Sunbeams Shillingstone

Inspection of Sunbeams Shillingstone Shillingstone C E V A Primary School, Augustan Avenue, Shillingstone, Blandford Forum DT11 0TX

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children arrive confidently, and kind, caring staff greet them. Children seek the warm reassurance from staff when needed and respond well to the comfort they receive. Children behave well and have good manners. For example, pre-school children willingly share containers and spoons as they explore with coloured rice. When minor disputes occur, staff teach children how to negotiate and take turns. For example, staff model using a timer to ensure that children have equal time with resources.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy music and rhyme from a young age to develop their language and creativity. Babies play musical instruments, sway and smile widely as staff sing. Staff extend children's language well, adding new vocabulary and narrating children's play to give their actions meaning. Children learn about the natural world and enjoy visits within their local community to help them understand the world around them. For example, they visit the nearby orchard and harvest herbs and vegetables in the garden.

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The provision is good

Staff have a good understanding of the curriculum they teach and know their key children well. They organise exciting activities to help children reach the next stage in their development. Staff support children to make good progress from their starting points to help ensure that they have the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in school and later life.

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need to do better?

n The management team plans a curriculum with a clear focus on developing children's personal, social, emotional and communication skills. Staff use assessment well to identify any gaps in children's development and take swift action to close them. For example, they work with parents to share information and seek support from external agencies when needed. n Staff organise settling-in sessions in a flexible way that meets the individual needs of children and their families. The key-person system is very effective. As a result, children build strong attachments with staff and show that they feel safe and secure. Children's emotional well-being is well supported by the dedicated team that creates a calm and nurturing environment for children. n Children use language well. For example, pre-school children use construction bricks to make a 'flying car' and explain how the wings make it fly. Babies babble

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need to do better?

with excitement and staff respond positively, valuing babies' speech to build their self-confidence and develop their communication skills. n Children enjoy a wide variety of sensory play to develop their hand-to-eye coordination and fine motor skills. For example, babies mark on chalkboards on the wall. Older children manipulate play dough with their hands, sprinkle rice

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need to do better?

4 March 2024 and dig in mud to help them build the muscles they need for early writing in school. n Staff nurture a love of reading. They share stories with children, inside and outside, and children listen closely. Children help to turn the pages and staff encourage them to talk about the pictures to extend their language and literacy skills. n Staff teach children to respect their environment to develop a sense of responsibility and build their self-confidence. For example, staff encourage children to help tidy up before snack and lunchtimes. Older children select resources from shelves and return them independently when they have finished with them. n Staff are clear in their expectations of children during child-led play. However, during group activities, staff do not consistently apply the rules to ensure that children understand their expectations. On occasion, staff ask children not to call out but still allow children to do so, meaning some quieter children are not able

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need to do better?

to fully take part. n Managers model the use of effective questions well in their interactions with children. For example, they ask open questions that challenge children's thinking skills. However, other staff often use questions that only need one-word responses from children and do not inspire deep thinking to develop children's learning even further. n Managers work with parents and staff to help ensure that they spend any extra funding they receive as effectively as possible. They use it with integrity to support the care and education of the intended children, for example to provide resources for physical play. n Parents report that their children are very happy at the nursery and that staff keep them well informed about their children's progress. Parents say that staff are 'nurturing' and that they particularly value the time their children spend outside.

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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 support staff to make their expectations during group activities clear and apply them consistently to ensure that all children can fully participate n support staff to develop questioning techniques that extend and challenge children's learning further to ensure that they make the best possible progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2659314 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10332946 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 30 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Sunbeams Day Care Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01258863523 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Sunbeams Shillingstone registered in 2021. It is located in Blandford, Dorset. The nursery is open weekdays from 8.15am to 5.15pm, all year round. It receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs eight members of staff. Of these, six are qualified at level 3 or above, one holds a level 2 qualification and one is unqualified.

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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 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 Children 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 The inspector talked to staff and parents at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and 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

4 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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