Little Hummingbird Nursery

Inspection of Little Hummingbird Nursery The Space at Park Pavilion, Churchfields, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire EN10 7AU

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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

The nursery is a welcoming, happy place where staff help children to enjoy and achieve. Staff know the needs of the children they care for very well. They use this information to plan and provide an exciting curriculum to help all children make good progress and feel safe and ready to learn. Babies, toddlers and pre-school children all have close bonds with staff. Staff help even the youngest children to take steps towards independence. For example, babies learn to feed themselves with gentle support from staff.

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The provision is good

Staff thoroughly support children's literacy development. They use their expert knowledge of how letters and sounds work together to support children to recognise the letters that make different speech sounds. Children enjoy pressing and pushing their hands into dough, helping to build their small muscles. Staff help children to use a pincer grip to pick up and post pegs into boards, refining their hand control in readiness for early writing. Older children, who have developed strong hand control, deftly use writing materials and show visitors how they can form the shapes to make different letters. They proudly announce that they have made a 'd' and demonstrate the steps they took to make the letter.

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need to do better?

n The provider/manager has a good understanding of the strengths of the nursery and areas where she wants to continue development. She monitors staff practice closely, giving supportive coaching and encouragement so that staff's skills continuously improve. Staff report that they love working at the nursery. They appreciate the flexibility that the manager offers them in their working life, and they thoroughly enjoy coming to work. n Children rapidly learn to climb, balance and stretch as they explore the outdoor play equipment. Other children go for interesting walks with staff, where they explore their outdoor surroundings. They show a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe, as they learn from staff's reminders to be careful as they walk next to a canal and take care when crossing a small bridge. Staff assess the risks of outdoor play and outings particularly well. They promote children's

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need to do better?

safety and well-being throughout all activities as they supervise them closely, including when outdoors. n Staff sit with children to promote good mealtime habits, and children enjoy chatting about what they and their friends have to eat. Babies get very excited as staff place them safely into highchairs. Babies enjoy spending time with the older children and copy their good example as they try to feed themselves with spoons. Babies smile broadly at the children and adults around them, and they make noises as they join in with the conversation. Staff speak to babies with care, making sure they can see their faces to copy the movements they make

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need to do better?

22 March 2024 when they speak, in support of their early communication skills. n Staff all have a secure understanding of how to support children to be ready for the next stage in learning, including a move to school. For example, they develop children's independence skills with gentle support. Staff encourage children to have another try when they find things hard, such as when they find it tricky to put their shoes on. Children know how to put rubbish into the bin, opening it by using the pedal with their feet. They show good levels of self- control and wait patiently with their friends as they line up to wash their hands. Children take responsibility for their own hygiene as they learn from staff about how to keep themselves healthy. n Parents give high praise to the dedication of the staff. They comment on how well the staff know their children, how well the manager has supported them and how well their children have settled in. They comment on the good progress

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need to do better?

their children make while at nursery and how well they feel supported to continue their child's learning at home. n While, overall, children are well engaged in meaningful learning throughout their day, occasionally, such as in the time just before lunch, this is less successful. At these times, while staff are busy bringing children in from outdoor play, noise levels rise and some children become restless. n Staff support children to learn proficient language skills. For example, a child points to two apples, stating 'apple and apple'. The staff member explains how to add the 's' to 'apples' because there is more than one. Staff ensure that they speak correctly and clearly to support children's confident speech development.

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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 review the planning of the period leading up to lunch to support staff to engage more successfully with children at these times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2691076 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10319094 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 22 Number of children on roll 22 Name of registered person Little Wonderland Ltd

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Telephone number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Hummingbird Nursery registered in 2022. It is one of two settings run by Little Wonderland Ltd. The nursery employs six members of staff, four of whom hold relevant early years qualifications. The provider/manager holds qualified teacher status. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery operates from 8.30am to 6pm, all year round, apart from bank holidays.

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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 provider/manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the provider/manager about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed an activity and discussed the implementation of this with the provider/manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of

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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

22 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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