Ladybird Nursery

Inspection of Ladybird Nursery 8-10 Cardigan Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex SS0 0SF

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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

Children are happy and confident in the nursery. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. Children readily introduce themselves and their friends to visitors and are keen to find out what they are doing. They develop extremely close bonds with their key persons. Staff understand children's needs well. For example, when toddlers wake from their sleep, staff gently stroke their hair for comfort and softly speak to them.

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The provision is good

Older children spend a large amount of time in the forest garden. Staff understand that this benefits children who enjoy learning outdoors. They support children's play well to encourage them to develop their imaginative skills. Staff are skilful in providing just the right amount of support to ignite children's imagination. For instance, staff join in with children's play as they make a pretend boat. Children use funnels, climb up the climbing frame and pretend to look for sharks in the ocean that they are 'sailing' in.

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The provision is good

All children enjoy being physically active. Staff provide support for young babies as they are pulling themselves up to stand and learning to walk. Toddlers develop their gross-motor skills and core strength as staff support them to use the outdoor climbing frame. They demonstrate high levels of concentration and staff praise their efforts, helping to boost their confidence.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff have taken appropriate action following a recent incident at the nursery. They have reviewed their staff deployment and have added some additional training to support staff's leadership skills. However, due to staff shortages, opportunities to monitor staff practice have not been frequent enough to help raise the quality of teaching to an even higher level. n Staff provide a curriculum that builds on what children already know and can do. They gather information when children start at the nursery to establish their starting points. Staff regularly observe children and incorporate their likes and next steps into the planning to ensure that all children continually make good progress. Staff are quick to adapt activities to meet the individual learning needs of the children. As a result, all children feel included and can join in with the activities. n Leaders have the same high ambition for all children. Additional funding is used

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need to do better?

well to ensure that children who need further support get the help that they need. There is an effective key-person system that allows all staff to be aware of children's next steps and individual needs. As a result, staff talk with confidence about the children and how they plan to help them achieve their goals. n The manager and staff have placed a focus on supporting children's speech and

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need to do better?

6 July 2023 language development. Staff talk slowly and clearly to children to help them hear the clear pronunciation of words. Staff repeat words back to children to help increase the number of words they use. However, staff often ask closed questions and do not always allow children enough time to respond. This means that, at times, children do not get the opportunity to extend their thinking further, as they use single words to answer. n Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They are good role models and demonstrate kindness and good manners. As a result, children behave well, share resources and are kind to their friends. n Partnerships with parents and carers are a particular strength of the nursery. Parents express that the staff are supportive of their family's needs. Staff take time to talk to parents when children arrive at the nursery. Parents express that they value the close bonds that their children make with their key persons and

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need to do better?

are happy with the good progress that their children make. n The well-being of staff is a priority for the manager. She has ensured that staff have access to a wealth of resources to support their mental well-being. The manager displays a personal 'thank you' message, in the staff room, to each member of staff to value their contribution. As a result, staff state that they feel well supported and benefit from a strong working relationship.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff understand their responsibilities to safeguard the children in their care. The manager ensures that visual reminders are available to staff should they need them. Staff understand the signs and indicators that may mean a child is at risk of harm or abuse. They have a good understanding of the wider safeguarding concerns, such as female genital mutilation. Robust recruitment processes are in place to ensure that those working with children are suitable to do so. Staff know when and how to report concerns they have about a child in their care or about a colleague.

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should:

n enhance opportunities to monitor staff's practice and use this to build their knowledge and skills even further n support staff to develop their questioning techniques to further extend children's thinking skills and allow them time to respond.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY279099 Local authority Southend-on-Sea Inspection number 10295349 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 55 Number of children on roll 91 Name of registered person Southend Hospital Trust, Ladybird Nursery

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reference number

Telephone number 01702385330 Date of previous inspection 15 December 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Ladybird Nursery registered in 2004. It is situated in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. The nursery is run and managed by Southend Hospital NHS Trust. It employs 20 members of childcare staff. Of these, 18 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The manager holds early years professional status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round, excluding bank holidays, from 6.45am to 6pm. 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 This inspection was carried out as a result of a risk assessment, following information received about the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. 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 inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. 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

6 July 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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