Puffin Community Nursery

Inspection of Puffin Community Nursery Millwood Centre, Nelson Row, Carlton Hill, Brighton BN2 9QG

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Staff provide a warm and nurturing home-from-home environment. They spend time getting to know children and treat them as unique individuals. For example, they use a variety of strategies to communicate, such as through visual aids and sign language. This helps all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or who speak English as an additional language, to settle quickly into their daily routines and activities. There are many opportunities for children to make choices about their play. This promotes their decision-making and independence skills effectively.

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate they feel happy and secure. They are motivated to learn and show high levels of social confidence. For instance, they excitedly show the inspector the activities they enjoy. They demonstrate good coordination skills and build on the muscles in their hands and fingers as they successfully turn the handle of the Jack-in-the-box. With support from staff, they learn new words in context, such as 'open', 'pop' and 'shut.' Children respond positively to the high expectations of staff. They play cooperatively with their peers and thrive on the praise they receive for their efforts and achievements. This helps to build on their self-esteem and confidence.

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need to do better?

n Staff observe children as they play. They make accurate assessments of children and can talk about where children are in their development. However, some staff do not use the information they have gained from these assessments to plan precisely for the next steps in their learning. Consequently, their teaching does not consistently focus on what they want children to learn. n The manager regularly evaluates the quality of the provision. She has worked closely with the trustees of the committee to make sure that suitability checks are carried out as required. n The manager has an ambitious vision for the nursery and is passionate about improving outcomes for children. She provides her staff team with many professional development opportunities, such as through coaching, supervision and training. However, some staff need further support to help them embed their new knowledge into their daily practice to ensure that the quality of their

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need to do better?

teaching is consistently at the highest level. n Children are supported to lead active lifestyles. They play outside daily and enjoy using a range of equipment that supports their developing muscle control, balance and coordination. n Staff support children to develop their speech and language well. They model words clearly as children play and introduce a rich and varied vocabulary. Through daily activities and routines, staff ensure that children receive lots of

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need to do better?

21 September 2023 time to communicate and verbalise their thoughts and ideas. This contributes to the progress children are making in their language and communication development. n Staff spend quality time with children, helping them to manage and regulate their feelings and emotions. When small disputes occur, staff use strategies such as picture cards, to help children to recognise and validate their emotions. This helps children learn how to react to how they are feeling, which is having a positive impact on how they manage their behaviour. n The manager and staff work hard to build strong relationships with parents and people in their community, which contribute greatly to children's educational experiences. For example, staff signpost parents to the toy library, which has a positive impact on how they can support their child's learning at home. Children take part in activities in the local community, such as dance sessions, which

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need to do better?

helps to build on their confidence and self-esteem. n Staff form strong bonds with children right from the start. They spend quality time with them to establish secure relationships, supporting them to feel safe and secure. n Parents comment positively about the staff at the nursery. They are confident to share relevant information, such as any concerns they have about their child's ongoing progress. They say staff work highly effectively with other professionals to ensure that their children receive the relevant funding and crucial support they need to swiftly close gaps in their learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is a strong safeguarding culture in the nursery. The manager follows safer recruitment procedures for recruiting and vetting new members of staff. Staff have completed safeguarding training and know how to keep children safe. They have knowledge of the signs that could indicate that a child is at risk from harm or abuse and know how to record and report their concerns. Staff have completed paediatric first-aid training and record accidents appropriately. Procedures are in place to protect children who have allergies and intolerances. Risk assessments are completed regularly to ensure that the premises and equipment are safe to use.

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should:

n support all staff to have a clearer understanding of the curriculum intent so that their teaching consistently focuses on what they want children to learn n continue to build on the support given to all staff to ensure that they understand and embed their new knowledge and skills into their daily practice, to help raise the quality of their teaching to the highest level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY484162 Local authority Brighton and Hove Inspection number 10260515 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person Puffin Community Nursery

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reference number

Telephone number 01273 686687 Date of previous inspection 29 September 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Puffin Community Nursery re-registered in 2014. It operates from a community centre in Brighton, East Sussex. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3.30pm, during school term times only. The nursery receives government funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs six members of staff; four hold early years qualifications at levels 2 and 3, and the manager has early years teacher status.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 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 about the curriculum and what she wants children to learn. n The inspector observed the implementation of the curriculum during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Several parents discussed their views during the inspection and the inspector took account of all feedback received. n A joint observation was completed and discussed with the manager.

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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

21 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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