Cleverclogs

Inspection of Cleverclogs 441 Dereham Road, New Costessey, NORWICH NR5 0SG

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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 arrive happily and are eager to begin their day. They form strong bonds with staff and demonstrate how safe they feel in their care. Children develop positive attitudes to learning. They are curious and confidently explore the spaces, resources and activities on offer. Children develop a love of books. They recall familiar stories, including the main characters and key events. Children tell the inspector about the 'baddies' and how the heroes escape at the end. They enjoy looking at books independently, cuddled up on an armchair with a friend. Children develop social skills and learn how to take turns and share resources fairly. From a young age, children develop their self-care skills. Babies find their coats and water bottles ready to go outside. Older children enjoy their turn to prepare fruit for their friends at snack time. They learn how to hold knives carefully and to handle porcelain cups and plates gently. Children take turns to wash up and are eager to

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The provision is good

talk about helpful tasks they complete at home too.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children. They regularly assess children's learning and share their observations with parents. Staff use this information to plan appropriately challenging and interesting activities to support children's unique learning journeys. Parents highlight the 'excellent' level of support staff provide to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. All children make good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n Parents speak extremely highly of the setting. They report strong partnerships with 'wonderful' staff and how their children feel valued and enjoy attending. Parents appreciate how well staff support children's emotional well-being at key times, such as preparing for a new sibling or moving to school. They feel well informed about their children's daily experiences, learning and development. n Leaders and managers seek feedback from parents and staff to help them evaluate the quality of service they provide. They use this information to make improvements, such as hosting more informal parent events and developing the range of resources offered to children. However, self-evaluation does not closely assess the impact of the curriculum to identify ways to improve its delivery. For example, staff do not always consider how effective activities are in increasing what children can understand, recall and do.

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need to do better?

n Children demonstrate good levels of concentration. They focus as they stack wooden bricks on top of vehicles, saying 'wow!' when they manage to balance several on the wobbly surface. Children are imaginative. They use spaghetti, googly eyes and play dough to make creatures. They describe their models, pointing out key features, saying 'those are eyeballs!'. n Leaders and managers carry out an effective programme of supervision and

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need to do better?

4 May 2023 training for staff. They have developed well-being arrangements to support staff and show appreciation for their work. Staff are encouraged to develop their knowledge and skills with further qualifications and say they feel valued within the team. n Staff support children's understanding of number and quantity well. For instance, they count during play and daily routines and teach children fun counting rhymes. Children recall familiar songs, such as 'five little monkeys', and use their fingers to count. n Children develop their early writing skills. They make marks in sand and play dough with a variety of tools. They strengthen their hand muscles as they squeeze, roll, pinch, pat and stretch the materials. Older children show an interest in letters and are beginning to write their name. n Staff are warm and responsive in their interactions with children. They are active participants in children's play, modelling new vocabulary and conversational

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need to do better?

skills. However, at times staff do not always give a clear or detailed enough explanation of new or complex concepts to support children's full understanding. n From a young age, children like spending time in the garden. Babies enjoy investigating different textures of sand, bark, grass and wood. Toddlers delight in making music by tapping different pots, pans and surfaces in the 'mud kitchen'. Children practise their physical skills by running, jumping, climbing, sliding and pedalling ride-on toys.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers ensure that staff access regular child protection and first-aid training to keep their knowledge up to date. Staff know the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They understand the recording, reporting and referral processes. This includes whistle-blowing and any concerns about the conduct of an adult who works with children. When appointing new staff, managers follow thorough recruitment processes to assure themselves that staff are suitable. They also conduct annual checks on the ongoing suitability of staff.

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should:

n enhance self-evaluation to focus more closely on assessing and evaluating the impact of the curriculum on children's learning and development n strengthen the approach to introducing and exploring new concepts or vocabulary to support children's full understanding and strengthen their language skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY442600 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10279907 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 92 Number of children on roll 216 Name of registered person Cleverclogs (Longwater) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01603742592 Date of previous inspection 3 August 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Cleverclogs registered in 2012. The nursery employs 32 members of childcare staff. Of these, 18 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. The nursery 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 provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The deputy manager took the inspector on a learning walk across all areas of the premises to explain how the early years provision and curriculum is 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 deputy manager completed a joint observation and evaluation of an activity with the inspector. n The inspector spoke to children, staff, parents and directors at appropriate times during the inspection. She also took account of the views of parents through written feedback provided. n The inspector looked at a sample of the setting's documents. This included evidence regarding staff suitability and training.

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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

4 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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