The Meadows Nursery School

Inspection of The Meadows Nursery School EAST HORSLEY VILLAGE HALL, Kingston Avenue, Leatherhead KT24 6QT

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children are happy, settled and confident at the nursery. They show that they feel safe and secure within their environment as they confidently leave parents and enter their rooms. Children establish close relationships with their key person. For instance, the younger children find their key person when they require cuddles before their nap times. This supports their emotional security.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy exploring the secure outdoor area and practise their gross-motor skills as they climb, crawl, and run freely around the large, decked area. They giggle as their friends chase them. Staff engage well with children as they encourage them to build bridges with large blocks and drive tricycles through the gap. There are ample opportunities to engage with the natural world. For example, one child expressed a fascination at the fallen leaves, stuck on netting, as another child explored what could be found in the dirt. Staff model good language and communication skills to children to support their speech development as they play.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and learning. Children behave very well. They are thoughtful and caring towards their friends. For instance, children skilfully pour cups of water or milk, and ask their friends if they would like a drink. Children use good manners and are developing positive attitudes to learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff offer constant praise, encouragement and reassurance as children play. They get down to the children's level and talk calmly as they reinforce turn taking and playing cooperatively together. Staff's kind and nurturing approach supports children in effective ways to enhance their well-being. They know the children very well and are incredibly sensitive to children's emotional needs. n Routine activities enable children to develop and enhance their speech and language skills. They join in with a variety of songs and rhymes as they go about their day. However, children's mathematical learning may be developed further by providing activities to support and extend the children's knowledge of number, counting and shape. n Staff use what they know about children to plan a wide range of activities that support children to develop new skills and knowledge. However, children are not always given opportunities to explore their ideas and experiment for themselves.

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need to do better?

This limits children's independence and their ability to make choices. n Parents could not praise the staff any higher. Several comment on how lucky they feel to have found this nursery and juggle their work so that their child can remain here. Parents praise the staff team and comment on how much their children enjoy attending. Key persons communicate well with parents, sharing

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need to do better?

7 November 2023 photos and information. There are regular opportunities for parents to talk to staff face to face or via the nursery app. This provides them with ideas and information on what they can do to extend and continue learning at home. n The manager effectively monitors children's progress. This helps her to identify any gaps in their learning. She provides swift intervention when children need extra help. Training has been undertaken to support specific needs of children at the setting. The manager works with other professionals to ensure activities are adapted to ensure inclusion. n Children take part in activities that build on their existing knowledge. For example, children use chalks inside and outdoors to make marks and attempt letter formation. They enjoy sharing a range of books with adults. Staff ask a range of questions, which children answer confidently. When some children reply, their speech is sometimes unclear and difficult to understand. Staff reflect

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need to do better?

back to the children the correct pronunciation of the words they have said, to help them to develop their spoken English. n The manager places a strong focus on supporting staff in their professional development. She ensures that all staff have access to ongoing training to develop their knowledge and skills. The manager is passionate, knowledgeable and ambitious.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff have regular safeguarding training, and the manager checks their knowledge, so they are clear about their roles and responsibilities. They know the signs and symptoms to be aware of should they have concerns that a child may be at risk of harm. Staff have a good understanding of their whistleblowing procedures, including who they can go to outside of the organisation. The manager and staff carry out good risk assessments for the premises and all outings. Staff recruitment processes are robust. Staff suitability is regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain suitable to work with children.

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should:

n strengthen the support for children to further develop their understanding of mathematics, with particular reference to number, counting and shape n improve the opportunities for children to explore and discover, to support them to become independent learners

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY470940 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 10305609 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 39 Number of children on roll 49

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Name of registered person

The Meadows Nursery School (East Horsley) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01483 284384 Date of previous inspection 27 February 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The Meadows Nursery School registered in 2013. It operates from the premises of East Horsley Village Hall. It is open each weekday from 8.15am to 3pm for 45 weeks of the year. The nursery employs 10 members of staff. Five staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at Level 3 and one is a qualified teacher. 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 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 and the manager completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n The deputy manager and inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity and assessed the impact that this was having on children's development and learning. n Parents and children shared their views, and the inspector took these into account. n Documentation was considered, including evidence of the suitability of staff, qualifications and first-aid certificates. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times 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

7 November 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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