Freedom Day Care Nursery

Inspection of Freedom Day Care Nursery Ford Farm, Braintree Road, DUNMOW, Essex CM6 1HU

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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 happily arrive at the nursery, excited and eager to start their day and investigate the activities provided. They are greeted by caring and happy staff and leave their parents with ease. Children receive good quality teaching. They are very confident and good communicators. Children are inquisitive. For example, they ask visitors lots of questions and enthusiastically tell them what they like best about their time at nursery. Children speak with confidence as their share their emotions during interactive story time and learn new vocabulary to help them express their feelings. They are spoken to respectfully and receive encouragement and praise. Children's behaviour is good and it is evident they have established close bonds with their key person.

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The provision is good

Children relish their time outdoors. They know to wear boots and wet suits and have the skills they need to do this independently. Children have ample space to run, climb and balance on the equipment provided. They negotiate space well as they steer ride-on toys, careful not to bump into their friends. They make patterns in cornflour sensory activities and use large chalks to draw outdoors. Children show a great interest in the alphabet and ask how to spell words. They make good attempts to make the words, using magnetic letters.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from a broad curriculum and the quality of teaching is good. Staff use initial assessments well and know what the children need to learn next. They positively follow children's own interests when planning activities. Children enjoy independent choice of quality resources and equipment and show an eagerness to try new things. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents say their children have flourished since attending nursery. They comment they are greeted by happy, polite and helpful staff, who go 'above and beyond' expectations. Parents say their children's confidence and communication is exceptional and are kept informed about their children's next steps. They welcome the ideas and activities provided to help support their children's learning at home. n Children's speech and language are supported. Staff provide running commentary during activities and introduce new words to extend their

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need to do better?

vocabulary. For example, children interested in the human body are provided with resources to support this. Discussion takes place about different body parts. They talk about the skeleton and how this can be seen if you have an x-ray. Lots of mathematical language is used, for example children use scales as they weigh sponges and pine cones and predict which will be heavier or lighter. n The nursery is fully inclusive, and all children make good progress, including those who need additional support. The special educational needs coordinator is

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need to do better?

31 July 2023 knowledgeable and experienced. Positive relationships have been established with outside agencies to ensure that all children reach their full potential. n Babies' individual routines are respected and managed well in a bright and cosy baby room. The nurturing staff are attentive. Babies demonstrate they feel safe and secure as there is an effective key-person system. They giggle during interactions with staff and approach them for cuddles when they need reassurance. They have fun painting their hands and make prints on paper. The baby room has been refurbished and now provides babies with a calming, clean eating area, where they are fully supported at mealtimes. n Staff feel supported through supervision and daily communication with the managers. They speak enthusiastically about their role and feel valued. The managers are 'hands on' to support staff and observe their practice. While managers acknowledge and encourage continuous professional development,

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need to do better?

they have not sought further ways to focus on precise training opportunities to ensure staff can build on their existing knowledge. n Children are inquisitive and enjoy some role-play opportunities. Even the youngest children enthusiastically make cups of tea and dinner, using play foods and inviting staff into their play. However, some additional resources are not always readily available to fully support children's imaginary play and to captivate and challenge their interests further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The managers and staff team understand their responsibilities to protect children's welfare. Risk assessment is effective and ensures that premises and the environment are kept clean, safe, and secure. The staff have a good knowledge of child protection issues and the procedure to follow should they have a concern about the well-being of a child in their care. Staff also demonstrate a good knowledge of whistle-blowing and the process to report any concerns about the conduct of colleagues. A robust recruitment process means children are cared for by staff who are suitable to do so. Staff teach children how to keep themselves safe and healthy through planned activities.

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should:

n extend the use of more targeted professional development opportunities to strengthen staff's existing knowledge to support children's learning to an even higher level n develop the role-play areas, so that children can explore the wide range of resources and develop their own play and ideas.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY374384 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10303990 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 66 Number of children on roll 93 Name of registered person Freedom Day Care Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01371873663 Date of previous inspection 30 May 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Freedom Day Care Nursery registered in 2008. The nursery employs 25 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 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 setting has 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 setting. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The managers and the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss and understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact these have on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the managers. n The inspector had discussions with children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n Parents spoke to the inspector about their views of the nursery. n A meeting was held between the inspector and the managers. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including the safeguarding

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Inspection activities

procedures and evidence of the suitability of staff members.

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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

31 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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