Nursery Days

Inspection of Nursery Days Nursery Days, The Street, Upchurch, SITTINGBOURNE, Kent ME9 7AJ

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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 are at the heart of this unique setting. Staff plan an excellent range of experiences that children thoroughly enjoy. For example, older children delight in going to the orchard to see how their crops have grown and to investigate if the chickens have laid eggs. They use knowledge they have gained over time to talk excitedly about making jam when the fruits are ripe. This successfully supports their knowledge and understanding of nature and the world around them. Staff prioritise children's imagination and curiosity very effectively. They encourage children to explore and investigate. For example, children sustain high levels of engagement and concentration when exploring woodwork resources and clay to make models. This supports their physical and problem-solving skills very well.

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The provision is good

Staff celebrate when children keep on trying to finish tasks, offering praise and encouragement. Staff skilfully motivate children to sample various foods, while demonstrating patience and care. Younger children take pleasure in creating their own dips for snacks. This fosters their positive attitudes and self-reliance. Children learn to behave well. Older children confidently help to prepare tables for lunchtime, inviting their friends to assist and engaging in lively discussions about what they are going to have. This nurtures their social abilities and friendships effectively. All children make considerable progress.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers are passionate, inspirational and proactive. They seek out an excellent range of opportunities to widen children's experiences. For example, they have exciting plans to develop a beach school. They have excellent relationships within the local community to support children's learning and development. Children's transitions to school are very well managed and smooth. n Managers provide all staff with regular supervision and support them in pursuing further training and qualifications. However, the support for some staff is not as fully effective, resulting in some inconsistencies in the quality of the activities and interactions experienced by some of the youngest children. Despite this, all staff feel appreciated and express a love for their jobs. n Staff successfully build on children's interests in 'all things nature' to promote their understanding of responsibility and sustainability. For instance, older

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need to do better?

children enthusiastically discuss their involvement in their farming and cooking clubs. They describe the process of watering their vegetables in the allotment and cultivating them in the polytunnel. n Children develop their physical skills effectively as they take part in the rich range of activities on offer. Staff encourage them to engage in safe risk-taking to build their resilience, for example when they climb on large logs and use a tree

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need to do better?

21 August 2024 swing. Younger children show great interest in making 'fizzy' cupcakes, focusing intently as they decorate them with paint. Older children develop coordination as they meticulously use pipettes to mix colours in water. n Staff prioritise nurturing children's confidence and emotional well-being effectively. They successfully promote children's understanding of personal safety. Older children promptly help fetch high-visibility jackets for adults who accompany them on walks. They remind their friends to 'hold on' while walking along the road and about the rules when in the orchard to keep them safe. n Children's speech and language development is prioritised well by staff. They introduce vocabulary such as 'ginormous' when talking to children. Younger children benefit from a wide range of rhymes and songs. Older children become confident communicators. n There are good arrangements to involve children in making choices and

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need to do better?

decisions about their experiences in the setting. This encourages children to become independent learners. Children take part in the 'nursery council', making choices about activities and what they want to learn. For instance, children have plans to care for donkeys and to further enhance their rewilding project. n Staff are dedicated to the well-being of children and want the best for them. They work hard to share information robustly to ensure the safety of the children. For example, staff recently reviewed their processes and procedures for children with dietary needs to ensure all children's needs are met. n Staff provide parents with a warm welcome and ensure information is shared regularly with them about their children's learning. Staff create personalised plans to help children settle in. Parents appreciate the range of opportunities they have to come into the setting. There is effective support in place for

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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 strengthen consistency in staff practice to further support the youngest children in their learning and development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY355428 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10360207 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 100 Number of children on roll 209 Name of registered person Nursery Days Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01634 263896 Date of previous inspection 17 April 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Nursery Days registered in 2007. It is located in Upchurch, Sittingbourne, Kent. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 7.15am to 6.30pm, all year round. The nursery employs 26 members of staff, 20 of whom hold a relevant early years qualification at level 2 or above. This includes one member of staff who holds Qualified Teacher Status qualification. The setting provides funded early education for children age two, three and four years.

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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 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 spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n Staff spoke to the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection and the inspector took account of their views. 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 Parents shared their views of 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

21 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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