Poppies Day Nursery

Inspection of Poppies Day Nursery Watchet Lane, High Wycombe HP15 6UG

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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 are welcomed by friendly staff as they arrive at this setting. They enter happily and settle quickly on arrival. Children, including the youngest, confidently explore and choose activities. They chatter excitedly as they show their friends what they are making. Children are motivated learners and demonstrate a positive attitude towards their learning.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children. They plan activities to capture children's interest and engage them. This means that children stay at activities for extended periods of time. Children develop a love for nature. Staff plan a broad range of activities and experiences to extend children's understanding of the world. For example, children learn about the life cycle of chickens. Children recently saw eggs hatch and are learning how to look after the chickens as they grow. Parents, grandparents and children were all invited to choose names for the three chickens.

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The provision is good

Children's opinions are valued. Staff give them opportunities to make choices and express their ideas. Preschool children vote on activities that they would like to choose for the day. Older children learn about keeping themselves and their environment safe. For example, they take on roles such as being a 'safety spy'. With staff, they create a checklist of potential risks and take turns completing safety checks in the garden. This helps increase children's awareness of how to asses risks for themselves.

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need to do better?

n The dedicated manager is passionate and enthusiastic about providing new opportunities and experiences for the children. She creates a broad and balanced curriculum. Staff report that they are happy and supported. Regular staff supervisions help to identify learning needs and check staff well-being. n There is a strong key-person system in place. Staff see to their key child's intimate care and plan activities to support their personal development. They gather information from parents and use this to form strong bonds with the children. This means all children make good progress from their starting points. n Overall, staff supervise children well. However, on occasion, staff fail to deploy themselves as effectively as they could to enable them to recognise when some children need extra support with tasks, such as when using the toilet. This leads to some children being left waiting for the additional support they need.

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need to do better?

n Generally, staff manage children's behaviour well. Children show that they know the routine and receive encouragement to use good manners. Although, at times, staff do not consistently reinforce the settings rules to ensure that children understand what is expected of them. For example, not all staff help children understand expectations, such as not running indoors.

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need to do better?

30 November 2023 n Staff support children's communication and language very well. Staff introduce babies to new sounds. For example, while painting, staff make 'pop, pop' noises as they dab paint with their fingers. Babies then copy this action and make the same noise. Staff encourage younger children to build sentences and introduce them to new words. Older children take part in group activities and take turns to talk and share their views. They listen to their friends and consider other people's opinions. n Children's mathematical development is supported well. Staff encourage children to count and support recognition of shapes and numbers. During walks around the local area, older children's knowledge is extended by completing a tally chart of the different colour cars they see. Regular trips to the charity shop and greengrocers support children developing knowledge on counting and money. n Staff promote a healthy lifestyle. Children receive healthy, nutritious meals and

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need to do better?

snacks. Staff provide children with opportunities to cook. For example, children learn how to make a pesto sauce and take this, along with the recipe, home to share with their families. Children are given ample opportunities to exercise and develop their physical skills. Children join in with group sessions where they learn gymnastics and participate in dance. n Children's personal, social and emotional development is supported well. Staff encourage children to recognise their feelings and to express these in an appropriate way. Staff plan activities to help children self-regulate. For example, in small groups, younger children take part in calming yoga sessions where they practise breathing techniques. They listen carefully and follow the clear instructions given by staff. n Parents are very happy with the care and support the children and their families receive. They enjoy opportunities to come into the nursery and see what the

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need to do better?

children are doing. Parents report that they receive good communication and feedback about their child's day and progress. Parents comment that children's transitions are managed very well and they are updated on settling-in sessions when children move to the next room.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. They can recognise the possible signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm or abuse. This includes knowledge of wider child protection issues. Staff know the procedures to report concerns about a child or an adult, internally and externally. The manager completes robust recruitment checks to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Policies are in place and followed, including those linked to use of mobile phones. Regular risk assessments are completed to ensure that the premises and equipment are safe and suitable.

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should:

n improve staff's understanding of how to effectively deploy themselves to enable them to consistently identify when children need support and assist them swiftly with their individual needs n support staff to be consistent in promoting behaviour management strategies, to build on children's understanding of what behaviour is expected of them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY493786 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10317257 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 60 Number of children on roll 107 Name of registered person Poppies Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01494 716789 Date of previous inspection 14 May 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Poppies Day Nursery registered under new ownership in 2021. The nursery is situated in Holmer Green, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm, for 51 weeks per year. The provider employs 19 staff, 11 of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications. The provider is in receipt of funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the nursery and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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 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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