Clowns Early Years Centre

Inspection of Clowns Early Years Centre N E Derbyshire Sure Start, Alices View, North Wingfield, Derbyshire S42 5XA

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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 happy when they arrive and eager to take part in the activities that staff offer them. Staff are warm and nurturing as they comfort babies who are new, supporting their emotional well-being. Children cuddle with staff for reassurance, showing they feel safe and secure in their care. Toddlers sit on the carpet at group time and show high levels of concentration. They sing songs with staff as they greet their peers, helping to support their social skills. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They offer children lots of praise and encouragement. For example, children are encouraged to say please and thank you. They learn to share and take turns when staff ask them to choose toys out of a music box. This support helps to build their confidence and self-esteem.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy spending time outdoors in the fresh air. Staff encourage them to take and manage risks in their play when they climb and navigate an assault course they make. Children show good balancing skills when they jump off crates. Staff supervise younger babies as they develop their core strength and begin to crawl and pull themselves up to a standing position, holding onto low-level furniture. Staff support older babies to safely navigate small stairs as they climb to use a slide, showing pride as they slide down independently. This contributes to increasing their physical skills and independence.

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need to do better?

n Staff complete observations and assessments of children's development. These help them to identify what children need to learn next. When staff want children to develop the small muscles in their hands, they model how to use tools to roll out play dough. Children copy staff and make patterns in the dough, using leaves they collect. n Overall, staff support children's communication and language skills well. For instance, they sing songs with children and introduce them to descriptive words when they read stories, such as 'slithery snake'. This helps to build on children's vocabulary. However, staff do not always support children to take turns in conversations. Sometimes, this limits children's communication. n Staff promote all children's independence skills well. Pre-school children show good levels of independence as they use the toilet themselves and wash their hands. Staff encourage and help young children to use cutlery at mealtimes.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children to behave well. Staff are positive role models. They talk to children about playing nicely with their friends and taking turns. They give children gentle reminders about the nursery's 'golden rules'. Children understand these and confidently explain to visitors that these include walking inside, tidying away, sharing and having a try. Children show their understanding of these as they work together to tidy away toys they have been playing with.

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need to do better?

16 September 2024 n Staff support children to develop their self-care skills well. For example, staff teach children the steps to wipe and blow their noses. Children independently collect tissues, blow their own noses, place them in the bin and wash their hands afterwards. Babies persevere when they use spoons as they develop the skill of feeding themselves. n Staff support children's understanding of eating healthily. For example, they talk to children about the nutritious food and snacks they eat. Children explain that their favourite vegetables are broccoli and cauliflower. n Staff ensure children have daily opportunities to exercise, both indoors and outdoors. However, when children play outdoors, staff do not always engage children in meaningful learning. This results in some children not engaging in activities and not making the most progress they are capable of. n The small, established staff team work well together. Staff receive regular

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need to do better?

supervision to identify areas for their development. They have access to a variety of professional development opportunities to support them in their roles. For example, staff extend their knowledge of how to promote children's safety when they sleep. n Parents comment that staff provide a welcoming environment and are supportive. Staff build positive relationships with parents. They keep them informed about children's day-to-day care and progress in their development. However, staff do not provide parents with ideas about how they can continue to support children's learning at home.

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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 help staff to build on their interactions with all children outdoors to support their learning n strengthen staff's knowledge of how to support children to take turns in conversations n develop home learning opportunities to allow parents to support their children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY283267 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 10351825 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 30 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Clowns Early Years Centres Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01246 854841 Date of previous inspection 22 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Clowns Early Years Centre registered in 2004. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 5.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed how the manager implements the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She reviewed relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Parents shared their views on the nursery 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

16 September 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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