Abacus Children's Nurseries Ltd

Inspection of Abacus Children's Nurseries Ltd Balcarres, Southfleet Avenue, LONGFIELD, Kent DA3 7JG

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

All children are confident and happy during their time in the inviting nursery. Staff demonstrate a good knowledge of their curriculum and how they implement it to support all children to enjoy learning. Staff have a high expectation of what children can achieve and plan accordingly. Children are keen to join in with the interesting activities that staff carefully plan for them. For example, staff teach children about speed and gradients as they explore making a dinosaur water slide using mud and water. Children enjoy making magic potions with ingredients from nature, and staff teach them about the different types of leaves that they mix into their potions.

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The provision is good

Children of all ages gain good physical skills and learn to move in different ways. For example, they use age-appropriate climbing and balancing equipment confidently and safely. Staff support children to learn to identify and manage risks as they play. This includes using challenging equipment, such as a tree swing, safely. Staff talk to children about the rules of road safety when they are on regular walks in their community. Children follow rules and boundaries and behave well. Staff teach children a wide range of vocabulary. They provide good running commentary and thought-provoking questions. All children, including babies, enjoy a wide range of singing and story activities. Children are confident to communicate their thoughts and ideas.

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need to do better?

n The manager has supported staff well to make significant improvements since their last inspection. For example, staff know their individual children and plan activities accordingly to help them to meet their next steps in learning successfully. Staff support all children to make progress, including children who speak English as an additional language. The manager closely monitors the quality of care and teaching that staff provide. Staff evaluate together as a team. They routinely evaluate their practice and make plans where they would like to make enhancements to the setting. n Staff teach children about different people and their communities and experiences. For example, children learn about festivals, such as Eid. Children understand that there are different traditions and countries across the world. This is evident when they talk about Ukraine and their traditional dress. n All staff establish secure and trusting relationships with children of all ages. This

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need to do better?

helps all children, including the babies, settle quickly into the setting. Staff know babies' routines and meet their needs well. Children enjoy positive interactions with staff and seek them out for hugs or to share their thoughts during natural conversations. n Staff successfully support all children to develop their independence skills.

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need to do better?

3 June 2024 Children complete their own tasks, including serving their own fruit and pouring their drinks at snack time. Staff help children develop good skills to support their future learning. n Overall, teaching is strong. Staff support children of all ages to develop a positive attitude to learning. Children generally concentrate well. Babies are engaged in good learning opportunities indoors, such as exploring their senses in malleable play. However, staff do not always organise engaging activities for babies when using the outdoor space to ensure they get as much from their learning outside as they do inside. n Staff work well together to ensure that the setting is hygienic and safe. However, they do not consistently support children to understand the importance of personal hygiene practices, such as wiping their nose. n The manager and staff establish positive partnerships with parents, who speak

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need to do better?

fondly of them. Staff involve parents well and keep them informed about their children and what they have been doing, including their next steps in their learning. Staff share helpful advice with parents, such as toileting tips. Parents state that their children 'thrive and flourish'. n All staff attend regular and beneficial training. They have recently learned about how to manage challenging behaviour effectively and safely. As a result, staff support children to manage their emotions. This includes ensuring children have space to go and feel calm if they become overwhelmed. This has had a positive impact on children. They behave well. They are polite, kind, caring and follow the rules with good levels of understanding and maturity.

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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 enhance the support for staff to understand how to engage babies more fully when they spend time outdoors n provide more consistent support for children to understand the importance of following good hygiene routines.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY309106 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10307756 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Abacus Children's Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01474 702190 Date of previous inspection 14 July 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Abacus Children's Nurseries Ltd registered in 2005. It is located in Longfield, Kent. The setting is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am until 6pm, all year around. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are six members of staff. Of these, four hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3 and one is qualified at level 2.

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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 manager led the inspector on a learning walk. The inspector assessed the impact of the quality of staff interactions and the learning opportunities they provide children. n The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor learning environments. n The inspector reviewed written documentation. This included safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. n The inspector spoke to the manager, children, parents and staff at convenient times and considered their views. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of snack time, focusing on children's communication and independence.

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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

3 June 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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