The Lookout Day Nursery

Inspection of The Lookout Day Nursery Churchfields, the Village School, Monkton Farleigh, Bradford-on-avon BA15 2QD

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children flourish in this exceptional nursery. They are nurtured and valued by extremely committed staff, who have high expectations for them all. Staff provide an exceptional environment and curriculum, bespoke to each child, which inspires and interests them to learn. Children are fully absorbed in their play and learning, as they are able to follow and extend on their interests, supported by skilled staff. For example, children help themselves to flour, water and fruit teabags to make 'cakes' from the invitingly designed messy area. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are making excellent progress.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are truly in charge of their day from the moment they arrive, choosing to either go straight outside to the garden, including the forest school area, or stay inside. Staff know children exceptionally well and anticipate their needs. They fully respect children's choices and recognise and understand all their attempts at communication. For example, when pre-verbal babies do not want their faces wiped, staff play games, looking in the mirror and pointing out their facial features, until they are ready to have their faces cleaned. Children behave exceptionally well.

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need to do better?

n The owner and manager are highly ambitious and passionate. They have a clear vision of what they want the nursery to be like and successfully share this with the staff, ensuring they are all working together to continually improve. They highly value staff, offering them regular supervisions and opportunities to further increase their knowledge. n There is a strong focus on developing children's confidence and their communication and independence skills. Children serve themselves snack, butter their own crackers and pour their own drinks. Even the youngest children try to serve their own lunch. Older children have extra responsibilities of helping to clear the table after lunch and bring over the fruit platter, which they do proudly. n There is a lovely sense of 'family' at this nursery, with all age groups mixed together most of the time. The children support one another to achieve tasks, learning from each other. For example, when older children notice that toddlers

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need to do better?

are trying to wash their hands outdoors, they purposefully go over and show toddlers how to use the tap before returning to their play. When using age- appropriate tools, such as real saws and hand drills, children notice if a friend has not put on their safety goggles, reminding them to do so. n Staff initiate many interesting opportunities for children to learn about their local community and beyond. For example, they attend coffee mornings in the village hall and visit local towns on the bus. Staff ensure that they all celebrate the

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need to do better?

1 August 2023 diversity of their own setting by, for example, learning simple words and seeing text in books in the languages that children in the nursery speak at home. n The nursery has fantastic partnerships with parents. Staff get to know parents and families very well, starting with a thorough settling-in programme. Staff give parents ideas of how they can extend children's learning at home, and they provide support for milestones such as toilet training and adjusting to the birth of new siblings. They love the special parent workshop run at the nursery, which includes topics such as child-led learning and learning Makaton. n Skilful staff inspire children to be creative thinkers, utilising clever questioning and an enticing learning environment. For example, as children dig with real spades in the mud patch, staff ask them how they could make it easier when they find it too difficult. Children decide that water will help, so they carry over a

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need to do better?

large container of water and tip it out to wet the mud. Children make their own paint from grass and flowers, using a pestle and mortar and real tools. n Staff and managers support children with SEND very well. Managers work closely with outside agencies and organisations to ensure that children and families get all the extra help and funding they need for both present and future learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers take their safeguarding responsibilities very seriously and ensure that it is given high priority in the setting. They ensure that staff understand the importance of safeguarding and that they know how to identify children who may be at risk of harm and who to contact to report concerns. Staff attend regular safeguarding training. Managers check their ongoing knowledge by having regular quizzes during staff meetings and discussions. Managers thoroughly vet all new staff to ensure that they are safe to work with children. The premises is very safe, with risk assessments completed for all areas, including outings and when fires are lit in forest school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2689751 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10299032 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 28 Number of children on roll 98 Name of registered person The Lookout Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01225858859 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Lookout Day Nursery registered in 2020. It is located in the village of Monkton Farleigh, Wiltshire. The nursery is open every weekday, from 8am to 6pm, and it provides before- and after-school care and school holiday care. It receives funding for the provision of early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery employs 13 members of staff. Two staff hold relevant early years qualifications at level 6, one at level 5, five at level 3, with five staff who are unqualified.

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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 managers showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the interactions between the staff and children. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n Children spoke to and communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager.

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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

1 August 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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