Dottie Tots Nursery School

Inspection of Dottie Tots Nursery School Bentley Memorial Hall, Alton Road, Bentley, Hampshire GU10 5NB

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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 feel happy, safe and secure as the warm and friendly staff welcome them into the nursery. Robust settling-in procedures ensure that staff get to know their key children well, including their likes, dislikes and what they already know and can do. Leaders are committed to providing high-quality, inclusive care and education for all children and their families. They support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities effectively. They work closely with parents to ensure that children receive extra support to help close gaps in their learning.

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate a positive attitude to their learning and make good progress from their starting points. Staff interact well with them and promote their communication and language skills effectively. For example, stories, songs and rhymes are an integral part of the daily curriculum. Children listen with interest to familiar stories and join in with singing favourite songs and rhymes.

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The provision is good

Staff successfully help all children to develop the skills they need for the future. Positive relationships help children to build their confidence to complete tasks independently and develop good speaking and listening skills. Children are keen to find out new things, and older children demonstrate a good understanding of how things work. For instance, during water play, they know they must move a pump upwards and downwards to transport water from a large container into a water tray.

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need to do better?

n Overall, staff know their key children well. They monitor children's progress appropriately to help identify gaps and plan what they need to learn next. However, they do not consistently use this information to ensure that all children's next steps are precisely included in activities. For instance, during some group activities, younger children are not always encouraged to become fully engaged in conversation and they quickly become disengaged. n Staff embed mathematical development well. Children use mathematical language freely in their play as they spot items of different sizes in the environment. They confidently count during their play, such as counting how many green and red grapes they have and identifying how many there are altogether. n Children demonstrate determination and motivation during their play. For instance, when babies have difficulty getting onto a tricycle correctly, staff encourage them to try different ways. The babies climb on and off until they

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need to do better?

succeed. Staff clap and cheer to celebrate this achievement. These positive interactions help children to keep on trying and bounce back when faced with challenges.

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need to do better?

30 August 2023 n Children benefit from good opportunities to socialise and explore their community. For example, they regularly visit a local care home to share stories and sing songs with the residents. These positive experiences encourage intergenerational learning. n Children behave well. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour and conduct. They teach children effectively about rules and boundaries, such as being kind and treating others with respect. n Staff provide children with a range of opportunities to learn about the importance of leading healthy lifestyles and following good oral hygiene. Snack times are a social occasion. Staff sit with children and engage in discussions as they enjoy healthy snacks. Children show a good understanding of the importance of brushing their teeth. For instance, during role play, they comment that they need to brush the dolls' teeth to keep them strong.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with parents are good. Staff build good relationships with parents and share information with them about their children's learning, such as what their children need to learn next. Parents speak highly about the nursery and how happy their children are. n Leaders and managers carefully consider where they can improve and show determination to achieve good standards. For example, they recognise that the nursery has limited outdoor space and have located a secure outdoor area so that children have more opportunities to run around. n Staff comment on the positive working atmosphere at the nursery. They talk about how they are well supported by managers. They meet together regularly to discuss any concerns or worries, as well as to monitor progress and set targets, helping to ensure a high-quality provision for all. Leaders comment that staff well-being is a priority.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers use robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all new staff are suitable to work with children. Staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities around safeguarding. They have a good knowledge of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. Staff are confident about who to report concerns to, including concerns about their colleagues. Leaders ensure that staff regularly update their knowledge on current safeguarding issues.

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should:

n strengthen the planning of adult-led activities to support the learning needs of all children, including younger children, effectively.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2731871 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10304295 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 36 Number of children on roll 59 Name of registered person Dottie Tots Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07387576307 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Dottie Tots Nursery School registered in 2023. It is located in Bentley, Hampshire. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, between 7.30am and 6pm. The nursery employs eleven staff. Of these, one holds a level 6 qualification, six hold level 3 and two hold level 2. 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 her evaluation of the provider. n The nominated individual, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector asked staff questions throughout the inspection to establish their understanding of how to safeguard children and how they assess and plan for children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children and considered the impact on their learning. n The views of parents were gathered through face-to-face discussions.

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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

30 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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