Sevenoaks Day Nursery

Inspection of Sevenoaks Day Nursery Rear Of Sevenoaks Community Centre, Otford Road, Sevenoaks TN14 5DN

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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

This family orientated nursery is at the heart of the community. Leaders strive to bring people together and offer support to all families and children that they can. They prioritise children feeing safe and secure and getting them ready to thrive in a learning environment, full of choices and fun.

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The provision is good

Staff are dedicated to the nursery and genuinely care about the children. Children form close bonds to staff and regularly run to them for hugs or to engage them in playful interactions. Staff know children well and create an environment where children regularly smile, giggle and chat excitedly with both staff and their peers. Staff are clear and consistent with routines and boundaries for children. Children from a young age show they can independently follow routines and know what to expect next. This supports their sense of safety and well-being.

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The provision is good

Staff respond well to the children's changing needs throughout the day. They alter practice and resources to keep children engaged and interested. Staff skilfully offer guidance and praise alongside children's chosen play. Children learn early on how to focus, persevere and achieve their goals. Staff provide regular group times such as singing for younger children and games and sports for older children. This helps children to build the fundamental skills such as listening and working together, preparing them well for their future learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff are good at planning a curriculum that both encompasses children's interests and clearly targets what they need to learn next. Babies enjoy building towers as staff support them to learn and repeat colour names. Older children fully engage in playing turn taking group games and involving all their friends. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported by staff. Staff are quick to identify children who may require additional support and put this in place. They ensure the curriculum is accessible by providing small and achievable, focussed targets. Staff always ensure they offer a hand or a lap to help children feel safe and ready to engage in group learning and take part in each activity. However, staff are less good at engaging with other settings that these children attend. This does not fully promote continuity of care and education and support better progress for children.

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need to do better?

n Staff use calm words of support and guidance to help children understand how to behave. They intervene quickly when children have disputes. Staff use pictures to help children understand how their friends feel and reinforce kind hands and taking care of each other. n Children are motivated to join in learning and show high interest in the activities provided. Babies gather round staff and thoroughly enjoy clapping along and

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need to do better?

5 March 2024 following actions to familiar songs and rhymes. Older children are encouraged to have a choice in the activities that staff provide and this increases their involvement and enjoyment. They exclaim in excitement as they explore colour mixing and shapes when painting. n A strong key person system supports children to form secure attachments. Staff model good relationships well and how to treat each other with respect. The children are able to mirror these bonds with their peers and many older children have successful blossoming friendships. However, there are fewer opportunities for children to explore their similarities and differences in terms of their cultural heritage. n Staff are good at supporting children to explore risks in a safe environment and understand how to keep themselves safe. For example, staff teach children about not having anything in their hands while they use the climbing frames and

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need to do better?

how to watch where they put their feet. Children remind each other to be careful taking turns on the equipment. n The manager works well alongside the trustees to monitor practice and implement change. The manager is always striving to improve outcomes for children. For example, they have recently worked on the outside area and equipment for children. However, leaders have not fully developed their own knowledge of how to identify children eligible for certain funding to support outcomes for children. n The manager is passionate and committed to the children and families at the nursery. She has built a good relationship with the staff, who report feeling supported and valued as part of a team. They work well together to provide a happy atmosphere. Staff show enthusiasm and commitment to the role, helping to provide good outcomes for all children.

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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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should:

n establish more productive links with other settings that children attend to promote continuity of care and a shared approach to children's learning n enhance staff's understanding of how to promote the home cultures and backgrounds of children who attend, to support children's understanding and enhance their sense of uniqueness n improve the process to identify children who may be eligible for additional funding to support their learning, such as the early years pupil premium.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY536594 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10314181 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 52 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Sevenoaks Day Nursery CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 01732 460384 Date of previous inspection 29 May 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Sevenoaks Day Nursery has been established since 1984 and re-registered in 2016. The nursery is located in Sevenoaks, Kent. The setting is open from 8am to 6pm on Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery is in receipt of funding for children aged two, three and four years. There are 19 members of staff, 12 of whom hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3 or above.

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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 their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the curriculum. n The inspector spoke with staff, interacted with children and viewed appropriate documentation. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n Parents shared their views about the setting with the inspector.

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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 March 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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