Little Fingers Day Nursery

Inspection of Little Fingers Day Nursery Malt House Farm, Green Street Green Road, Dartford DA2 8DX

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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

The staff are passionate and kind in their approach to caring for children. They show genuine compassion through their interactions. For example, staff offer children cuddles and affection when they become upset. Children respond positively to staff's reassurance. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in the relaxed environment at the nursery. Children quickly settle into their routines and engage well in their play and learning.

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The provision is good

Children develop positive attitudes to their learning across the nursery. The atmosphere is very calm as children engage in their learning through play. For instance, children are curious and concentrate well as they make leaf rubbings and explore new textures and patterns. Staff give children lots of time to develop new skills as they patiently support them. They offer children lots of praise, as children take pride in their achievements.

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The provision is good

Leaders and staff have high expectations for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). For example, staff check children's progress across the seven areas of learning and development. This enables them to highlight any gaps in learning quickly, as staff focus their support on these areas of children's development well. This ensures that all children make continuous progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n Leaders design and implement an exciting curriculum that supports all children's development, including children with SEND. For example, children throughout the nursery took part in a project where they hatched their own chicks. They learned new language, such as 'incubators' and 'hatching', as they watched the daily changes that took place. Children show excitement to share their learning with their families about the chicks as they grow. Children's knowledge is successfully embedded across the seven areas of the early years foundation stage. This ensures that they are more than ready for their next stage of learning. n Leaders and staff have created an environment that supports their curriculum effectively. Children's current interests are included well when planning areas of the nursery. For instance, throughout the gardens, staff create reading dens. Children share their ideas about how they would like them to be decorated.

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need to do better?

They thoroughly enjoy using the spaces as they independently choose books and read together with their friends. The available resources help to promote a focus on learning and successfully encourage a love of reading. n Leaders and staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children behave very well across the nursery. For example, during free play in the

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need to do better?

4 October 2023 garden, a child became upset. Their peers showed genuine care and concern for their friend and quickly offered to help staff to settle the child. The environment is calm and relaxed as children learn to manage their feelings and behaviour well. Relationships among children and staff reflect a positive and respectful culture that impacts positively on children's personal social and emotional development. n Staff support children well to become increasingly independent with their self- care routines. For instance, children help staff to set the tables at mealtimes. They independently pour their own drinks and use cutlery to eat their meals. This helps to promote children's confidence, resilience and self-esteem. n Staff organise routines that meet children's care needs well, overall. However, there are occasions during the day when staff do not fully consider the differing needs of children, particularly at sleep times. For instance, some areas are not

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need to do better?

organised well enough to help to support children who want to rest and those who wish to continue their play. At times, this hinders children's ability to follow their own interests freely and continue their play. n Leaders talk passionately about the care and education that they provide and are proud of the dedicated staff team. For instance, leaders ensure that staff receive continuous professional development opportunities and targeted training, such as speech and language. This has a positive impact on the quality of teaching that takes place throughout the nursery and the outcomes for children. Leaders have a clear and ambitious vision that is understood and shared by the whole staff team.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The leadership team ensures that all staff receive regular safeguarding training to keep their knowledge up to date. Staff across the nursery can confidently discuss a range of child protection issues that could impact on children and their families. These include recognising the signs of abuse, grooming and county lines. Staff have a good knowledge of how to refer and escalate concerns about a child in their care. Staff know the company's whistle-blowing policy well and understand what they should do if they are concerned about a member of staff's conduct.

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should:

n review and improve daily routines to further consider children's individual care needs, especially around sleep.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY339104 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10308210 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 61 Number of children on roll 67 Name of registered person Little Fingers Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01474 700047 Date of previous inspection 6 March 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Little Fingers Day Nursery registered in 2006 and is based in Darenth, Kent. It is open for 51 weeks of the year, Monday to Friday. Sessions are from 7am to 6.30pm. The nursery employs 18 members of staff. Of these, the owner, manager and deputy hold early years qualifications at level 4, and 13 members of staff hold childcare qualifications at level 3. 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 nursery 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 nursery. n The manager, nominated person and inspector had a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The deputy manager, assistant deputy and the inspector carried out a joint observation during snack time. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

4 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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