Castle Nursery

Inspection of Castle Nursery 8 Priory Road, Kenilworth CV8 1LL

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children leave their parents at the door and enter the setting eagerly. When babies or younger children enter the setting slightly unsettled, staff shower them with lots of love and cuddles. This helps them to settle extremely quickly. Children regularly seek out the staff when required. Staff notice and respond to children's individual care needs. This helps children to form lasting bonds with their key person. Staff acknowledge children's feelings and talk to them about their actions. This supports them to learn right from wrong. Children behave well.

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The provision is good

Children are provided with an array of activities, that cover all areas of learning. Children of all ages enjoy sensory activities, such as paint, water, sand and rice play. Babies use their hands to explore the different materials. Older children use a range of equipment and tools to fill, empty and scoop the materials. Most children show lots of concentration as they attempt to climb the steps or balance on the different play equipment. Babies and younger children enjoy the cause and effect as they drop and roll the balls onto the floor. Older children enthusiastically give meanings to marks they make. Staff work well in partnership with other professionals. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress in their learning.

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need to do better?

n The curriculum covers all areas of learning. It is designed to build on what children know and can do over time. Leaders place focus on supporting children's communication and language development. They use a range of assessments and plan activities that support children to build on their listening skills. Children enjoy joining in with familiar rhymes and listening to stories. However, there is scope to enhance children's communication and language development even further. This is because staff do not yet remodel children's language or provide them with enough space and time to think about their responses to questions. n Staff know the children very well. They gather children's starting points from parents. Staff then continue to observe children's development to help identify any gaps in their learning. They use what they know about the children to plan a range of activities for them to engage with. However, there are occasions where

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need to do better?

staff do not support less confident children to become fully submerged in the learning experiences on offer to them. n Children with SEND receive the specialist help and support they require swiftly. This is because staff regularly assess children's development to identify any areas of concern. Staff then make referrals to other professionals and work in partnership with parents to help develop effective care plans. n Parents speak positively about the setting. They state they can see the progress

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need to do better?

27 September 2023 their child is making in their development. Staff provide parents with tips and activities they can use at home to continue to support their child. n Staff speak positively about the support they receive from leaders. This includes how leaders support their own well-being. Leaders regularly monitor staff practice and complete supervisions. This helps them to identify any further training needs for staff. n Leaders are keen to support children's personal development. They cater their settling-in sessions to meet the individual needs of each child. However, there are occasions where staff do not fully support children to build on their self-help skills and/or independence. For instance, staff sometimes complete tasks for the children, rather than allowing them time to try and complete it for themselves. n Leaders place focus on children learning about themselves and others. They are keen for children to learn how they can value their similarities and differences.

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need to do better?

Staff plan a range of activities throughout the year to support the children to learn about others. This helps to prepare children for life in modern Britain. n Children are provided with lots of opportunities to learn how they can stay healthy and clean. This is because staff encourage children to wash their hands after using the toilet. Staff also ensure children clean their hands before mealtimes. Children have access to fresh drinking water. They enjoy getting physically active. Staff also provide the children with a range of balanced and healthy meals.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The setting is secure. Staff carry out checks in the environment and on resources to ensure hazards are identified and removed. Staff deploy themselves well to ensure children are supervised as they play, eat and sleep. Recruitment procedures and the systems in place to check staff's ongoing suitability are sound. Staff are appropriately trained in paediatric first aid. They keep parents informed of any accidents or incidents that occur at the setting. Staff know the action to take in the event of a fire. They are aware of the action to take if a concern is raised about a child's welfare. Staff also understand the action to take if they have a concern about a staff member's suitability to work with children.

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should:

n promote further opportunities for children to build on their self-help skills n support less confident children to engage and become fully submerged in the range of learning experiences on offer n support staff to enhance their teaching practice, with an aim to further develop children's communication and language development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY469180 Local authority Warwickshire Inspection number 10310994 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 150 Name of registered person Castle Nursery Kenilworth Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01926-856202 Date of previous inspection 15 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Castle Nursery registered in 2013 in Kenilworth. The setting employs 28 members of staff. Of these, 19 hold appropriate early years qualifications. This includes three qualified teachers, one of whom is the nursery manager. The setting operates all year around. Sessions are available from 7.30am until 6pm Monday to Friday. The setting 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 setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the setting. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the setting. 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 inspector spoke to staff and parents during the course of the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

27 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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