Sunflower Day Nursery

Inspection of Sunflower Day Nursery Broadley Road, Harlow, Essex CM19 5RD

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Babies and children demonstrate by their positive behaviour that they feel safe and secure in the nursery. They are happy and excited to explore the play environment and activities provided by staff. Staff are kind and supportive of children's individual needs. Babies and children who are settling in or feeling tired snuggle into the arms of their caring and nurturing key person. Staff are skilled in the way they help young children to manage their emotions. They distract them with interesting activities, such as brightly coloured puzzles. Babies practise developing their fine motor skills as they examine the pieces and attempt to fit them into place.

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The provision is good

Managers and staff understand how children learn. They know the children well. They understand what children need to learn and build a curriculum that reflects their learning needs and interests. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress in their learning. Staff work closely with their parents and other professionals to ensure that all children receive the support they need to reach their full potential.

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The provision is good

Staff are enthusiastic and energetic as they interact closely with the children. They offer children choices in their learning and follow their lead. Staff focus clearly on supporting children's communication and language development. They engage children in conversation, listen to their responses and challenge them with questions.

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need to do better?

n Staff ensure that all children play harmoniously together. They encourage children to talk to each other and help them to develop their vocabulary. Staff support children who speak English as an additional language to make good progress. They ask parents to share words in their home language to support children's communication development. n Children show a keen interest in books and staff encourage them to take books home to read with their families. This helps to promote children's enjoyment of books and develop good literacy skills. Older children are eager to sit with staff to engage in phonics. They are excited to join in with actions and repeat letter sounds confidently. n Staff teach babies and children to become independent from a young age. They practise putting on their coats and shoes. Children learn to share and take turns. They behave respectfully to each other. Staff give children choices and this helps

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need to do better?

children learn how to make decisions on their own. n Children have lots of opportunities to play outside in the fresh air. Staff take them on walks to a local nature reserve, where they learn about the natural environment. Children search for creatures in the nursery garden and enjoy

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need to do better?

11 June 2024 digging and planting. Staff make the most of spontaneous situations. For example, when there is a sudden downpour of rain, staff quickly help children into their raincoats and wellies. Children squeal with delight as they dance in the puddles and capture the gushing water in cups and pots. n Children of all ages enjoy painting and drawing. They use a variety of utensils for painting, such as clothes pegs holding feathers and pom-poms. Staff praise children's creativity as they develop their hand control in preparation for early writing. However, staff do not use mathematical language consistently to talk to children about the patterns they make, the shapes or the colours. They do not use the opportunities well to count with the children and fully promote their mathematical development. n Children draw portraits of themselves and attach them to pictures of the school they will attend at the end of term. Staff encourage children to try on school

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need to do better?

uniforms and help them to understand what to expect when they make their next transition. Transitions through the nursery are smooth. Children spend time in other rooms and become accustomed to the different staff and the activities provided. This helps them to feel confident when the time comes for them to move. n Parents are delighted with the care and education their children receive. They say that their children are eager to come to nursery and do not want to leave. Some parents travel a long way and recommend the nursery to their friends. Parents are happy with the communication and the individual support they receive from staff. Staff support parents to attend workshops at the nursery on topics, such as Makaton sign language and science activities to do at home. n Managers support and supervise staff well. They provide plenty of training opportunities for staff and ensure their workload is balanced to support their

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need to do better?

well-being. All staff say they are happy in their roles and feel well supported by managers. Managers use children's additional funding well to provide specific resources that help children to make steady progress.

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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 use mathematical language consistently to help develop children's growing understanding of mathematical concepts.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY420513 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10339252 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 50 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person Great Parndon Community Association

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reference number

Telephone number 01279 430436 Date of previous inspection 6 July 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Sunflower Day Nursery registered in 2010. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am until 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. There are 13 members of childcare staff. Nine staff hold early years qualifications at level 3 and the manager holds early years professional status. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 discussed the educational programme of the nursery with the inspector on a learning walk of the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n A joint observation was carried out by the manager and the inspector. n The inspector spoke to staff and children. n A meeting was held with the manager to discuss the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector took account of the views of parents by speaking with some of them during the inspection.

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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

11 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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