Monkeymoos Castle

Inspection of Monkeymoos Castle Angola House, Angola Road, Worthing, Sussex BN14 8DU

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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 receive a warm and friendly welcome from leaders as they arrive. They show high levels of confidence, independence and enthusiasm as they start their day. They quickly engage in meaningful play as staff have carefully planned activities which incorporate their individual interests. Consequently, children sustain interest in their play. For instance, older children immerse themselves in imaginative play. They busily make smoothies, adding various fruits and scoops of oats to get the 'right flavour'. Others make their own pizzas and cook them in the oven, giving friends warning that the 'cheese might be hot when it is first cooked'. Staff skilfully extend play, while continuing to follow the children's lead. This helps children feel a sense of belonging, where staff value their opinions.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour, and, as such, they behave well. Older children recall nursery rules to keep themselves safe, for instance, explaining they do not run indoors. Younger children are well supported to take turns and develop early friendships. Staff have a calm and consistent approach to managing children's minor disputes. This helps children to understand their own emotions. Staff support children to develop their concentration skills and provide support and encouragement when children do not first succeed. For example, babies persevere to complete various shape sorters with positive praise and interaction from staff. Children seek out staff to share experiences with. Babies receive comforting cuddles, while older children cannot wait to share their ideas or moments of achievement. Staff are responsive to children and know their unique personalities well. This enables staff to meet their individual needs.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have worked hard to ensure that improvements have been made to the nursery since the last visit, particularly regarding safeguarding and the suitability of staff. For instance, all staff have received additional child protection training. They can identify, respond and effectively report any concerns. In addition to this, leaders have taken steps to ensure the suitability of all staff working with children and their families. Furthermore, they have ensured that staff who are unvetted, do not have unsupervised access to children. This helps to keep children safe. n Leaders have enhanced the support that staff receive. They monitor staff's practice to ensure that they receive any guidance needed to update their knowledge and skills. All staff receive regular, thorough supervision sessions. This enables gaps in staff's knowledge to be identified and swiftly acted on. Staff report they feel well supported and confident to fulfil their roles and

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need to do better?

responsibilities. n Children benefit from a broad and balanced curriculum that promotes all seven

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need to do better?

25 October 2023 areas of learning. Staff know what skills children have learned and what they need to learn next. Children's next steps are tailored by staff, who understand why they have planned activities and the benefits these promote. This supports children to make the good progress of which they are capable. n Generally, staff promote children's communication and language skills well. They hold back-and-forth conversations with children as they explore a variety of activities and share their thoughts. Staff narrate children's play and introduce new words such as 'crunchy' and 'juicy'. However, children who speak English as an additional language (EAL) do not have consistent opportunities to hear and use their home language in nursery. This does not fully support their progress in their communication and language development. Despite this, children who speak EAL are well settled in the nursery. n Children's physical development is thoughtfully promoted. Babies safely access

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need to do better?

physical play equipment. They practise early skills such as pulling themselves up, walking and climbing. Outside, older children run, climb and delight in jumping and splashing in puddles. Younger children use various tools to scoop, pour, and mix different sensory materials. They carefully complete simple puzzles, twisting and turning puzzle pieces until they fit. This supports development of their small muscle skills. As a result, children make good progress in their physical development. n Staff provide frequent opportunities for children to practise their independence skills. For example, children attempt to put on their own coats and shoes for the garden. Younger children are supported to pour their own drinks and safely cut their own fruit for snack. Older children self-serve their meals. This helps children to become self-sufficient. However, staff do not always organise mealtimes effectively. On occasion, older children spend a significant amount of

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need to do better?

time waiting. This means that, at times, some children lack engagement and become restless. n The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) has a secure understanding of how to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff have recently been given additional support to ensure that they have the information required to meet children's needs. Staff understand the importance of working with other professionals and consistently following strategies in place for individual children. n Partnership with parents is good. Parents value the online app for ease of communication. They report their children, including children with SEND, are happy and comment that they have made good progress since starting. Parents know what their child's next steps in learning are. Staff share ideas with parents so they can continue to support children's learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have addressed previous failings identified in safeguarding. All staff have had training to identify any gaps in their knowledge. Leaders have processes in place to ensure that they keep up to date with their knowledge and with any

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Safeguarding

25 October 2023 changes. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of the signs and symptoms that may be a cause for concern. All staff know the local safeguarding partnerships to report concerns to. Staff also demonstrate a secure understanding of the procedure to follow in the event they have concerns about a colleague's behaviour. There are effective arrangements for risk assessment which staff understand. Children are well supervised, including during sleep and mealtimes. The manager has recently completed safer recruitment training which has helped her strengthen processes to ensure the suitability of staff. Procedures are now in place to ensure that staff who have not yet been checked, do not have unsupervised access to children.

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should:

n strengthen support for children who speak English as an additional language, to hear and use their home languages in nursery n review and develop the organisation of daily routines, such as lunchtimes, to reduce waiting times and to keep children engaged.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2580385 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10313461 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 83 Number of children on roll 71 Name of registered person Monkeymoos Daycare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01903234679 Date of previous inspection 15 November 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Monkeymoos Castle registered in 2020 and is situated in Worthing, West Sussex. The nursery is open from 7am to 7pm each weekday for 51 weeks a year. There are 12 members of staff, of whom, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications. The provider receives funding to provide early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued 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 manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation during a planned activity. n The inspector observed the interactions between the staff and children. n The SENCo spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND.

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Inspection activities

n Parents shared their views of the provision with the inspector.

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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

25 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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