Squirrel Lodge Nursery

Inspection of Squirrel Lodge Nursery The Meads Community Centre, Emerald Crescent, Sittingbourne ME10 5JL

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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

Staff provide a stimulating environment for children to learn in. They deliver a curriculum centred on exploration and discovery through play. Staff focus heavily on encouraging children to be independent and confident, while placing a high importance on children's well-being. Staff develop a strong key-person system, which supports children to safely feel able to express their wants and needs. Children enjoy playful interactions where they show they feel comfortable and safe.

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The provision is good

Staff use children's likes and interests to plan engaging and exciting activities. For example, children eagerly run to the water tray and outdoor potion-making station ready to explore textures and colours. Staff take the time to develop strong and trusting relationships with children, providing reassurance, comfort and cuddles when needed. Staff are good role models. Children treat their peers with respect and care, including them in play and offering them resources.

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The provision is good

Staff expertly use forest school activities to support children to explore risk in a safe way and to be inquisitive learners. For example, children remind each other of the importance of staying in the designated area and to wear safety goggles. Children exclaim in awe as they use torches to discover wildlife and insects. They are developing a love of learning to take them forward to school.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff use regular, robust assessments and observations to ensure they provide a stimulating environment where children make progress in all areas. Each area of the curriculum is carefully woven into activities the children enjoy and choose themselves. For example, staff introduce 'estimating' when children make potions, and patterns when they use building materials. n Staff provide a language-rich environment. They encourage children to engage in conversations and they introduce new language alongside their play. Older children learn about 'liquids' and 'solids', while younger children learn words such as 'fierce' and 'volcano'. However, some staff are less confident in teaching children who have communication and language difficulties. This means the support for communication and language for some children is not consistent. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported.

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need to do better?

Staff are quick to identify emerging needs in children. They are good at working alongside parents and professionals to seek and implement strategies to close the gaps in children's learning. Staff are sensitive to children's needs. They carefully consider how to use funding to ensure that children make good progress from their starting points and to support their emotional regulation. n Staff use questioning to give children the freedom to make choices in their play. They are good at allowing children to take the learning in the direction they

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need to do better?

31 July 2024 choose and follow their interests. This supports children's confidence and independence well. However, at times, this means that the activities provided by staff lack a thoroughly considered learning intention. Although the children enjoy them, engage well and get a wealth of vocabulary, they are not consistently being challenged and extended. n Staff give children ample time to explore resources. They allow them time to finish what they are doing and give them warnings of when transitions will happen. This supports children to really have the time to concentrate and focus on an activity. Children spend long periods experimenting how to pour and scoop bubbles into bottles to create volcanoes. Younger children persevere when using magnets to make shapes. n Staff show genuine affection and warmth towards the children. They speak passionately about them and the support they give them. Children frequently

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need to do better?

seek out staff's support. They giggle as they play with the doll's house together. Younger children smile and take staff's arms to do 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat'. Staff sing to children as they cuddle them and rock them gently. Children are learning the fundamental skills of building positive relationships and talk about their best friends, giving them hugs. n Leaders and staff are highly reflective practitioners. They work well together and consistently evaluate the strengths in their staff and the physical setting. They are keen to adapt practice to provide the best care and education for the children. n Staff value each parent's views and opinions. They regularly seek parents' feedback and use this to adapt practice and the environment. Their inclusive approach results in strong relationships with parents. Staff provide parents with advice about how they can support their children's learning at home. Parents

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need to do better?

report high levels of satisfaction about the care and learning their children receive.

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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 develop staff's confidence in their teaching strategies to consistently support children with communication and language needs n strengthen planning to identify more precisely what children need to learn next so they are consistently challenged in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY499277 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10351317 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 50 Name of registered person Elliott-Hare, Claire Adele

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reference number

Telephone number 01795 640045 Date of previous inspection 24 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Squirrel Lodge Nursery registered in 2016. It is located in Sittingbourne, Kent. The nursery is open from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The nursery employs 10 members of staff, of whom seven are qualified at level 3 or above. Additionally, two members of staff are qualified forest school leaders. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early years education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery uses the forest school and Reggio Emilia educational philosophies.

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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 Leaders and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the curriculum. n The inspector spoke with staff, interacted with children and viewed appropriate documentation. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the provider. n Parents shared their views about the setting with the inspector.

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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

31 July 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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