Marlow Day Nursery Ltd

Inspection of Marlow Day Nursery Ltd Sandygate Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 3AZ

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children run happily into this welcoming nursery. They settle quickly and demonstrate positive attitudes to their learning. For example, children explore building with construction toys, creating their own designs and delighting in the outcomes. Despite facing some challenges, children persevere, proudly showing staff what they have made. This helps to build children's confidence, resilience and self-esteem.

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The provision is good

Staff know children well and provide a stimulating learning environment for children of all ages. They identify children's individual next steps in learning and provide activities that promote these well. Staff have high expectations for children and provide activities that build on what they can already do. Children use their hand-to-eye coordination and small muscles well. This is evident when children use tools to model play dough or when babies learn to eat with spoons.

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The provision is good

Children are well behaved and polite. Staff teach children about respect and tolerance towards each other. They encourage children to share and take turns and this helps children to develop good personal and social skills. Children learn to manage their own safety. For example, staff encourage them to report any dangers they see in the environment. This fosters an understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

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need to do better?

n The leadership team is passionate about the nursery. Leaders have worked hard to make improvements since the last inspection. There is now a consistent key- person system in place and staff plan appropriate activities to support children's next steps in their learning and development. Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is good. Potential issues are identified early on and external support and advice are sought when necessary. Parents are fully involved in the process. n Staff encourage children to develop a real interest in books from a young age. Toddlers select board books independently, turn the pages and point at the pictures. Staff make books available for children to take home and enjoy with their family, cultivating children's early love of reading. n Staff support children to develop their communication and language skills effectively. For example, they respond positively to babies' gestures and

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need to do better?

babbles. Staff use words such as 'edible' and 'bitter' as they encourage children to identify and talk about herbs. Staff encourage children to discuss their ideas and share their thoughts. They ask questions to extend their learning. However, occasionally, staff do not give children enough time to think and respond in order to share their knowledge and understanding.

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need to do better?

30 June 2023 n Staff plan exciting activities that motivate and extend children's understanding of the world around them. For example, children learn about different herbs as they make potions. They clearly enjoy the sensory experience as they add spices and stir the mixture. However, staff do not always make the most of opportunities to further extend children's learning in mathematics, for example by introducing concepts of weight and measurement as children mix and add ingredients to their potions. n Staff are good at building on and extending learning opportunities. For example, when children peel and chop vegetables, staff suggest cooking them for the children to taste. Healthy food is prepared daily on site and children eat with enjoyment. Older children enjoy taking on additional responsibilities, such as helping at lunchtime. They become increasingly independent as they learn to use cutlery and manage their own personal care.

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need to do better?

n Children have many opportunities to enjoy fresh air. They eagerly explore the outdoor areas. They are busy and engaged and have fun playing games with their friends. Children develop their large-muscle skills as they climb, run and play outside. They learn about the world around them as they enthusiastically make campsites and build aeroplanes from planks of wood. n Partnerships with parents are highly valued. Parents warmly describe the friendliness of the staff team and how happy their children are to attend the setting. There is a wealth of opportunity for parents to be involved in their children's learning, within the nursery and at home. Parents contribute to their children's initial assessments and receive an abundance of information through discussions, newsletters and online.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are very clear that the safety of children is paramount. The open communication between staff and all levels of management promotes information- sharing, as staff feel listened to and respected. Children have a very clear understanding of how to keep themselves safe, for example as they chop vegetables. The leadership team ensures staff's safeguarding knowledge is kept up to date, for example through discussions during team meetings and regular quizzes. Staff maintain a suitable environment for children. They complete appropriate safety checks to minimise potential hazards. Recruitment procedures are robust and staff receive good professional development opportunities and regular supervision meetings, helping to ensure they remain highly effective in their roles.

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should:

30 June 2023 n build on staff's questioning techniques to enable children to have more time to think, respond and demonstrate what they know and understand n embed the improvements to staff practice further to help them to identify and use opportunities to extend children's mathematical development as they play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 116696 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10252765 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 58 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person The Marlow Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01628 488 114 Date of previous inspection 15 August 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Marlow Day Nursery Ltd registered in 1997. It is located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The nursery is open each weekday, from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. It also offers bookable early drop-off from 7.30am. The nursery is in receipt of funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 15 staff. The manager is qualified at level 3 and nine other staff hold recognised childcare qualifications.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the leadership team and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The leadership team completed a learning walk with the inspector to discuss the organisation and intent of the curriculum and how the environment is arranged. n The manager and the inspector completed a joint evaluation during an activity. The inspector observed the quality of teaching throughout the inspection and considered the impact this has on children's learning. n Parents and carers shared their views on the setting with the inspector. The inspector also looked at written feedback, taking into account the views expressed. n The inspector held discussions with staff at appropriate times during the inspection and talked to children during activities. n The inspector held meetings with the leadership team. She looked at a sample of policies and procedures, staff qualifications and evidence of the suitability of

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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

30 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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