The Southwater Day Nursery & Pre-School

Inspection of The Southwater Day Nursery & Pre-School The Southwater Children & Family Centre, Worthing Road, Southwater, Horsham RH13 9HA

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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 applicableNot applicable

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The provision is good

Children arrive and settle quickly with the offer of warm, welcoming support from staff. Children behave well and have positive relationships with their friends and the staff that care for them. When there are minor disagreements over sharing toys, staff offer sensitive support to help children overcome any upset.

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The provision is good

Each child has a key person, who considers their individual learning needs and interests. The staff use this knowledge to plan and deliver experiences to build on what children already know and can do. Furthermore, staff introduce new ideas to help children make connections in their learning. For example, children show interest in the changes they notice in the seasons. Staff plan planting activities to teach children about changes over time in the natural world. Children are curious and show a real keenness to use trowels to fill plant pots with soil. Staff help to extend children's vocabulary by introducing new words linked to the planting activity. This includes words such as 'bulb' and 'growth'.

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The provision is good

Very young children show confidence to join in the music and movement group time. They are curious as they explore sounds made by different musical instruments. Staff provide scarves and model different movements to Latin music. Very young children delight as they jiggle and wave their scarves up and down and side to side. This helps contribute towards building physical skills and moving in a variety of ways.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers self-evaluate to reflect on their strengths, as well as take action to address weaker practice. As such, the manager has worked closely with senior leaders to take steps that contribute toward driving continuous improvement. As a result, there is a good oversight for the quality of provision provided to children and families. Leaders recognise more needs be done so that older children have experiences that promote large physical play more regularly. Furthermore, the manager monitors staff to check the impact of training they receive. This gives staff confidence so they can fulfil their role and responsibilities to meet the needs of children. n Staff are clear about what they intend for children to learn. They plan and implement activities to build on past experiences. This is to ensure that children have a secure understanding before staff introduce new ideas. However, very occasionally, some staff do not model to children how to use tools correctly

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need to do better?

when learning a new skill and ask children multiple questions during activities. This does not ensure that know how to handle tools the right way or allow sufficient time for children to think and respond to questions asked of them. Despite this, children demonstrate that they are making good progress in their

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need to do better?

2 October 2023 learning and are eager to be involved in a variety of learning opportunities. n Children have opportunities to develop and extend their communication and language skills. This includes regular singing time as well as group story sessions. Staff support children to listen to stories and ask them questions to actively encourage engagement. However, there are times when stories can be disrupted, with children being asked to go to the toilet or having clothes changed. This can occasionally make it harder for children to concentrate. Nevertheless, children enjoy being read to and demonstrate they can use recall to make comments about much loved stories. n Staff support children to behave well, offering sensitive guidance with simple language to help children understand expectations. As a result, minor squabbles are overcome swiftly and children continue to play harmoniously with their friends.

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need to do better?

n The manager, who is also the special educational needs coordinator, works closely with her staff. She ensures that children who have delays in their learning and development receive the interventions they need to help them catch up. Staff work in partnership with parents and external professionals. They use advice and strategies to form targets so children have regular, tailored support at the nursery. This contributes towards narrowing the gaps of attainment. n Parents comment on how partnership arrangements allow them to have real insight into their child's experiences at nursery. Parents are positive about the good levels of communication and how they receive information about the progress their children are making.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a clear understanding of their role in keeping children safe. They contribute towards risk assessments to ensure that the environment is safe, secure and suitable on a daily basis. Leaders and managers have processes in place for the safe recruitment of staff. They use robust vetting checks to ensure that only suitable individuals have access to children and families. Staff receive child protection training and ongoing support from the manager to ensure that their knowledge is secure. She checks they understand how to identify when children may be at risk and the process they must follow to report their concerns. This includes how to report concerns about adults who work with children to agencies with statutory responsibilities.

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should:

n deliver additional opportunities to ensure that older children can develop their

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should:

2 October 2023 gross motor skills even further n continue to build and develop staff's teaching practice, with particular regard to modelling skills to children and ensuring that they have time to think and respond when staff ask questions n organise the daily routine and associated tasks even better so that story times have minimal disruptions to children's learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2701212 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10313027 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 32 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person The Nursery Family Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01403 334870 Date of previous inspection Not applicableNot applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Southwater Day Nursery & Pre-School registered in 2022. It operates from a ground level, purpose-built premises situated in Southwater, West Sussex. The nursery opens five days a week throughout the year, from 7.30am to 6pm. There are 10 members of staff, seven of whom have relevant childcare qualifications between level 3 and level 6.

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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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector had a learning walk with the manager to establish the priorities for the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and daily routines to assess the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at suitable times during the inspection. n A joint observation was completed and discussed with the manager. n The inspector tracked children to establish what it is like for a child at the nursery. n The inspector held a discussion with the nominated individual and the manager

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Inspection activities

in relation to the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of suitability and vetting checks, first-aid certificates and staff personnel files.

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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

2 October 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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