Mama Bear's Day Nursery

Inspection of Mama Bear's Day Nursery The Exchange, Express Park, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4RR

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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

Children are happy and settled in the warm and welcoming nursery environment. Staff plan an ambitious curriculum, which continuously builds on what children already know and need to learn next. Children are independent, confident and curious to explore. Whether they are making 'pasta tea' in the mud kitchen or moulding play dough into shapes, they play well together. They learn to manage their behaviour successfully for themselves and are kind to others. Staff help children to manage transitions well so that they are emotionally secure and developmentally ready to move on to the next stage in their learning. Children have a positive attitude to learning.

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The provision is good

Children share secure bonds with all staff. The key-person system is particularly strong across the nursery because staff recognise the importance of building close attachments with the children and get to know them well. As a result, children settle quickly with familiar adults, with whom they feel secure.

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The provision is good

Partnerships with parents are good. There is consistent communication between the staff and parents, who are well informed about their child's progress and how they can support their children's learning further at home.

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need to do better?

n The nursery is strongly led by the new manager, who has worked with the staff tirelessly since the last inspection to make improvements. She monitors staff's practice well to develop and improve their knowledge and understanding. Staff feel valued and well supported. They are confident and proud to demonstrate their good knowledge of the children and the curriculum. n Staff support children well to develop good communication and language. They encourage babies by repeating sounds and words back in a two-way conversation. Consequently, babies begin to babble and chatter, and smile and laugh with confidence. Babies and toddlers use sign language to communicate. For instance, at snack time, they use the signs for 'please' and 'thank you'. Pre- school children learn new words, such as 'flesh', as they scoop out the inside of a pumpkin. Staff extend their learning further, using words such as 'slimy' and

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need to do better?

'slippery' as they talk about the pumpkin seeds. However, children do not have many opportunities to begin to link sounds to letters. n Children thoroughly enjoy outside play. They use paintbrushes and water to make marks on the wall of the outside 'art gallery'. They engage in conversation with staff as they pour water from one container to another and begin to learn about size and capacity. Children race around the outside track on wheeled vehicles, skilfully negotiating pathways successfully. Staff support children well during small-group activities. However, at times, staff do not consider further

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need to do better?

23 October 2023 ways to support the understanding and participation of all children, particularly during adult-led activities. n The provider and manager ensure that staff have a broad range of opportunities to develop their knowledge and understanding. Staff training has a positive impact on children's experiences. For example, after attending behaviour management training, staff are more confident to manage children's behaviour consistently so that they learn from a young age to be kind, share and take turns. n Children develop a good understanding of healthy eating and follow thorough hygiene routines. Care routines in the baby room meet the children's needs very well. They enjoy lots of cuddles and reassurance as they play. Staff spontaneously burst into song when changing nappies or sing quietly with children as they help them to get ready for sleep. Babies demonstrate that they feel secure as they cuddle into staff to share a story.

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need to do better?

n Children develop a love of books and stories. Staff engage and interact well with pre-school children, using books to extend their vocabulary. Staff read with babies and count the animals on the page as they sing songs and learn animal names and noises. Toddlers begin to use longer sentences, as staff encourage them to talk about the characters in the story. n Children who are learning to speak English as an additional language are very well supported. Staff learn and use key words in children's home languages, which helps them to feel valued and included.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date. They can recognise the signs or symptoms that may be a cause for concern and know the correct reporting procedure to follow. Staff are clear about the nursery's whistle-blowing policy and know what they would do if they had a concern about the behaviour of a colleague. There are clear vetting and recruitment procedures to ensure that staff continue to remain suitable to work with children. There are thorough risk assessments in place, and staff talk to the children and encourage them to think about ways to keep themselves safe.

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should:

n provide more opportunities for children to link sounds to letters n extend staff practice to support all children's understanding and participation, particularly during adult-led activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2581792 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10262767 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 80 Number of children on roll 55 Name of registered person Mama Bear's Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07817848269 Date of previous inspection 1 November 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Mama Bear's Day Nursery registered in 2020. The nursery is situated in Bridgwater, Somerset. The nursery is open each weekday, from 7.30am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. There are 10 members of staff who work directly with children. Of these, seven hold appropriate childcare qualifications at level 3 or above, one holds a level 2 qualification and two are unqualified. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 to the inspector about the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector observed children's interactions in play, indoors and outdoors, and had discussions with the staff about children's learning and development. n The inspector and manager completed a joint observation of a group activity in the pre-school room. n The inspector spoke to parents and took their views into account. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection.

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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

23 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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