Tots and Juniors

Inspection of Tots and Juniors Tots and Juniors, 10b Wentworth Road, RUSHDEN, Northamptonshire NN10 9SL

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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

Children arrive happily. They are confident to say goodbye to their parents and to go inside to see what activities are available to them. Staff welcome children warmly and encourage them to choose what they would like to play with. Children are encouraged to work well together. Older pre-school children help their younger friends to find items of different colours during games and children work together to build roadways. They decide they want to make a bridge and find small plant pots to raise the roadway sections. Children are curious and excited to explore, and use their own ideas and imagination as they play with items that reflect those they have at home.

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The provision is good

Staff know the children well. They take account of children's interests and successfully engage children as they play together. Staff help children to think about how they can extend their own learning and how they can overcome difficulties they encounter. Children begin to learn about keeping themselves and others safe. Staff talk to them about being careful when they play together, as they try to bounce balls through rolling hoops. Children giggle with excitement when they get the ball through the hoop and are eager to keep trying. They look before they roll the hoops to check their friends are not in the way.

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need to do better?

n The management team work closely with staff, who comment that they feel valued and supported by the owner and the manager. Staff receive effective supervision and reflect on their work. Management is committed to keep staff's knowledge up to date through training and team meetings. The reflective approach ensures that the play environment and the activities provided for children remain fresh and interesting to them. n Overall, staff are effective in their teaching. Children thoroughly enjoy their positive and encouraging interaction during play. Staff allow children to lead their own play and talk to children about what they are doing. This contributes to children thinking about how they can use the resources. Staff suggest children can add different things into an activity, to extend their interest. However, on occasion, as children become deeply focused in an activity, staff move away from children to do other tasks, which interrupts children's learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff are mostly effective in promoting children's communication and language skills. They speak clearly to children and, when required, repeat words back to them correctly. Children are developing their vocabulary as staff introduce descriptive words during play. Children show anticipation when a staff member brings a sealed box to them. She refers to a previous occasion, where the box was 'big and heavy' and asks if children remember. Children lift the box and say it is 'light' and try to guess what is inside. However, occasionally, some staff

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need to do better?

30 October 2023 speak quickly to children and give them lots of information all at once. This does not give children time to think about what they want to say in response. n Staff are very attentive towards children throughout the day and promote their independence skills. They recognise when children need to have a change to the activities and when they are hungry. Staff supervise children well as they play and help them be confident to make choices about what they do. n Staff help children to learn about the expectations for behaviour and this results in children behaving well. All staff follow a consistent and calm approach, clearly explaining to children the reasons why certain behaviour is not acceptable. Staff treat children with care and respect at the setting and give children lots of praise throughout the day. n Parents make complimentary comments about the setting. They find staff and management supportive. Parents comment on the progress their children make

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need to do better?

in their social skills, friendships, speech and confidence. Staff value information from home about children's interests and provide opportunities for children that widen their experience. For example, children who have fewer opportunities at home to take part in sensory play can explore materials, including water and tea bags, as they make 'potions and tea' in the mud kitchen outside and help to feed the chickens and collect the eggs.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are deployed effectively. They work together well to ensure children are supervised and kept safe. Thorough risk assessment of the premises is in place and suitable steps are taken to minimise hazards to staff and children. Staff demonstrate a confident understanding of how to recognise possible signs of abuse and they know how to report any safeguarding concerns. Staff have regular discussions about safeguarding and complete training, which helps keep their knowledge up to date. The management team has thorough procedures to ensure staff are suitable to work with children, when they are recruited, and carry out appropriate checks to ensure staff remain suitable.

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should:

n develop staff's ability to promote and encourage children's conversational skills n improve the organisation of activities, so staff can continue interacting with children and promote their learning without being distracted by other routine tasks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY368562 Local authority North Northamptonshire Inspection number 10312916 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 312 Name of registered person Brett, Nicola

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reference number

Telephone number 01933383629 Date of previous inspection 19 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Tots and Juniors registered in 2008 and is in Rushden, Northamptonshire. The setting employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold early years qualifications between level 3 and 6. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. An out-of-school club operates during term time from 7.30am until 9am and from 3pm until 6pm, and during the school holidays from 7.30am until 6pm. 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 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 The inspector observed the quality of education during a variety of activities inside and outside and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager and discussed the teaching and learning. n The inspector held a meeting with the nominated individual and the manager. They looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to several parents and grandparents 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

30 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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