Grove Cottage

Inspection of Grove Cottage 151 London Road, BISHOP'S STORTFORD, Hertfordshire CM23 3JX

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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

Children arrive happy and are excited to enter this unique nursery. They develop very strong relationships with staff, who know them exceptionally well. Staff follow children's individual routines meticulously, which helps children to settle and feel safe and secure at the nursery. The managers and staff have a strong understanding of how children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) learn. The curriculum is differentiated, with teaching tailored to each child's specific learning needs and preferences. Staff closely follow children's interests and build on what they already know and can do. This means that children are supported to achieve to the best of their capabilities.

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The provision is good

Children are learning how to do things for themselves. Staff help children to choose using words, signing and visual aids. Their firm, but fair, approach enables children to express their views and ask for help. Strong relationships between children and their key persons are evident. When children find some situations overwhelming, their key persons offer positive reassurance. This results in children quickly feeling calm and re-engaging in play and learning. Children help to tidy up and put away their place mats after snack. Some do this very independently, while others are supported by staff to achieve.

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need to do better?

n All children who attend this specialist nursery have SEND and are supported extremely well. Managers and staff gain in-depth information about children when they start to attend. This helps them to devise and implement personalised plans to meet each child's learning needs. There are very effective strategies in place to share information with parents and other professionals. As a result, all children are making consistent progress from their starting points in learning. n Children benefit from spending time in the outdoor learning environment. There is a wide variety of resources and equipment that children have access to. Children enjoy many sensory experiences, such as through using water and soil. Staff give them time to truly engage in their chosen activity without interruption. n Staff adopt strong and extremely successful partnerships with parents. Parents completely value staff's support and guidance about child development. They

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need to do better?

comment that staff not only support the children but also the whole family and say they do not know what they would have done without their input. Staff continually share information about children's learning so that parents can continue this at home. n Staff plan and carry out group times for children with great precision. All children thoroughly enjoy these times and are completely engrossed. Staff use many ways to welcome children. For example, children can choose to use words,

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need to do better?

19 June 2024 signing, high fives or press a button to play an automated hello. Children learn how to wait and take turns. Staff sensitively introduce mathematics, such as clearly counting numbers down as they launch a rocket. Children wait with excited anticipation and know when it is their turn to launch. n Staff work very closely with the schools children move on to. They share detailed information with teachers and other professionals to enable the transition for children to be seamless. Staff invite teachers to visit children in the nursery to enable them to observe them where they feel secure. They attend meetings with parents as they understand how stressful it can be for parents when their children start school. n The strong leadership and management team have a clear vision for continual improvement. Plans for a new building are well underway and they have a strong vision for the continued success of the nursery. The managers know the

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need to do better?

importance of continuous professional development for staff and its impact on practice. They provide staff with regular staff meetings and undertake some observations of their teaching and practice. However, information gained through these observations is not used to tailor the ongong support for staff as individuals. Additionally, supervision meetings are not carried out regularly enough to ensure meaningful engagement with staff is consistently maintained.

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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 arrangements for supervision of staff to further support their ongoing development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY372502 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10339198 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 15 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Bishops Stortford Mencap

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reference number

Telephone number 01279 656085 Date of previous inspection 4 July 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Grove Cottage re-registered in 2008. The nursery and Saturday club employ 22 members of childcare staff. Fifteen of these hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including two who hold qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, during term time from 9am to 3pm. The Saturday club opens on some Saturdays with sessions between 9.30am and 5.30pm. 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 manager and has taken that into account in her evaluations. n The inspector and manager looked around the setting and talked about how the curriculum is planned and implemented. n The inspector observed the quality of education and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She completed a joint observation with the manager. n The provider, manager and inspector met to discuss the leadership and management of the setting. The inspector looked at relevant documents, including evidence of the suitability checks carried out on staff and safeguarding and complaints procedures. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents and staff during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

19 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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