The Palace Day Nursery

Inspection of The Palace Day Nursery 2 Windsor Street, Bletchley, MILTON KEYNES MK2 2LN

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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 to arrive at the nursery where they are warmly welcomed by staff. They build strong bonds with the children and know them well. Children are confident and secure in their environment.

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The provision is good

Children make good progress in their learning because the staff plan and assess well. Staff build on what they know about the children and their interests. They provide learning experiences that engage and excite children to learn.

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The provision is good

Staff provide a safe and nurturing space, in which children feel valued. For example, children role play doctors. The staff immerse themselves in the children's play, following their lead. Children write prescriptions and care for staff, wrapping bandages and giving medicine. Children show empathy as they care for staff and offer cuddles to make them feel better.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy a range of exciting new learning experiences. Leaders and staff reflect on how they use resources to build on and extend children's interests. The manager and the staff work with parents and use their skills to offer more activities, such as yoga, music and movement and physical education lessons.

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need to do better?

n Staff ensure that they meet the needs of all children. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities enjoy targeted activities led by staff to build on their interests. For example, children show a particular interest in construction blocks. Staff engage in play with children as they explore and develop their skills in building and mathematical development. n Children make good progress. Key people know the children well. They plan activities that build on what children already know and can do. Key people share the children's daily learning with parents and offer ideas on how to support the children's learning at home. They sequence the curriculum to reflect children's individual age and stage of development. n The manager and staff have established positive relationships and work well with parents. Parents comment on the support and dedication they receive as a family. They feel that their children make good progress because of the input

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need to do better?

from staff at the nursery. n Staff encourage and teach the importance of healthy lifestyles. Children have many opportunities to be active. They ride bicycles, climb, run and explore in the garden. Staff talk to children about how to look after themselves and to manage risks. They talk about the importance of staying hydrated and drinking water. n The manager evaluates the provision and staff practice. She works with staff to set them targets to help improve the experiences they offer children. Staff

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need to do better?

15 September 2023 engage in training, which helps them to plan and sequence children's learning. The manager makes staff well-being a priority. She holds regular staff meetings, sharing achievements to raise staff's self-esteem and confidence. Staff speak openly about the positive support and coaching they receive from each other and from the manager. This promotes a positive culture and an environment where children thrive and are supported in managing their feelings and to regulate their emotions. n Staff have clear expectations of children's attitude to learning and behaviour. They share these well with older children, and children generally behave well. Staff are quick to act to resolve minor conflicts with the children. However, they do not always support younger children's understanding of their behaviour. n Staff support children's communication and language skills well. Children are keen to share their thoughts and ideas, engaging staff in their play. The staff

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need to do better?

listen to and respond to the children. However, they do not always make the most of interactions with younger children to extend their communication and language even further. n Babies benefit from caring, nurturing relationships with staff. Staff know the children and their individual routines very well and meet the children's needs with love and care. Staff are calm and patient, and they allow the children the time and space to freely explore the activities available to them. This helps babies to feel safe and secure.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff know and understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. They demonstrate their knowledge of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk from harm. Staff know the correct procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child or the behaviour of an adult. They show an awareness of safeguarding concerns, such as female genital mutilation and domestic abuse. They know and understand how to promote keeping children safe online. Regular checks and reviews of risk assessments ensure the environment is safe and secure for children to use.

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should:

n support staff to be consistent in their behaviour management strategies, to build on younger children's understanding of behaviour expectations n improve interactions with younger children to extend their communication and language even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY341118 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 10309631 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 37 Number of children on roll 52 Name of registered person Green Stone Investments Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01908 640901 Date of previous inspection 1 February 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The Palace Day Nursery registered in 2006. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of whom, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year, closing for a week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm. 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 the curriculum and what she wants the children to learn. 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 manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. 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

15 September 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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