Dragonfly Day Nursery Ltd

Inspection of Dragonfly Day Nursery Ltd 14 North Hill, Colchester, Essex CO1 1DZ

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

The provider has not ensured that information about children's dietary needs and allergies is accurately recorded and shared with staff. This means children's good health is not assured. Nevertheless, children arrive happily and are eager to get involved in the well planned and exciting activities on offer to them. Children are provided with an environment that is designed to stimulate their senses, both inside and outdoors. The key-person system is well embedded and each key person spends time talking to parents about their children at the start of the session.

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The provision is inadequate

Children behave well and display positive attitudes to their learning. They listen to staff when they give them gentle reminders about the rules in the nursery. Children have formed friendships and play well with each other. They are kind, considerate, and polite to one another. Staff are good role models. They encourage and praise the children during the day.

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The provision is inadequate

Children are well supported in learning to be independent. At mealtimes, older children pour their drinks and serve their food. They help tidy up the toys they have used. Younger children self-select resources during their play.

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need to do better?

n The provider has failed to ensure staff are aware of children's special dietary requirements. Children's individual care plans are in place that state the action to take in the event of a child having an allergic reaction. However, some of the information is not readily available, which means that staff do not have the knowledge to attend to children in the event of an emergency. This affects children's well-being. n The manager is reflective and has a clear and ambitious vision for the nursery that is shared with the team. They strive to deliver high-quality care and education. They work with the local authority, which has a positive impact on the nursery. The nursery has core values that underpin the experiences they offer for children. n Staff engage with children during play. They have meaningful conversations with them that are personal and individual. At times, in their eagerness to support children's play, staff do not give them enough time to respond to their questions

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need to do better?

and think through their ideas. This does not help children become confident and independent thinkers. n Staff know the children well and adapt their practice to meet their individual needs. Staff encourage children to follow their own interests during play. They provide additional resources that enhance children's self-chosen play. However, staff do not make the best use of interactions to develop children's current knowledge and understanding to help extend their learning.

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need to do better?

7 August 2023 n Children are becoming confident communicators. They enjoy stories and songs, joining in with action rhymes and suggest songs to sing with their friends in age- appropriate ways. Staff encourage children's interaction during story time. Older children enjoy predicting what might happen next and staff encourage younger children to point to items in the pictures. n Children have daily access to the garden. They plant fruits and vegetables and help to care for them as they grow. Children enjoy watering the plants and excitedly show off the tomatoes they have grown. Staff plan good opportunities for outdoor play for children to develop their physical skills. Children enthusiastically scoop and dig in the mud and scoot along energetically on ride- on toys. Staff support them well as they try to climb the steps of the slide, encouraging children to persevere. n Staff form positive partnerships with parents. Parents report their children are

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need to do better?

happy to come to the nursery. They feel the communication at the nursery is effective. They are kept informed of their children's progress and are given support when needed. For example, staff support parents when children are potty training or entering periods of transition. n Staff well-being is a strong focus for the management team and say they feel well supported. The manager and senior staff offer support and coaching, encouraging staff to complete regular training courses and attend meetings to help improve the quality of teaching they provide for the children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Weaknesses in leadership and management compromise children's health and safety. Within the nursery there is a lack of accurate record-keeping, and information sharing is poor, regarding children's dietary requirements. Despite this, managers and staff know the procedures to follow if they have a safeguarding concern about a child and how to report concerns to an appropriate agency. Staff are aware of safeguarding issues such as female genital mutilation and county lines.

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Due date

ensure that information obtained about children's dietary requirements and food allergies is shared with all staff, so that all children's health needs are met. 31/08/2023

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should:

n help staff to develop their questioning skills that allows children more time to respond to questions, develop their thinking skills and apply their existing knowledge n coach staff in improving their interactions with children to help them recognise when children need more challenge to extend their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2720663 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10304087 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 68 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Dragonfly Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01206767104 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Dragonfly Day Nursery registered in 2023. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate qualification at level 6, one holds an appropriate qualification at level 4 and eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, 51 weeks of the year. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The deputy manager, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during circle time. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

7 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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