Clowns Childrens Centre

Inspection of Clowns Childrens Centre Cinder Bank, Ironville, Derbyshire NG16 5NN

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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

Staff warmly welcome children into the safe and stimulating setting. Children enter with confidence, quickly settle, and find their favourite activities. Staff help children to explore the outdoor area. Children develop their large-muscle skills as they propel themselves forwards on trikes and clamber up tyres. Children practise their skills further as they take it in turns to bat balls that staff carefully throw.

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The provision is good

Staff support children as they begin to develop their mark-making skills. Children use their small muscles to create meaningful pictures. Staff help children to name objects in their picture, and children proudly describe what they have drawn. Children use their senses to explore as they scoop up sand and push it into moulds. Staff talk to them about how the sand feels between their fingers. They encourage younger children to explore a variety of textures using their senses. They provide children with tractors to push through oats and hay. Children use their small hand muscles to push the tractors through, creating marks and patterns as they play.

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The provision is good

Children sit together in harmony as staff help them to develop their listening skills while reading a story. Children use their recall and observation skills as they point out familiar characters in the book and remember what happens in the story. Children use imaginative play in the role-play kitchen. They select food items, confidently naming them as they exclaim, 'Here's your dinner'.

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need to do better?

n The manager is passionate and has a clear vision of the nursery's strengths and where improvements could be made. They are reflective and knowledgeable in their approach. Staff well-being is given high regard. Staff say that they feel the management team respects and appreciates their contributions, and they enjoy working at the nursery. n The manager and staff create a programme of learning that is ambitious and relevant to the children at nursery. However, the programme for mathematics is not as well planned as it could be. For example, staff do not always build on children's existing knowledge of number and shapes during both spontaneous play and adult-directed activities. n Children's behaviour is generally good. They listen to instructions and are reminded about the nursery's 'golden rules', which staff have helped the children create. However, when unwanted behaviour is observed, staff do not always

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need to do better?

teach children how their actions may harm or affect others. n The manager recognises when children require additional support. They work closely with outside agencies and swiftly ensure that early intervention is sought where needed. The manager uses additional funding to help the children at nursery to progress well from their starting points.

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need to do better?

8 June 2023 n Children enjoy the nutritious, home-cooked meals and snacks that the nursery cook provides. The manager and staff work closely with parents to support children's health. For example, the manager uses training she has completed to provide information and support on oral care to families and children. Staff support children as they brush and care for their teeth at nursery. n Parents are highly complimentary about the 'supportive and professional' staff team. They say that the team provides daily information about what their children are learning, and the staff team encourages parents to help children learn at home. Parents comment that the manager supports families well and that the nursery feels like an 'extended family'. n The arrangements to support children as they transition to school are smooth. The manager and her staff liaise with the schools and facilitate regular visits from teachers to the setting. Children become familiar with teachers from the

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need to do better?

local school, as the teachers visit and read stories to them. Parents acknowledge the nursery team's efforts in ensuring that children gain confidence and independence as they prepare for school. n The management team ensures that regular training and practical staff meetings support staff's knowledge of early years education. For example, staff complete training to support them in developing children's communication and language skills. They build children's vocabulary effectively as they speak, allowing time for children to think about and process questions. Children are making good progress in this area.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The experienced manager ensures that staff receive regular training to support their knowledge on how to protect children in their care. Staff are confident in their knowledge of how to spot signs and symptoms that could indicate abuse. This includes exposure to extremist views, keeping children safe from exploitation, and female genital mutilation. Staff understand the procedures in place for recording and reporting any concerns they may have, including managing allegations. The environment is safe and is risk assessed daily to help manage any potential hazards.

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should:

n support children to explore and deepen their knowledge of mathematical concepts during their play n support children to understand how their behaviour affects others and help them to manage their own feelings and behaviour.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY283274 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 10276196 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 75 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person Clowns Children's Centre (Ironville) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01773 540050 Date of previous inspection 5 July 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Clowns Children's Centre registered in 2004 and is situated in the village of Ironville, Derbyshire. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3, and one at level 2. The nursery opens from 8am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, term time only. 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the

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Inspection activities

manager. 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

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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