The Play Academy

Inspection of Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery 37 Elm Grove, Southsea PO5 1JF

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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 demonstrate they feel safe and secure. They arrive confidently and are excited to start their day at the nursery. The friendly and nurturing staff know the children extremely well. They greet children warmly on arrival. Children are very familiar with routines. They independently put away their belongings. They hastily make their way to their rooms and explore the rich variety of exciting and inspiring activities, which staff have thoughtfully tailored to the needs and interests of children. Staff provide an excellent foundation for children's learning and all children flourish.

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The provision is outstanding

Children behave impeccably. Staff are excellent role models. Their interactions with each other and children are consistently respectful. They have high expectations for children's behaviour. As a result, children are well-mannered and kind. They have formed secure relationships with each other. They play harmoniously alongside each other and together.

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The provision is outstanding

Children receive excellent opportunities to learn about diversity. Staff encourage parents to visit the nursery to support children's understanding and tolerance of different cultures. For example, children enjoy learning new songs in different languages and trying foods from other countries. They develop respect for different faiths and beliefs, while learning about a variety of festivals, such as Eid and Diwali. Children develop a sense of community through trips to the library and singing at a local home for older people. This helps to promote the well-being of the children and the residents.

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need to do better?

n The quality of education is outstanding. Leaders and staff have an extremely clear vision for children's learning and development. Children benefit from a broad and balanced curriculum. The impact of this is highly effective, and children make rapid progress. Children demonstrate high levels of enjoyment and engagement in the exciting and inspiring opportunities created for them. Staff fully understand the importance of early years development in future learning and know how to promote children's learning effectively. For example, staff place a strong focus on early reading and mathematical development for all children. n Staff work hard to minimise gaps in children's development, specifically communication and language skills. The nursery's special educational needs coordinators (SENCos) ensure that all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, receive tailored support. Detailed

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need to do better?

assessments are taken of the children. This helps to design activities to ensure children make good progress. For instance, children greatly benefit from focus-

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need to do better?

23 January 2024 group interventions designed to support children with language and social communication difficulties. The SENCos work in close partnership with parents and other professionals. This ensures children receive support in a timely manner. n Children's health and well-being are high priorities for staff. Children benefit from small focus groups to support their good oral health. Staff provide sequenced learning to help children develop a secure knowledge and understanding. For instance, children enjoy singing and reciting rhymes. They excitedly squeeze toothpaste onto brushes and experiment with ways of brushing teeth. They play games that help identify healthy and unhealthy foods. n Staff well-being is a high priority. Leaders are inspirational and passionate. Staff praise leaders and the team highly and feel extremely supported in their roles. Leaders ensure staff benefit from meaningful supervision sessions that

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need to do better?

encourage reflective practice. Staff receive extensive training to promote outstanding teaching. n Staff plan excellent opportunities for children's physical development. For example, all children enjoy experimenting with movement and flexibility during Pilates classes. Staff ensure that children have plenty of opportunities to access fresh air and learn about the natural world during weekly trips to a local forest school. n Staff continuously praise and celebrate children's achievements. They recognise the children's growing independence and value the contributions they make within the nursery. Staff encourage children to think of ideas for improvement. For example, children share their ideas during school council and complete evaluation questionnaires with parents at home. As a result, leaders purchased a yearly pass for a local aquarium. This helps to promote children's confidence and sense of self.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide children with structured support throughout the well-planned daily routine. Children's behaviour and attitudes to learning are exceptional. Children are highly engaged and motivated to learn through high-quality teaching practice. They demonstrate high levels of patience, tolerance and respect for others. These experiences support children's understanding of the highly ambitious standards of behaviour that are expected at the setting. n Staff have developed extremely effective partnerships with parents. Parents speak highly of the dedicated staff and the enjoyable and exciting opportunities that children greatly benefit from. They comment on the 'fantastic progress' their children make.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY495125 Local authority Portsmouth Inspection number 10308540 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 80 Number of children on roll 96 Name of registered person Little Minds Big Dreams Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 02393072805 Date of previous inspection 21 March 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery registered in 2015. The nursery is situated in Elm Grove, in Southsea, Hampshire. The nursery operates for 51 weeks of the year. Children attend from 7.30am until 6pm on Monday to Friday. Currently there are 26 staff members, including the manager and the co-owner. The manager holds qualified teacher status, one member of staff has a relevant level 6 qualification, 14 members of staff are qualified to level 3 and two members of staff hold a level 2 childcare qualification. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager, deputy manager and inspector discussed the early years curriculum across the nursery. n The inspector spoke to parents and took their views into consideration. n The manager and the inspector jointly observed staff interactions with children and discussed the impact of these on children's learning and development.

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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

23 January 2024 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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