who has fallen over and ask them about how they are feeling. Children's behaviour is very good, and they need very little intervention from staff.

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The provision is good

Staff support children well to have a keen interest in learning and help them to take an active part in building their skills. For example, children make their own dough and test out how much of each ingredient to add. Children eagerly take up the challenge. They skilfully use scissors to cut pieces of herbs to add to the mixture and explore the different scents. Children are fully absorbed in the process and curious of the outcome. As a result, children gain positive attitudes to learning.

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need to do better?

n The management team has a clear vision and the curriculum intent is clearly implemented throughout the nursery. For example, staff support children very well to be independent. Younger children are supported to stand and wash their hands at the sink and get involved in laying the table for lunch. Older children enjoy getting water for themselves to add to their play. As a result, children benefit from consistent teaching to support them to make good progress in their learning. n Children receive good opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, staff work hard to enable children to benefit from free flow into the garden. Children comment that they like to run fast and use the digging area. Children challenge themselves walking along the wobbly bridge, with support from an adult where needed. Consequently, children are confident in their physical skills, which prepares them well for their eventual move to school.

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need to do better?

n Staff place a strong focus on children's communication and language development. Children have the opportunity to hear a range of vocabulary as they play to help extend their language. For example, staff working with babies talk to children about the ice that is melting in the tray. Older children learn about a variety of different words to describe dough, such as 'squashy', 'slimy' and 'stodgy'. Children use their good communication and language skills throughout their play and learning. However, at times, staff do not fully extend children's learning even further to help the most-able children make even more progress. n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents are full of praise for the staff at

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need to do better?

2 May 2023 nursery. They find staff approachable and comment that their children have good relationships with staff. Parents receive good information about their children's progress. They have been able to see the progress their children have made since starting. n Managers have recently led the change of approach on how they support children's learning. For instance, they have moved away from paper-based planning and rely on their knowledge of individual children to teach and extend children's learning in the moment. The management team uses supervision meetings well to help staff hone their skills and gain confidence in their abilities. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive strong support to meet their needs. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) has clear support plans for all children and strong links with external professionals. The staff team works well together to implement a consistent

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need to do better?

approach. As a result, children with SEND make good progress from their individual starting points. n Children enjoy spending time at nursery and have access to a range of different learning opportunities. For example, older children show a keen interest in worms and bugs. They dig them up and help to build a habitat for them to live in. Babies explore the sand and water in the garden and learn about how to use animal puppets inside. However, some of the transitions between inside and outside do not always fully support the needs of the babies and, at times, they become unsettled.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a secure understanding of what could cause concern about a child's welfare. They know what to do if they need to gain further support for children and families. The management team ensures follow-up with parents about any children who do not attend. It is aware of local concerns that could place children at higher risk and ensures that staff know what additional areas to be aware of. Staff ensure that the environment for children is safe. They help to teach children about how to keep themselves safe, for example how to use knives safely at lunchtime.

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should:

n extend the support for the most-able children to ensure that their learning is extended to the highest level to help them make even more progress n develop further the transitions for the youngest children to ensure that children continue to receive high-quality care throughout the day.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2629641 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10281140 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 51 Number of children on roll 94 Name of registered person The Old Station Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01304 822592 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Choochoos Day Nursery registered in 2021 and is located in Dover, Kent. It is part of a chain of nurseries. The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm, for most of the year. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 18 members of staff, 12 of whom hold a relevant early years qualification at level 2 and above. One member of staff has a level 6 qualification.

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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 Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The SENCo and staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their 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

2 May 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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