Cherry Blossom Nursery

Inspection of Birkdale Nursery 8 London Road, BEXHILL-ON-SEA, East Sussex TN39 3JU

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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

Staff successfully create a very welcoming environment where children settle happily. Children respond well to the warm, caring interactions of staff. They benefit from effective and consistent support to promote their communication and language. Staff ensure that children in all rooms hear a lot of words, to help them to understand and explore language. Babies confidently practise new words. Older children rapidly build up their vocabularies and excitedly share their news, opinions and ideas.

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The provision is good

Children develop good social skills and learn to behave well. Staff praise children's efforts and achievements, promoting their self-esteem and developing their confidence to try new things. Children make choices and decisions as they play, helping them to become independent learners.

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The provision is good

Staff use their thorough knowledge and understanding of children's learning needs to plan and deliver an ambitious curriculum. For example, staff build on children's interest in animals and minibeasts by planning activities that promote their language, mathematical and physical skills. Children also enjoy expressing their creative ideas. Staff teach children techniques and provide a range of art materials. They give children the time and space they need to explore, experiment and create unique pieces of art.

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need to do better?

n The leadership and management of the nursery is strong. The provider has a clear aim to continually enhance the quality of the provision. She recognises the many areas of strength, while also being able to identify where improvement is needed. For example, she is aware that some areas of the indoor learning environment are not well presented and that cleaning routines are not always carried out well. However, a refurbishment is scheduled to address these issues, as part of more-significant changes that are planned for the very near future. The manager ensures that staff follow appropriate hygiene arrangements when serving food and changing nappies. n Effective key-person arrangements help to ensure that each child's personality, care and learning needs are well known by those who care for them. Children form strong and trusting bonds with their key person and other familiar staff. The care and attention given to meeting children's individual needs are

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need to do better?

particularly beneficial for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff work well with parents to put specific plans in place. These are understood and consistently implemented. Staff also identify when children would benefit from additional support and, in partnership with parents, make referrals to the relevant professionals.

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need to do better?

14 November 2023 n Activity planning is very effective overall. Staff provide a range of exciting, well- thought-out experiences that children thoroughly enjoy. They teach children about a range of cultural festivals and beliefs. They also make the most of seasonal events, such as falling leaves in Autumn, to capture children's interest. While the yearly schedule of focused topics works well for the older children, it is less relevant for the youngest children. Staff working with the babies skilfully manage to adapt activities within the themes. However, they are sometimes restricted by trying to include specific subjects, such as fireworks, which are beyond the understanding of this age group. n The quality of teaching and interaction is high throughout the nursery. Staff understand how to build on what children know and enjoy. For example, as children show an interest in building with magnetic shapes, staff seize the

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need to do better?

opportunity to discuss colour, size and shape. They also recognise when children would benefit from new ideas, such as considering adding a second floor. The enthusiastic interaction of staff ignites children's curiosity and extends their learning. n Although staff share a lot of useful information with parents each day, this generally relates to the activities that their child has taken part in and their emotional well-being. Staff have recently changed the way in which they set learning goals for each child. The new systems mean that this information is no longer shared as effectively with parents. This does not fully support parents to extend children's learning at home. However, overall, partnerships with parents are positive. Children benefit from observing the very friendly interactions between their parents and staff.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The provider, manager and staff team understand their individual responsibilities to keep children safe. They know how to recognise potential signs that may indicate that a child is at risk, and know the process for referring any concerns. The manager, who takes lead responsibility for safeguarding, has a good awareness of the procedures to follow in the event of an allegation or concern about a member of staff.

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should:

n support staff to plan activities that are tailored more precisely to reflect the interests and levels of understanding of the youngest children n review and enhance information-sharing with parents to include specific detail about their child's progress and planned next steps in learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY431319 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 10313861 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 30 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Birkdale Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01424 212545 Date of previous inspection 30 July 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Birkdale Nursery registered in 2011 and is in Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex. The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm for most of the year. There are 14 members of staff, eight of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery receives funding for free early years 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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager led the inspector on a tour of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the interactions of staff and children during a range of activities. n The manager and the inspector conducted a joint observation and evaluated the effectiveness of the teaching taking place. n The inspector spoke to staff, children and parents during the inspection. n The inspector reviewed a range of relevant documentation.

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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

14 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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