Toddlers-In Nursery School Ltd

Inspection of Toddlers-In Nursery School Ltd St. Michaels Memorial Hall, Branch Road, ST. ALBANS, Hertfordshire AL3 4SS

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is outstanding

Children are excited as they arrive at the friendly nursery. The very warm welcome they receive from staff helps them to settle and to begin learning from the outset. Children are keen to talk and share with their friends. For example, they show leaves they have found on the way to nursery. Highly effective interactions from staff encourage children to use more vocabulary and to build on their already excellent speaking skills. Children are keen to take on responsibilities, such as tidying up and preparing for snack. Staff are highly patient with children and give them time to complete their tasks. Children thrive on the positive praise and encouragement they receive.

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The provision is outstanding

Children have a wonderful aptitude to learn. They consistently strive to achieve success. Staff give children time to develop their imaginations and be creative. Children turn boxes into unicorns and rainbows. Each child's learning process and final piece of work is unique to them. Staff are skilled at knowing when to help and when to step back as children are completely engrossed in activity. Children's behaviour is excellent. Staff are alert to children's emotions and behaviour. They teach and model the behaviour they expect. This results in children being kind and caring towards each other and adults.

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need to do better?

n Leaders devise and implement a highly aspiring and well-structured curriculum with great success. Staff have ambitious and clear expectations for children to help them succeed in their learning. They provide activities that are tailored to each child's individual needs and abilities. This helps all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to make excellent progress. n Children have a vast number of opportunities to be physically active. Staff use their expertise to plan activities that promote the development of children's small and large muscles. Outside, children have space to run around, balance and dig. At other times, they enjoy walks to the local park, where they follow paths and look for wildlife. Younger children explore how to make toys work, such as by turning small wheels to operate pulleys. Older children use tools with precision as they draw pictures containing small details.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide children with a rich set of experiences to learn about others. Children enjoy learning words and singing songs in languages that are important to other children or staff. At other times, children learn that some people use signing to communicate. Staff who are trained in using Makaton teach others how to use this. This helps all children to feel included and actively promotes their communication and language development. n Partnerships with parents are exceptional. Parents state that children thrive in a

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need to do better?

5 December 2023 stimulating environment and are making excellent progress. Parents who have older children who have moved from the nursery to school say their children were prepared extremely well for their future learning. Parents and carers who have children with SEND or medical needs cannot praise the staff enough for the support they have received. n The management and staff team are extremely highly qualified and share an immense passion for ongoing learning. The manager has recently completed a PhD in education. She shares her extensive research with all the staff, further deepening their already strong understanding of how children learn and develop. Other staff are undertaking higher qualifications and attend high-quality training, tailored to their individual needs. This ensures excellent teaching and the highest standard of care for all children. Staff report that they feel highly supported by

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need to do better?

the managers, who care about their well-being and listen to their ideas. n The manager and staff are passionate about making links with the local community. They meet with staff from other early years settings to offer each other support and to share ideas. They nursery is held in high esteem by the Parish Council, which makes sure the building is safe and suitable for children to use. The manager has recently been asked to use her expertise to support the opening of a new community toddler group.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have excellent knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures and of how to protect children. Staff complete regular safeguarding training, which means they are constantly updated on effective safeguarding arrangements. They have a strong understanding of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child could be at risk of abuse or extremism. Staff are aware of the relevant safeguarding bodies to report their concerns to. The provider's safe recruitment programme, along with the rigorous induction of new staff, ensures that staff are suitable to work with children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY461011 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10301048 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 70 Number of children on roll 36 Name of registered person Toddlers-In Nursery School Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01727 851267 07789916294 Date of previous inspection 25 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Toddlers-In Nursery School Ltd registered in 2013. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including the manager who holds a PhD in early years education. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 9am until 3pm, term time only. 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 manager and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the provider. n The inspector and the provider looked around the setting and talked about how the curriculum is planned and implemented. n The inspector observed the quality of education and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She completed a joint observation with the manager. n The manager and the inspector met to discuss the leadership and management of the setting. The inspector looked at relevant documents, including evidence of the suitability checks carried out on staff and safeguarding and complaints procedures. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents, staff and children 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

5 December 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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