Merritime Nursery

Inspection of Merritime Nursery H M S Sultan, Military Road, Gosport PO12 3BY

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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

The nursery provides children with a nurturing home-away-from-home environment. Staff design a curriculum successfully to follow children's interests. Children enjoy investigating a wide range of creative resources, which they use to develop their imaginative play. For example, they build castles using wooden blocks and natural materials of all shapes and sizes. They weave imaginary spider webs using coloured rubber bands and pegs, which also helps to develop their fine motor skills. They use emerging language effectively to describe their play to others.

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The provision is good

Children behave very well. They take turns and help each other. Toddlers offer to help sweep the floor when sand is spilt and hand each other bowls ready for their snack. Very young children move between rooms in an orderly manner. Pre- schoolers excitedly use syringes to squirt water outside but take care not to wet each other. Children show respect for their peers. This helps everyone to learn and play in a calm, safe environment.

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The provision is good

Staff make sure that children are always actively engaged. Babies excitedly sing songs and rhymes in preparation for lunch. Pre-school children have freedom to explore tasks independently. When toddlers struggle to share a toy vacuum cleaner, the room leader suggests children work together to operate the toy. These creative and timely interventions promote children's independence and teach them important team-building skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff demonstrate activities well for children. For instance, staff play 'ready, steady, go' games with babies using funnels and jugs to focus their attention on the sound and movement of liquid. In pre-school, staff help children to create castles and homes for a variety of imaginary creatures. This encourages children to become fascinated and helps them to show interest as they play. n Staff have a friendly and nurturing manner towards children. They demonstrate how to resolve any issues quickly. They speak in gentle and reassuring tones, helping children to communicate calmly with each other. This helps to reduce background noise levels throughout the nursery, which further supports children to hear each other's language as they play. n Parents are positive about the nursery. They report that their children have progressed with their social skills and their communication and language. Parents describe how their children greet staff at the door by holding out their

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need to do better?

arms. They say their children love coming to the nursery. Parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) feel that their children have been welcomed into the nursery. They say that their children thrive there. n Overall, babies' care needs are met. However, on occasion when staff are busy

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need to do better?

16 May 2023 with routines, they do not always respond quickly enough when babies need additional help. For example, children are not always supported promptly to be ready for the next activity. n The manager and her deputy communicate well with their team. They provide regular opportunities for staff to discuss any concerns or questions they might have. Staff who are working towards a childcare qualification feel well supported by their room leaders and by managers. Managers have fostered a motivated, knowledgeable team where staff well-being is promoted effectively. n Staff ask interesting questions in group activities to help children explore what they know and can do. However, at times, more confident children can dominate the responses to such questions. This means that quieter or less confident children do not always participate in discussions as fully as they could. n There is effective support in place for children with SEND. A well-established

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need to do better?

key-person system means that staff take time to research the individual needs of children in their care. Leaders in the pre-school and toddler rooms collaborate well with specialist agencies. They ask for advice and follow recommendations from outside professionals. Children make good progress from their starting points, particularly in their personal and social development. Strong partnerships between all agencies mean important assessment information is regularly shared. This contributes fully towards the good progress children make.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff complete regular safeguarding training and are aware of any indicators of abuse. They know the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child. There are appropriate systems in place to record incidents or concerns involving children's well-being. The designated safeguarding lead shows a good understanding of the 'Prevent' duty and the responsibility to keep children safe from extremism and radicalisation. Staff carry out daily risk assessments to check for any hazards. There are effective systems in place for the recording of accidents. This includes checking for any patterns to minimise any further risk of injury.

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should:

n review and improve staff deployment in the baby room during busy periods to ensure children are comfortable and ready for the next activity n improve the organisation of group activities so that the views of quieter and less confident children are always heard and valued.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2629128 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10281061 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 60 Number of children on roll 55 Name of registered person Nimmo-Cameron, Vanessa

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reference number

Telephone number 02392 542229 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Merritime Nursery registered in 2021. It is on a Ministry of Defence naval base in Gosport, Hampshire. The setting is open from 7.30am until 6pm from Monday to Friday, all year round. The setting receives funding for early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 12 members of staff, 10 of whom hold appropriate childcare qualifications.

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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 provider and has taken that into account in his evaluation of the provider. n The deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of the nursery and discussed the intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities. He assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n The inspector spoke with staff from specialist agencies who support children at the nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector spoke with staff about their understanding of safeguarding and

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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

16 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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