Pumpkin Patch Nursery

Inspection of Pumpkin Patch Nursery 37 Preston Drove, Brighton BN1 6LA

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive and are confident and happy at this inspiring and exciting nursery. They feel safe and emotionally secure as they form extremely loving bonds with their passionate key persons. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), thoroughly enjoy all of the many experiences that are on offer. Children have positive attitudes to their learning and benefit from a wide range of stimulating experiences. They are completely engrossed during extremely well-planned activities. For example, children press and mix fruit and spices to make paint. They talk about the colours they are making and compare the textures with their friends. Adults skilfully encourage children to expand their existing knowledge to enable them to take learning to the next level. Consequently, children are challenged, rapidly gain new knowledge and make excellent progress from their starting points.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff are positive role models and have extremely high expectations for children. They teach children how to manage their feelings and use resources such as books, music and artwork to encourage children to identify their emotions. This 'whole nursery' approach supports children, including those with SEND, to feel positive about who they are. Children are respectful towards each other and when they use the resources. They are exceptionally thoughtful and demonstrate this when a visitor interacts with them: 'Do you want to have this crayon to do a picture? We can share it' they kindly say to the inspector.

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need to do better?

n The dynamic leadership team is dedicated to its staff team. Leaders organise regular training so that all staff have access to programmes that support professional development and raise their skills to a very high level. Leaders ensure that staff have access to well-being services and strive for a happy working environment. This overall commitment to the staff is a key part of the nursery's ongoing success. Staff tell the inspector that they feel valued and listened to, and that the nursery is 'an incredible and inspirational workplace'. n Partnership with parents is exceptional. Parents state that the nursery is 'unique' and that their children are making 'fantastic progress'. They mention that the staff are loving and form strong bonds with their children. Parents comment that they look forward to the daily updates regarding their child's progress and feel extremely well informed about their child's development.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children to have an excellent understanding of healthy lifestyles. Children grow vegetables in the garden and then eat them. There is a large variety of fresh home-cooked food for them to eat and they are given fruit to eat throughout the day. Children have continuous opportunities to play in the fresh air. They climb through tunnels, balance on beams and help one another push a

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need to do better?

19 May 2023 bike uphill. Children, including babies, have excellent physical skills for their development age. n Children are taught to be independent from a very young age. For example, very young children use forks to feed themselves and older children manage all their own self-care routines, such as toileting and washing hands. A key strength in the nursery is teaching children to collaboratively work together. For example, the staff arrange projects and small group work so that children can discuss, and problem-solve with each other. Children sit in small groups to eat. Staff use this time to open up purposeful discussions about the projects that the children are involved in. n The highly skilled staff are excellent teachers and role models. They understand the importance of a well-sequenced and exciting curriculum. Consequently, children are keen to learn. Children are very creative and can express

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need to do better?

themselves extremely well. For example, they work in small groups on projects and staff encourage them to be curious as they play and learn. Children use dance and music to express their feelings. They gather sticks from the forest and talk about how to attach clay and leaves to 'make something magical!'. Children expertly plant seeds to grow into vegetables. They hold up snails to show their friends and then carefully find the snail a safe home. Children listen intently and learn how to make musical instruments to go in the garden. They persevere when the task becomes tricky and beam with pride when they have finished. 'Oh, come and look at this!' they tell the inspector. n Children have excellent understanding of the world around them. They visit local parks and engage in community projects, such as litter picking. Staff strongly promote inclusion and diversity throughout the setting. Children listen to stories

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need to do better?

and songs that parents have recorded in their home language. They learn about other cultures and what makes them unique. Children are encouraged to contribute their ideas and thoughts and, as a result, they feel valued and listened to. Staff working with babies are very attentive to their needs. They get to know the babies well, and plan activities based upon their existing knowledge. Babies feel safe and secure as they are cuddled, soothed and played with by adults who care for them. Babies' transitions are supported extremely well so that they are emotionally ready for the next stage in their learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a secure knowledge of what may give them cause for concern that a child is at risk of harm. All staff complete safeguarding training and regularly update their knowledge. They demonstrate a secure knowledge of what actions to take if they had concerns about a child's welfare, including the dangers of extreme views and behaviours and county lines. Staff know what actions to take if an allegation was made against themselves or if they have concerns about a colleague. The nursery is a safe environment for children. The manager and staff regularly carry out risk assessments in order to keep children safe.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY334466 Local authority Brighton and Hove Inspection number 10264631 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 80 Number of children on roll 133 Name of registered person O'Hara, Anita Dawn

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reference number

Telephone number 01273 554484 Date of previous inspection 21 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Pumpkin Patch Nursery registered in 2006. It operates from the ground and first floors of a converted house in Brighton, East Sussex. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round. Opening times are from 7.30am to 6pm. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of early education entitlement for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 34 staff. There are four staff who hold early years professional status or qualified teacher status, and 22 other members of staff hold qualifications at level 2 or above.

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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 her evaluation of the nursery. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk to establish the intent of the curriculum. n The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector completed a joint observation of an activity together. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

19 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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