The Potters Bar Day Nursery and Pre-school

Inspection of The Potters Bar Day Nursery and Pre-school 86 High Street, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 5AT

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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 thoroughly enjoy their time at nursery. Their emotional needs are well supported by staff who are attentive and caring. Children quickly become engaged in their chosen activities. Younger children get pleasure from filling containers with water and pouring it over the plants. Older children gain an understanding of the world through activities that capture their interest. For example, they show great intrigue as they move toy sharks and orcas through shaving foam. When children ask, 'Why do lots of orcas live together?', staff help them to use factual books to research the information. For instance, children learn that orcas live together to help keep them safe. This helps children to develop a wide knowledge base and to make deep connections within their learning.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They monitor children's progress well and identify when some children need extra support. Children behave well. They follow the rules and learn to treat others with respect. Those who need extra support learn techniques to help them regulate their own behaviour. This helps children to develop skills that will prepare them for their future learning.

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need to do better?

n Managers and staff have created an ambitious curriculum based on what children already know and can do. Overall, staff plan carefully for children's development. They use the information gathered from parents and their observations to help them plan activities. Occasionally, staff are not clear enough about what they expect children to learn and overcomplicate the activity. For example, sometimes staff introduce too many concepts and too much information, and children lose interest. n Staff promote children's early communication skills well. They monitor the progress of children's speech closely. They model language and introduce new words to extend children's vocabulary. For example, staff introduce babies to many sensory experiences, indoors and outside, such as flour, mud and sand. Staff make and use sounds that babies have heard before. Older children love to listen to stories and do familiar actions. Children laugh at staff and respond with

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need to do better?

the correct answer when staff deliberately mix up the title of the book. Staff work closely with other professionals to provide well-targeted support to help children with SEND to develop their communication skills. n Staff support children to have an awareness of the diverse world in which they live. Older children draw self-portraits using mirrors to look at their facial features. Children talk about the similarities and differences between them. n All children enjoy regular access to the outside area. They have fun exploring a range of activities and practising their physical skills. For instance, toddlers show

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need to do better?

3 August 2023 good coordination and balance as they navigate the balancing beam. Older children use their imaginations to make up games to play with their friends, and they run and hide. n Support for children with SEND is a strength of the nursery. Staff swiftly identify children who need additional support and work with other professionals. They have good knowledge of strategies to support children. Staff work closely with parents and other professionals to ensure that these strategies are consistently used to support children's progress. This contributes to the strong progress children with SEND make. n Managers and staff use additional funding to support and encourage children's individual learning. For instance, they purchased a spinning chair to help children strengthen their core muscles as they grip and spin. n Children are very independent. They pour drinks of water and look in the mirror to wipe their noses. Staff work closely with parents to support children to

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need to do better?

become toilet trained. n Staff feel valued and well supported by managers, who have a clear vision for the setting. Managers and staff work very well as a team. They meet regularly to discuss professional development. n Parents are very happy with the support they receive. They say their children are very happy here, and they have strong relationships with staff.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The managers and staff have completed safeguarding training and have a good understanding of how to keep children safe. There are several members of staff who have completed designated safeguarding lead training. The manager completes specific risk assessments for the nursery. Staff are aware of how to identify risks and hazards to help keep children safe. Staff know the whistleblowing procedure and the steps to follow should an allegation be made against a staff member. The manager has robust recruitment and induction procedures in place. She completes rigorous checks to ensure that only those suitable to work with children do so.

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should:

n support staff to ensure they are clear about what they want children to learn and do not overcomplicate activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2684898 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10304212 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 53 Number of children on roll 97 Name of registered person Little Garden Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01707 655 122 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Potters Bar Day Nursery and Pre-school registered in 2022 and is based in Hertfordshire. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6.30pm, all year round. There are 20 members of staff, 15 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. 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 staff and children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the deputy manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

3 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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