Sandfield Day Nursery

Inspection of Sandfield Day Nursery Ashburnham Avenue, Lenton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG7 1QD

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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 are happy and settled and enjoy their time at this welcoming nursery. Staff make sure that children are provided with a wide range of interesting activities, both inside and outside, to support their learning. All children develop their social skills and behave well. Babies hold hands with one another as they move their bodies to familiar nursery rhymes that are sung enthusiastically by the staff. Toddlers use chalks to make marks and happily share what they are drawing with staff. Pre-school children play cooperatively. They help one another and take turns to mix paint in water. They proudly tell staff that mixing blue and red together makes the colour purple.

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The provision is good

Staff particularly focus on supporting children's communication and language development, including children who speak English as an additional language. The staff who work with pre-school children ask open-ended questions and provide plenty of time for children to think about and respond to their questions. Staff who work with younger children introduce them to new vocabulary, such as saying 'scoop' during a play dough and flour activity. Staff who work with babies model words clearly. Babies repeat the words 'we are' during a singing activity. Staff make sure there is plenty of room for babies to safely manoeuvre themselves around the room. Babies enjoy pulling themselves up to standing as they develop their large muscles.

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need to do better?

n Staff help children to learn about the behaviour expectations that the nursery promotes. Babies quickly learn about boundaries and how to be kind to one another from the kind and sensitive staff. Staff help toddlers to learn to share toys and take turns in a clear and calm manner. Pre-school children know the nursery rules, such as using 'kind hands' when playing with toys, and actively practise these during their play. n The key-person system is effective. Staff know their children well and build close partnerships with parents. Children's individual care needs are supported appropriately and sensitively by the caring staff. n Staff have a good understanding of what they want children to learn. They know how to engage with children to support their learning. n Staff praise children on their achievements and encourage them to keep trying and to have a go. For example, staff question children to find out their thoughts

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need to do better?

as to why they cannot build a sandcastle using dry sand. Children problem-solve and seek water to make the sand sticky so that they are able to build sandcastles and use moulds in the wet sand. n Overall, staff plan activities they know the children are interested in. However, on occasion, staff who work with babies do not consider how to carefully tailor

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need to do better?

23 August 2023 activities to support their individual learning needs and enjoyment. For example, staff provide small sheets of paper with crayons for babies to make marks. Although some babies show curiosity, this activity is not appropriate for their age and ability and they quickly lose interest. n Parents comment on how well staff share and exchange information with them about their child. They say they feel listened to and are supported by staff. Staff share ideas to help them continue to support their child's learning at home. n The management team works closely with staff to support their mental health and well-being as well as their professional development. Staff comment that the manager is approachable and they are happy in their work. n Overall, staff who work with pre-school children help them to be prepared for the next steps in their learning. However, they have not thought carefully enough about how to extend and continue the curriculum progression for the

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need to do better?

older children. Staff are not focusing sharply enough on helping these children to be ready for their transition to school. n Children's independence skills are supported well. Babies select toys of their choice and know what they like to play with. Toddlers eagerly attempt to use spoons to lift pasta from a bowl onto their plate. Pre-school children confidently manage their own self-care routines, such as toileting and handwashing, and collect their own plates and cutlery for their lunch.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff have secure knowledge and understanding of what their roles and responsibilities are to protect children from harm. The manager ensures that all staff complete regular child protection training to increase their knowledge of all aspects of safeguarding practice. She tests the staff's safeguarding knowledge by questioning them and discussing their understanding with them during supervision sessions. Staff complete daily risk assessments of the environment to ensure where children play is safe and secure. Children are closely supervised, for instance, staff remain in the room and monitor sleeping babies and young children.

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should:

n refine the planning of activities for babies so that they are more precisely tailored to support their individual learning n review and extend the curriculum progression for the older children so that this focuses sharply on helping them to be ready for their transition to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY282595 Local authority Nottingham Inspection number 10304555 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 86 Number of children on roll 58 Name of registered person Sandfield Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01159 792424 Date of previous inspection 2 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Sandfield Day Nursery registered in 2004 and is situated in Nottingham. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold early years professional status, two hold an early years qualification at level 5, 11 hold a level 3 qualification and one holds a level 2 qualification in early years. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am until 6pm, throughout the year, closing for bank holidays and for one week between Christmas and New Year. 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 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 The manager and inspector completed a joint observation of an activity and evaluated the observation together. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact that this has on children's learning. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual, the manager, staff and the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The manager provided the inspector with relevant documentation, including the

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Inspection activities

evidence of staff qualifications, and also checked the suitability records 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

23 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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