Little Ducklings Rockbeare

Inspection of Little Ducklings Nursery Devon Ltd Rockbeare Village Hall, Silver Lane, Rockbeare, EXETER, Exeter EX5 2LP

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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 arrive happily and settle quickly. They share warm interactions with staff, which helps them to feel secure. For example, babies benefit from lots of cuddles and interactions with their key persons. Children benefit from fresh air and physical exercise as they spend much of their time outside, exploring independently. Older children develop good physical skills as they ably climb and run in the garden. Babies enjoy lots of sensory play with sand and water to nurture their curiosity and excitement. Children behave well.

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The provision is good

Children benefit from a broad and varied curriculum. Staff focus their teaching effectively to support all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. As a result, children make good progress. Staff plan a varied range of learning experiences that engage children and take account of their interests. Staff know children well and have high expectations for their learning. There is a good focus on supporting children's personal, social and emotional development. All staff consistently interact with the children, providing them with good role models. This helps children to develop good social skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff liaise closely with parents to find out what children already know and can do. Consequently, staff have a secure understanding of what they want children to learn next and why. Staff engage children effectively and model building sentences by repeating what children say and adding another word. For example, children say 'house' as they build with blocks. Staff respond with 'big house' to encourage children to begin to put two words together and develop their language further. n Children's behaviour is good. They learn to share and take turns and staff support them well to negotiate. Children wait patiently for their turn to complete the 'safari hunt' outside. Staff introduce positional language such as 'over' and 'through' as children climb the steps on the slide and move through the tunnel, to support their development. n Children demonstrate good concentration and focus well on a broad range of

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need to do better?

interesting learning opportunities. They listen intently to a story and enthusiastically sing songs, including number rhymes. However, children do not have many opportunities to use numbers and count during routines and other activities. n Babies demonstrate that they feel secure in the care of staff, who are kind and gentle in their approach. Babies smile and giggle as staff encourage playfulness with scarves and natural resources, turn-taking and playing peekaboo. Older children are starting to be more independent. They fasten their shoes as they get ready to play outside and make independent play choices. Staff give children

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need to do better?

24 May 2023 lots of praise and encouragement, which builds children's self-esteem and prepares them for the next steps in their learning. n Older children chat confidently as they play with and alongside others. Staff learn key words in the home language of children who speak English as an additional language. Staff use effective strategies, such as visual cards, to provide some support to children who need help with their communication skills. However, staff have not considered other ways to support children who are not speaking yet to help them communicate more. n Children learn about a healthy lifestyle. They engage with staff in conversation about good oral health, while using models of teeth, toothpaste and toothbrushes to practise teeth brushing. Mealtimes are a sociable occasion, when children have either a nutritious hot meal provided by the setting or a packed lunch from home. They follow thorough hygiene routines and understand

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need to do better?

the importance of good handwashing. n Partnerships with parents are strong. There is a very good two-way flow of communication between staff and parents. Parents value the support and guidance from staff and sharing of information ensures a secure approach to supporting children's learning and progress. n The provider and staff regularly reflect on their practice and assess the quality of the provision well. Staff have good training opportunities to develop their practice and feel well supported by the manager.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of child protection issues and secure knowledge of the signs and symptoms that might indicate that a child is at risk of harm. All staff know the correct reporting procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child's welfare. They understand that it is their responsibility to take this further if leaders do not take action. Staff know what to do if they have a concern about a colleague's conduct or behaviour. The provider follows safer recruitment procedures to help ensure that only those people suitable to do so work with children.

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should:

n provide more opportunities for children to count and use numbers n develop further strategies to support children even more in developing their communication skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2685897 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10284419 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Little Ducklings Nursery Devon Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07592249478 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Ducklings Nursery Devon Ltd registered in June 2022. It operates from Rockbeare Village Hall, Devon, on Monday from 8am until 3pm, Tuesday from 9am until 3pm, and Wednesday and Friday from 8am until 5pm. There are nine staff, including the provider. Of these, four hold qualifications at level 3, two hold a qualification at level 2 and three are unqualified or undertaking training. The nursery receives funding for the provision of early education for children aged two and three years old.

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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 their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together. They discussed the curriculum and the intention for children's learning. n The inspector talked to the staff, parents and children during the inspection and took their views into account. n The manager and inspector completed a joint observation and had a follow-up discussion about children's learning. n The inspector held discussions about the leadership and management of the setting with the manager and the provider. n The inspector sampled a range of documentation.

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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

24 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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