Ducklings Day Nursery

Inspection of Ducklings Day Nursery 2 Western Road, Hagley, Stourbridge DY9 0LB

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are happy and settle quickly into play when they arrive at the nursery. Children build close relationships with staff, who know them well and are nurturing and kind towards them. This helps children to feel safe and secure in their care. Children are confident to access the resources that interest them. For example, babies stand to play with sand. They enjoy digging with scoops and filling and emptying various-sized pots with sand. Older children choose to play in the imaginative role-play area, making and serving each other tea.

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The provision is good

Children develop increasing independence as they learn to complete tasks for themselves. For example, babies feed themselves using appropriate cutlery, while the oldest children use their knives and forks competently. Children put on their shoes in preparation for playing outdoors. They learn to look after their belongings and put them away in their own drawers. Children behave well. Staff use effective methods that help children to identify different emotions. Older children learn how their behaviour can affect the feelings of others. This contributes to their ability to make and sustain friendships with their peers. Children gain the skills and knowledge they need to prepare them well for their next stages in learning, and the eventual move on to school.

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need to do better?

n The curriculum is well developed and is understood and implemented effectively by staff. Staff use information gathered from parents at the start, together with their observations, to make plans to incorporate the learning that children need and build further on what children already know and can do. Staff know the interests of each child and use this knowledge to arrange the environment and resources. This helps children to engage in purposeful play and learning. n Staff provide new experiences for children to engage in so that they continue to develop their interests and build on their knowledge and skills, such as when learning about other cultures and special celebrations. Babies explore their interest in animals and show what they know. For example, children name 'horse' and 'pig'. They give lots of smiles when staff make the sounds of these animals and they attempt to copy them. n Children thoroughly enjoy singing and rhyme time. For example, toddlers smile

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need to do better?

as they follow the actions of familiar songs and sing the words that they know. This includes children who require additional support. Staff skilfully include and engage all children and provide individual praise for their efforts. This helps to raise children's self-esteem. n Staff promote communication and language well. They use additional programmes with all children to help them focus closely on the support that children need to develop effective speaking and listening skills. Children who are

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need to do better?

25 July 2023 not yet verbal are supported well. For example, staff use simple signing, pictures and simple sentence structures that help children to communicate their needs and understand others. Staff liaise effectively with parents and other agencies to ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive the support they need. Consequently, children with SEND make the most progress they are capable of. n All children have great fun in the nursery garden while they explore the resources and develop their physical skills. For instance, babies paint with water, using a range of brushes. They smile proudly while practising their developing walking skills. Older children ride a range of wheeled toys, grinning as they pass each other. They have fun mixing mud and adding other resources with various utensils in their pots. Managers have identified the need to ensure that staff

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need to do better?

deploy themselves across the areas outdoors so that children are supervised effectively at all times. n Managers use a range of methods to ensure parents, staff and children contribute to the evaluation of the effectiveness of the nursery. This helps to identify enhancements to the provision and further training that is then provided for staff. However, there is scope to revisit areas of this training to ensure that staff are confident and their knowledge remains current. n Parents are very happy with the nursery and say their children are happy and look forward to attending. They value the detailed information they receive at collection times, and the information they access online about their child's care and learning progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff know their responsibilities to protect the welfare of children. They can identify signs and symptoms of a range of child protection concerns that indicate a child may be at risk of harm. They know the local safeguarding procedures to report concerns about the safety and well-being of a child, including if an allegation is made against a colleague. Recruitment procedures are robust and effective. These include the background checks that must be carried out to check that staff are suitable to work in the nursery. Routine checks are made to ensure the premises are safe for children to attend.

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should:

n monitor the arrangements for the deployment of staff outdoors to ensure that children are supervised effectively at all times n build on the support provided for staff to further strengthen their knowledge gained from training and increase their confidence to help to keep this

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2639886 Local authority Worcestershire Inspection number 10303975 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 50 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person Ducklings Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01562885523 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Ducklings Day Nursery registered in 2021 and operates in the Hagley area of Stourbridge, Worcestershire. The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. There are 21 members of childcare staff, of whom 18 hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 7 to level 2. 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 deputy managers and the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the organisation and intent of the curriculum and how the environment is arranged. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching throughout the inspection and considered the impact this has on children's learning. A joint evaluation of the quality of teaching during an activity took place between the deputy manager and the inspector. n The inspector spoke to parents at appropriate times and took account of their views on the setting. n The inspector spoke to children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with the leader and the deputy manager and

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Inspection activities

discussed how the setting is organised. The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

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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

25 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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