Starfish Childrens Day Nursery

Inspection of Starfish Childrens Day Nursery Farnham College, Morley Road, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8LU

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Staff have clear expectations for children to learn to understand and manage their emotions. They form close emotional relationships with children and skilfully gain their cooperation. Recently, staff have introduced a more structured day, with routines that have helped children to learn, behave well and feel happy and safe.

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The provision requires improvement

Children in the pre-school group are active, enthusiastic learners. They thoroughly enjoy practising their writing skills, for instance, as they decide to write a list of ingredients they use to make modelling dough. The support for some of the younger children is not consistently as effective. There are occasions when staff working with the younger children do not always use assessment well enough to identify and respond to any gaps in their development. Therefore, some children do not progress as quickly as they could. However, where children have identified special educational needs and/or disabilities staff support them well. They work effectively in partnership with parents and other agencies, such as speech and language therapists, to help children move forwards in their learning and development.

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The provision requires improvement

Children progress well in their physical development as they enjoy spending time outdoors. For example, they skilfully and confidently ride and manoeuvre two- wheeled bikes around the garden, avoiding obstacles in their path.

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need to do better?

n Senior mangers have not met the requirement to notify Ofsted about a recent change of nursery manager. On this occasion, Ofsted does not intend to take any action. The recently employed manager has worked with staff to identify and implement changes to improve the quality of the pre-school overall. For example, to continually improve the organisation of the indoor curriculum and activity planning and resources, which motivate children to explore and learn. n There are inconsistencies in the arrangements to monitor and assess children's progress. Staff working with the younger children do not always have a precise overview of children's progress, to identify where they may need extra support to catch up. Therefore, although all children have fun and have a positive attitude to learning, some are not making the progress they are capable of. The provision for older children is more successful and their developmental needs are

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need to do better?

understood by staff and met well. This helps prepare children for future learning. n Staff provide children with a language-rich learning environment. They successfully develop children's vocabulary, for instance, by talking aloud and asking questions when younger children play imaginatively with role-play resources. Staff respond to older children's questions and skilfully explain the meaning of words. For example, when children ask about words such as

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need to do better?

30 January 2024 'extinction' and 'species' while listening to stories. n Staff develop positive, caring, emotional relationships with children. They focus strongly on developing children's confidence, independence and social skills. For instance, they thank older children when they help to tidy up and respond to their requests to be 'a helper' at lunchtime. Children confidently use tongs to serve themselves food, such as jacket potatoes. Staff help children learn how to use cutlery and carry serving dishes safely. However, the snack time for younger children is sometimes not organised well. For example, during the inspection, staff did not prepare enough space for all the children to sit at the tables, which resulted in some children having to wait a long time to eat. n Staff support all children, including babies, to share and take turns. They remind children to be kind to their friends and to remember that this is one of the

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need to do better?

nursery's 'golden rules'. n Staff work well in partnership with parents to provide continuity for children. At the beginning and end of each day, they talk with parents about the activities and their children's progress. Parents spoken to during the inspection say they like the book lending library recently introduced for them to support their children's learning at home. n The manager uses robust recruitment and induction policies and procedures to employ staff. She makes sure that all staff currently working at the nursery have undergone relevant checks to identify they are suitable to work with 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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Due date

support staff to develop a secure understanding of how to identify and address any gaps in children's development. 20/02/2024

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should:

n review and improve the organisation of snack times, so that children do not have to wait for extended periods to eat.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2566957 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 10326418 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Starfish Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01252820333 Date of previous inspection 29 April 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Starfish Childrens Day Nursery registered in November 2019 and is managed by Starfish Childcare Limited. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks a year. It is located in Farnham, Surrey. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff, 9 of whom hold relevant early years qualifications from level 2 to level 6. The setting receives funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector observed how staff support children during indoor and outdoor activities and assessed the impact this has on their learning. n The inspector spoke with parents, the manager, staff and children during the inspection. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk and a joint observation together. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

30 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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