First Friends PDN

Inspection of First Friends PDN 141 Chaddesden Park Road, Chaddesden, Derby, Derbyshire DE21 6HP

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Babies and younger toddlers enjoy their time at nursery. They are confident in their surroundings and actively engage with the daily routine. Staff support babies and younger toddlers to do as much for themselves as possible. They readily wash their hands for mealtimes, put their shoes in the shoe rack, they are helped by staff to pour their own drinking water and they are learning to help tidy away resources. Staff help babies and younger toddlers learn how to be safe. They encourage children to hold hands and take their time as they use stairs to access the different play spaces within the nursery.

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The provision requires improvement

While older toddlers and pre-school children have some positive learning experiences, staff do not always deploy themselves well enough during outdoor play. The lack of interaction from staff at these times limits the opportunity to build on children's prior learning. For example, children who are quieter or less confident flit between activities while others wander around not sure what to play with. As a result, much of what children learn is incidental. During lunchtime, some pre-school children become boisterous and display unwanted behaviour. They shout, leave the table to play and ignore staff requests to sit nicely. At these times the environment becomes chaotic, resulting in rising noise levels. To this end, some children become upset. While some staff do initially attempt to address this, it is not pursued further which sees the unwanted behaviour continue.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers have taken a positive approach to addressing the weaknesses raised at the previous inspection. They have developed staff practice to ensure the individual learning needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are met. In addition, managers have ensured the environment for babies allows more space for them to play and move freely. n Managers recognise that different confidence levels of staff have resulted in variable staff practice across the pre-school room. While regular meetings, staff supervision and dedicated time for training occurs, managers have not yet sharply focused on identifying individual areas for development. To this end, some staff are not fully effective in supporting children's learning outcomes. n Staff help children's growing language and communication skills. Babies and younger toddlers show delight as they sing familiar songs, eagerly joining in with

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need to do better?

the actions and words. They listen intently as staff read a story about a hen. Children take turns to lift flaps, trying to find where the hen is hiding. Staff encourage children to identify what they can see in the pictures. As a result, children develop a love of stories which sees them readily access books to look at by themselves.

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need to do better?

23 May 2024 n Babies and younger toddlers behave well. Staff encourage even the youngest children to use their manners and share toys with their friends. In contrast, some staff do not do enough to manage pre-school children who demonstrate unwanted behaviour. For instance, some children snatch toys from friends, purposely run their bikes into others, and push toys onto the floor. This goes on for too long and when staff do intervene, messages are inconsistent. This does not help children understand what is expected of their behaviour. n Staff know their key children well, including what makes them unique. They determine appropriate next steps and understand how to embed these within children's play. However, at times, staff are not deployed well within the older toddler and pre-school room. For example, while children enjoy spending as much time outside as possible, many staff remain indoors. This results in less

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need to do better?

staff being available to interact effectively with children. To this end, children who are less confident do not engage in meaningful learning and play. n Staff plan activities for children to develop their small-muscle skills. These activities help children practise the skills needed for early writing. Older babies work with staff, squeezing sponges to make bubbles and toddlers scoop up sand and use moulds to make shapes. Pre-school children build structures from small plastic bricks. Staff encourage children to consider the shapes they need, when children explain they are making triangular shapes for the roof and squares for the windows. This helps support children's growing mathematical 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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Due date

implement behaviour management strategies, which support staff to be consistent in their approach, and which build on children's understanding of behaviour expectations 06/06/2024

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Due date

deploy staff to ensure that they engage with all children effectively, to increase children's enjoyment and extend their learning. 06/06/2024

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should:

n improve staff supervision, coaching and training to precisely identify individual areas of development and ensure staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 206106 Local authority Derby Inspection number 10304593 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 36 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person First Friends P.D.N. Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01332 677660 Date of previous inspection 28 June 2023

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Information about this early years setting

First Friends PDN is located in Chaddesden, Derbyshire. It registered in 1999. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, sixteen hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, closing for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. 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 talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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 observed the interactions between staff and children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during outdoor play. n Parents and grandparents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

23 May 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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