Ellwood Nursery

Inspection of Ellwood Nursery Old School House Bromley Road, Ellwood, Gloucestershire GL16 7LY

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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 happy and eager to play. They leave their parents confidently and staff greet them warmly. They find a peg to hang up their things in the cloakroom.

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The provision is good

Children are making good progress from their starting points. The curriculum focuses on all the areas of learning. Staff provide children with a wide range of experiences that enable them to concentrate, explore and discover. Children have opportunities for structured adult-led group activities that focus on phonics. They laugh with excitement, as 'What's in the box' are animals that may escape. Staff make learning fun and engaging. Children have many opportunities for independent free play. This helps them learn to share with others and be physically active.

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The provision is good

Children engage in a range of fun outdoor activities. They go on 'nurture walks' in small groups, and tell others they see dandelions, buttercups and collect twigs. Babies and toddlers have a daily outing in the local community and take snack to eat. Children play in the garden, using a range of materials in water play that challenge them. They carry large buckets of water and work out how to lift them to make the water splash down the pipes.

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need to do better?

n Children's behaviour is good. Staff have clear 'golden rules' and are consistent with them. Children know about 'kind hands' and 'indoor voices'. Staff sensitively remind children about sharing, and sand timers help children know when it is their turn. Staff model respect and friendliness. This helps children develop positive, helpful attitudes. They are kind and caring. For example, children pour drinks for their friends and tidy up any spillages without any prompting. n Children create and discover. Babies explore wet sand, which helps to develop their curiosity. Children predict what happens when they mix paint and glue in the art studio. The paint floats. They stir vigorously to make the paint and glue blend and use it in their paintings. Children show fascination to see what happens when they mix colours. n Staff use sign language and picture prompts to support children to understand daily routines. During planning circle times, children choose the picture of the

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need to do better?

place they would like to play. This helps them make meaningful choices and use decision-making skills. n Support for children's communication is very good. Staff engage in frequent conversations, ask open-ended questions, and use repetition to connect with children. Staff listen and show interest in children's play. They introduce specific vocabulary. They use questions that extend children's learning, and enabling statements that support children's thinking. For example staff support children's

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need to do better?

8 June 2023 developing knowledge and understanding of number and measures. They ask, 'I wonder if you got another one', 'which one is bigger' and 'how much more water do you need'. n Leaders and managers discuss staff well-being during supervision and set goals to support their development. Staff have access to a range of training. The deputy manager recognises good practice and offers helpful feedback to make it even better. This helps to improve and enhance children's care, learning and development. However, managers do not always ensure that staff working the nursery develop a clear understanding of how to support children with the next steps in their learning. Therefore, support for some children does not sufficiently focus on what will enhance their own personal development. n Parents say their children are happy, safe and well cared for. Parents of babies and toddlers say the information they get reassures them about the daily

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need to do better?

routines and their babies' interests. Some parents say they do not feel as informed as they could about staff changes, and that information is not always timely about their children's learning. Parents know their children are progressing well and like the daily handover.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff understand their role and responsibility to promote children's welfare. They complete regular safeguarding training to update their knowledge. Staff are able to recognise when there is a cause for concern, and have a good understanding of what may indicate a child is at risk of harm. Staff have a good knowledge of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child or the conduct of a member of staff. Managers follow safe recruitment procedures to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Daily risk assessments of the garden ensure that it is safe for children to play and any potential hazards are minimised. Children learn to be safe, they know how to avoid crashes on their bicycles in the garden and to tidy away for a safe environment.

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should:

n strengthen partnership with parents to ensure that all parents can access up-to- date information about their child's learning and nursery staff n enhance systems to ensure that children's next steps are known by all staff to help children make even better progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2642919 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10291752 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 38 Number of children on roll 77 Name of registered person Mia Rose Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01594835624 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Ellwood Nursery was registered in 2021. It operates from 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3pm on Fridays. It operates all year round. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from levels 2 to 3.

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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 setting. n The deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to managers and staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The deputy manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation in the construction room. 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

8 June 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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