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Early years · Early years inspection (EIF)

The house that Jack built nursery

Inspected 20 Jul 2023 · published 25 Aug 2023 · URN 2688484

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Summary

What we read, and from where

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  • Group verified

    Philbec Nurseries Limited

  • Group reference verified

    RP544669

  • Inspection date verified

    20 Jul 2023

  • Inspectors verified

    Ann Austen

  • Behaviour and attitudes verified

    Good

  • Leadership and management verified

    Good

  • Overall effectiveness verified

    Good

  • Personal development verified

    Good

  • Quality of education verified

    Good

  • Postcode verified

    HP3 8EW

  • Name on report verified

    The house that Jack built nursery

  • URN verified

    2688484

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.

  • OverallGood
  • Behaviour and attitudesGood
  • Leadership and managementGood
  • Personal developmentGood
  • Quality of educationGood

79% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Good (17,905 inspections).

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

+39Positivemore positive than 10% of reports of this type graded Good
OutstandingGoodRIInadequate

Reads more critically than most reports of this type graded Good.

Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.

Praisehappyenjoymake good progresspositivelysecurefeel safeenthusiasticeffectively
Criticismconcernsnot alwaysnot yetharm

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsSafeguardingWhat needs to improveAbout the inspection positive critical
  • Findings698w+60
  • Safeguarding86w−22
  • What needs to improve42w0

Strengths

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No standout praise found.

Concerns

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Next steps

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What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
6
Words of findings
793
about usual (typical 803)
Reading level
Hard
Flesch 47, typical 54
Average sentence
12 words
Next steps
2
typical 2
Hedged sentences
3%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 52%Safeguarding 6%What needs to improve 3%About the inspection 38%

Full report text

Inspection of The house that Jack built nursery 1 Bennetts Gate, Hemel Hempstead HP3 8EW

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children are happy to attend the nursery. They develop relationships with their peers and staff. For example, children play cooperatively together in the role-play areas and enthusiastically build a track for their pretend vehicles. Older children use tools, such as scissors. They are taught how to open and close the scissors, demonstrating perseverance as they cut paper. Older children develop their coordination skills as they learn to throw and catch balls. They enjoy climbing on the climbing equipment.

p.2

The provision is good

Babies demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. They are developing the confidence to explore their surroundings. Babies enjoy handling shiny objects. They bang objects together to hear their sound and are introduced to words, such as 'bang', as they do this. Babies are encouraged to stand and hold onto the 'standing beam', which supports their developing physical skills. Staff spend time sharing storybooks with younger children. Children listen and show an interest in the illustrations. For example, younger children identify the colours of the characters and are supported by the staff to learn about the different emotions they portray. Children copy making happy and sad faces.

p.2

need to do better?

n The managers demonstrate an enthusiastic approach to their roles and responsibilities. They value their staff and take steps to support their well-being. Staff benefit from regular supervisions and talk positively about how professional development opportunities have had an impact on their practice. For example, some staff have competed autism spectrum disorder awareness training. This has supported them to reflect on the environment and resources they provide to support autistic children. n Management and staff structure the curriculum to cover all areas of learning as the children transition through the nursery. They plan a range of learning opportunities based on children's interests and individual targets. However, on occasions staff do not always use spontaneous opportunities to further extend the children's thinking and engage them in conversations as they play. Furthermore, new, and less-experienced staff do not yet have the teaching skills

p.2

need to do better?

to effectively implement the planned curriculum, including their interactions with the children. n Children have access to a wide range of good quality resources to support their play. They settle quickly and demonstrate that they feel happy. Children are greeted warmly by staff and form positive relationships with them. This helps children to develop attachments and supports their emotional well-being. n Overall, children behave well. Staff support the children to share and show kindness to their friends. Older children talk about the importance of using their

p.2

need to do better?

20 July 2023 'looking eyes, listening ears, quiet mouths' and 'kind hands'. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are suitably supported. Staff understand children's needs. They work well with other professionals and involve parents in discussions about their child. This support ensures all children are included and make good progress. n Staff have a good understanding of the children's dietary requirements, preferences, and food allergies. This ensures children's individual needs are met. Children enjoy meal and snack times. From a young age, children are encouraged to develop their independence and self-care skills. They learn to pour their own drink and to use appropriately sized cutlery. Staff closely supervise children as they eat. n Children have regular opportunities to explore the local community. They access play apparatus at the park, participate in nature walks and purchase produce

p.2

need to do better?

from the greengrocers. Staff support children's safety appropriately during each outing. They ensure children wear high-visibility tabards and that younger children are safely strapped in their buggies or on toddler reins. Additionally, routes are risk assessed to minimise potential risks of harm to the children. n Parents speak positively about the nursery and staff. They say their children settle well and make good progress in their learning and development. Parents are invited to spend time in the nursery. For example, during Father's Day celebrations, dads were invited to share activities with their children. Additionally, children are able to take home books from the lending library to share with their parents.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Managers and staff regularly complete safeguarding training and receive updates during staff meetings. They are able to recognise potential safeguarding concerns and know how to report concerns about children's welfare. This includes reporting any concerns they have about adults who work with children. Management follows secure recruitment procedures to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Daily checks ensure the premises are safe and secure. Staff quickly respond to children's accidents, offering comfort and first aid as required.

p.3

should:

n support staff to use every opportunity to extend children's learning during spontaneous and planned activities n strengthen training and coaching opportunities to support new and less- experienced staff to improve their knowledge of the curriculum, including their interactions with the children.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2688484 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10303385 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 51 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Philbec Nurseries Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01442 261651 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The house that Jack built nursery opened in 2022. The nursery employs 15 members of childcare staff, 11 members of staff hold appropriate early years qualificiaotns at level 3 and level 5. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6.30pm all year round. The nursery provides funded early years education for two-, three-and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the managers and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The managers and the inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed staff's interactions with the children during indoor and outdoor activities, and assessed the impact this has on the children's progress and achievements. n The managers, staff and children engaged in discussions with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with one of the managers and discussed the children's progress and achievements. n A sample of the nursery documents were reviewed by the inspector. This included evidence of staff suitability. n The inspector took account of the views of parents from written information and

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

20 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

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p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

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p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6

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