Sunshine Morning Nursery

Inspection of Sunshine Morning Nursery The Village Hall, Over Stratton, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5LL

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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 eagerly arrive at this truly welcoming and inspiring nursery. Dedicated staff consistently interact and engage with all children in an extremely encouraging and positive manner. They put children at the heart of everything they do. As a result, children are highly motivated to learn and behave impeccably. The passionate manager and her team have created a wonderful learning environment where all children thrive. The highly skilled staff plan and deliver a challenging and ambitious curriculum. They teach children the knowledge and skills they need and give children a strong foundation ready for school. As a result, all children make exceptional progress from their starting points. This includes children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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The provision is outstanding

Children are highly valued by the encouraging and nurturing staff. Relationships between staff, children and parents are exceptionally strong. These secure relationships help children feel happy and safe as they play and learn. Children show they are extremely independent, confident and curious learners. For example, they independently select their own activities and use their previously gained knowledge and skills to complete difficult tasks. Children show remarkably high levels of engagement in their learning and demonstrate resilience and perseverance. For instance, they spend long periods of time intently tracing pictures, letters and shapes. This helps children make excellent progress with their literacy skills.

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need to do better?

n The manager ensures that the curriculum is meticulously planned and securely embedded across all areas of learning. Staff use their in-depth knowledge of each child's starting points to expertly build on what children know. This supports children to make excellent progress and achieve the next steps in their learning. All children, including those with SEND, achieve the best possible outcomes. n Staff support children's physical development extremely well through carefully considered activities and by securely embedding the daily routine. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the manager places a focus on developing children's core strength, movement, balance and coordination. For instance, staff teach children to safely lift and carry their own chairs and enthusiastically engage them in regular yoga sessions. n Parents cannot speak highly enough about this nursery. They comment on how their children are developing 'enquiring minds' and how independent children are

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need to do better?

with self-care. Parents talk about how they see themselves as 'partners in their children's learning'. Staff go above and beyond to support families with children's care and learning. For example, the manager works with parents to register their

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need to do better?

21 February 2024 children with local dentists and helps parents to complete their school applications. n The manager has a clear vision of what she wants children to learn. She strives for children to be 'happy, confident, independent and excited to learn'. Staff share this vision. They work collaboratively to provide the highest quality education and care to ensure that all children achieve their full potential. n Staff provide children with a wide variety of activities, both indoors and outdoors. For example, they regularly visit the nursery allotment where they grow their own fruit and vegetables to eat as snacks. They take walks to the orchard and the local country park and have picnics with residents at a local care home. These wonderful opportunities support children to learn about the world around them and strengthen their sense of belonging in the local community. n Excellent opportunities are in place for the manager and staff to further enhance

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need to do better?

the outstanding care they provide. Professional development opportunities are thoughtfully chosen to have the greatest impact on children's learning. For instance, all staff recently received training to promote children's movement and motions through dance and music. This has had an extremely positive impact on children's physical development and early literacy skills. n Children's independence in all aspects of their learning and self-care is superb. Staff diligently provide opportunities for children to be autonomous throughout the day. Even the youngest children demonstrate their independence as they carry trays full of play equipment, wash up their plates and cups and skilfully pour their own drinks.

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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 143147 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10311973 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 20 Number of children on roll 16 Name of registered person Sunshine Morning Nursery

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reference number

Telephone number 01460 242250 Date of previous inspection 17 April 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Sunshine Morning Nursery is privately owned and registered in 1999. It operates from the village hall in Over Stratton, Somerset. The nursery opens on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am to 2pm, during school term time. The nursery receives funding to provide free early years education to children aged two, three and four years old. The nursery follows the Montessori approach to teaching, and the joint owners are appropriately qualified in Montessori teaching. One holds early years professional status and the other holds an early years qualification at level 3. They employ a member of staff who holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3.

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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 Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about her curriculum and what she wants children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector relevant documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and the children.

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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

21 February 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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