Fledglings Nursery & Preschool

Inspection of Fledglings Nursery & Preschool Fledglings, Chesham Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire HP4 2ST

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Children show that they feel safe and secure in this well-organised and exciting environment. Babies receive nurturing cuddles from staff when they become tired. Children benefit from an ambitious curriculum that focuses on embedding new knowledge. However, a weakness in leadership and management has meant that Ofsted has not been informed of all company directors.

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The provision requires improvement

Children are eager to engage in activities that are appropriate for their age and stage of development. Babies smile with delight as they immerse their hands in paint and discover making marks on different surfaces. Staff introduce younger children to mathematical concepts, such as floating and sinking. Children work out, through trial and error, how to soak a sponge in water and immerse it in the deep tray so it will sink. Staff foster children's love of books. They read with great enthusiasm, which captures children's attention. Older children demonstrate a good understanding of the content of stories. They learn about the importance of keeping safe while using the internet at home.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff are positive role models. They provide children with gentle reminders about the consequences of their behaviour, such as flicking water. This influences children to be respectful towards each other. Older children are beginning to regulate their own behaviour. Children develop a deep understanding of the natural world through regular walks in the extensive grounds surrounding the setting.

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need to do better?

n The provider has failed to respond to requests from Ofsted for information about all directors. This means that suitability checks have not been completed by Ofsted to ensure that every individual is suitable for their role. However, they do not have unsupervised contact with children or sole responsibility in making decisions that affect children's well-being. n Staff implement a rich and varied curriculum that is well sequenced and supports children to build on what they already know and can do. Staff regularly assess children's knowledge and adapt activities to make them increasingly challenging over time. All children make good progress. n Overall, children's communication and language are supported well. Babies listen intently to the songs that staff sing, the words that they model, and stories that are read to them. However, staff do not leave gaps during their interactions with babies to embrace opportunities for them to practise their emerging language

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need to do better?

skills. Nonetheless, younger children are confident communicators. They choose which songs they would like to sing and respond to staff's questions. Older children use complex sentences to share previous experiences with visitors, such as a visit to the zoo, and learn the meaning of new words, such as 'valuable'.

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need to do better?

17 June 2024 n Staff work in partnership with parents. There is a strong two-way flow of information. Staff embrace the information they receive from parents about their children's experiences and interests out of the setting. Staff expertly weave these throughout their planning to help children embed and build on new knowledge and skills. For example, following some children's experiences of going on holiday abroad, staff have transformed the role-play area into an airport. This stimulates children's imagination as they pretend to be an airline operative. Staff share ideas for how parents can support their children's learning at home. Parents are keen to provide feedback about the setting. They appreciate how staff consider the individual needs of their children. Parents describe the staff team as 'nurturing', and feel that their children are well cared for in a safe environment. n Most children develop their independence skills that support them to be ready to

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need to do better?

manage their own personal needs in readiness for school. For example, older children confidently use a knife and fork to cut up the nutritious meals they enjoy. However, staff do not consistently support all children to be independent individuals, such as managing their own outer clothing or wiping their nose. n Children behave well. Staff sensitively support babies to take turns with musical instruments. Class rules are shared every morning to support children's awareness of the importance of positive behaviour. n Staff ensure that children benefit from maximum time outdoors in the fresh air to support their overall well-being and develop good physical skills. Babies build the core strength in their legs to prepare them for walking as they pull themselves up on sturdy equipment. Older children assess their own risks and grow in confidence as they climb and balance on raised platforms. n The manager and deputy manager are committed to supporting their staff team.

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need to do better?

They regularly observe staff skills and undertake supervision meetings with staff to support them in their role. Staff training needs are prioritised. New knowledge and skills obtained from training are shared with the whole team to support a consistent approach.

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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

17 June 2024 ensure that Ofsted is provided with the necessary information to enable suitability checks to be carried out for all directors. 01/07/2024

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should:

n support staff to develop their interactions that enhance opportunities for babies to practise their early language skills n guide staff to encourage children to do more for themselves to further develop their independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 496336 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10339360 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 72 Number of children on roll 57 Name of registered person The Fledglings Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01442 864 777 Date of previous inspection 12 July 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Fledglings Nursery & Preschool registered in 2001 and is located in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. The setting is open from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks per year. There are 15 staff members who work directly with the children; of these, eight staff hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 2 or above. The setting 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 deputy manager and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The inspector and deputy manager completed a learning walk across all the areas of the setting to understand how the curriculum is organised. n A joint observation of an activity was carried out by the inspector and the manager. The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors. She assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector held a number of discussions with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and deputy manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day 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

17 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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