Pelican Place Nursery

Inspection of Pelican Place Nursery 14-16 Collingwood Road, Witham CM8 2DZ

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children enter a heart-warming environment where they feel respected, valued and loved by staff and each other. Children excitedly 'high five' staff members. They go to staff when they are upset and need reassurance and give staff big hugs. Children are happy, confident and make friends easily. Staff provide an exceptionally enabling environment that is outstandingly well thought out. Children are curious about the world around them. They excitedly explore different flowers, smelling them and making their own potions. Children show high levels of patience and perseverance. They carefully balance balls and roll them down tubes.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are exceptionally well behaved. Staff set clear boundaries in a calm and gentle manner. Children know exactly what is expected of them and show high levels of respect for staff and each other. Staff show children lots of patience and listen to them closely. They skilfully manage disagreements, helping children to develop high levels of self-regulation and empathy. Even the youngest children understand how to share and be kind to their peers. Children's physical development is well catered for. Children develop strong physical skills for their ages. Even the youngest children learn to balance and take risks safely. Children build upper arm strength through completing activities, such as pressing sticks into clay, in preparation for early writing skills. Staff provide an extensive range of opportunities for children to develop their independence from a very early age. Children delight in serving their own dinner, washing their hands, wiping their

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The provision is outstanding

noses and helping to tidy up toys and resources.

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need to do better?

n The management team has very high expectations of staff. All staff have an outstanding knowledge of how children learn and develop. Staff are enthusiastic and passionate about their roles. Their dedication to children's learning is clear to see throughout the nursery. All staff have a firm understanding of the curriculum intentions and implement them seamlessly. Staff incorporate learning at every opportunity. Consequently, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make excellent progress. n Staff well-being is a high priority for the provider and the management team. Staff are exceptionally well supported in all aspects of their role. All staff comment on how much support they have and that they thoroughly love their job. n The management team and staff have thrived, despite several unexpected changes to the management structure recently. This is testament to the secure

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need to do better?

monitoring and strong staff team the provider has in place. Highly focused professional development plans are in place for all staff. Leaders encourage staff to progress in their careers and access training to further develop their

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need to do better?

20 August 2024 knowledge and skills. n Staff actively support children's understanding of people beyond their immediate experience. Staff complete in-depth research into each child's culture and ways of life. Staff welcome questions and celebrate everyone. Children recently had a visit from a dentist, where they asked them questions about their job. Children who speak English as an additional language are excellently supported to use their home language in their play. n Children become confident and able communicators. Staff introduce new words at every opportunity and routinely help children to consolidate their knowledge of words. Younger children are encouraged to speak in two- and three-word sentences, while older children are helped to engage in longer conversations. n Staff do not miss a moment when it comes to learning opportunities. They are at children's level, ready to involve themselves in children's play when they see an

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need to do better?

opportunity to extend learning. Staff are excited to be around the children. Their enthusiasm aids children's learning to the highest of levels. Children develop high levels of concentration, listening to staff enact stories, use different voices and introduce props. n Partnerships with parents are exemplary. Staff are meticulous in their approach to helping parents support learning at the nursery and at home. Parents are fully immersed in the curriculum and are able to take home learning bags, books and other resources to meet their children's learning needs. Recently, parents took part in making 'bug hotels' with their children at home. n Staff are very in tune with children's individual needs. As a result, children experience a seamless transition between nursery rooms and eventually the move to school. These transitions are carefully planned in partnership with parents so they can aid their children's move as best as possible.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number EY538718 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10351818 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 138 Number of children on roll 138 Name of registered person Pelican Place Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01376 514971 Date of previous inspection 19 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Pelican Place Nursery registered in 2016. The nursery employs 28 members of childcare staff. Of these, 26 hold early years qualification at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. 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 leadership team and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and deputy manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector and the deputy manager carried out a joint observation of an activity. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector in person and through written testimonials. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

20 August 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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