Little Ducklings Nursery Garstang Ltd

Inspection of Little Ducklings Nursery Garstang Ltd Holme Garth Farm, Cabus, Garstang PR3 1WL

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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 and enjoy their time at the bright nursery where staff welcome them warmly. Children separate from their parents with ease, feeling safe in the care of the friendly staff. Staff plan a wide range of enticing activities which support children to make good progress in all areas of their learning. For example, children make glittery potions, filling and stirring their mixtures as they practise hand-eye coordination skills. They delight in pumpkin themed experiments. Staff make good use of key vocabulary in their interactions. Children then use those key words in their play demonstrating their good understanding.

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The provision is good

Staff focus on supporting children to discuss their emotions and to recognise how their behaviour affects others. Staff offer lots of praise to children for kind actions. Consequently, behaviour is generally good, and children are keen to help each other. Staff support children to understand the routines at nursery. There are visual displays and staff use songs to indicate different activities such as tidying-up time. Older children understand staff's expectations and are happy to help. Children benefit from links with the local community. For instance, they visit elderly neighbours and enjoy visits from a local police officer. This helps them to learn more about others and their community.

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need to do better?

n The provider has a clear vision for the family-run nursery. Their enthusiasm is shared by staff, many of whom have been with the team for many years. Staff are valued and their opinions are sought out in regular meetings and team- building days. Staff training is varied and is targeted to enhance children's learning. Children benefit from staff's enthusiasm for their roles. n Effective procedures to monitor and assess children's progress help staff to intervene early where gaps emerge. Consistent strategies mean less referrals for outside support are needed. Gaps in children's learning are quickly closed helping children to make good progress in all areas of learning. n Specific sessions for older children help them to learn the skills they will need when they move on to school. For instance, structured and interactive group time supports children's concentration and confidence. Children learn early

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need to do better?

literacy and mathematics skills which give them a solid foundation for their future learning. The pre-school programme builds gradually so that children are ready for school when the time comes. n Staff demonstrate commitment to children who require additional support for their individual needs. They make adjustments to the nursery environment and activities to ensure that all children can participate fully. Staff work with health care professionals to gain a good understanding of how to support children's specific needs. All children make good progress from their individual starting

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need to do better?

29 October 2024 points. n Children's physical development is well supported. Babies enjoy climbing on low play equipment, practising their new physical skills. Children pedal bicycles proficiently and staff help them to balance and jump on an obstacle course in the outdoor area. Daily outdoor play means that children get plenty of fresh air. Children's overall well-being is well promoted. n Staff read and sing with children. They use signs as they talk and sing, helping children to develop and link their language skills. Books are well loved at nursery. Children find cosy areas to look at books independently and share favourite stories with their parents through the well-used lending library. Children's communication skills are well promoted, and they are chatty and confident. n Activities are engaging and support children's progress. However, occasionally staff do not fully extend children's understanding and quench their thirst for

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need to do better?

learning fully. For instance, while children enjoy experiments, staff do not always discuss the facts and science behind what they are seeing. This does not always fully support the delivery of the broad and interesting curriculum in a suitably ambitious manner. n Routines of the day support children's independence skills and help older children to understand staff's expectations. For instance, they help to set the table for lunch and listen well to instructions. Expectations for babies and younger children are less clear. For instance, resources frequently left on the baby room floor mean that babies often stand on toys. Staff pick younger children up, when they could walk or participate in activities with their friends. This hinders babies' and younger children's understanding of expectations at nursery.

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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 support staff to deliver the curriculum in a consistently ambitious manner n support staff to help younger children understand expectations of them through everyday routines and activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY485716 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10360018 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 44 Number of children on roll 79 Name of registered person Little Ducklings Garstang Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01995605333 Date of previous inspection 5 December 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Little Ducklings Nursery Garstang Ltd registered in 2015 and is located in Cabus, Preston. The setting employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including three at level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. The nursery offers funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

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 Staff and children spoke to the inspector throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the provider about the leadership and management of the setting. 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 The manager and the inspector carried out joint observations of group activities. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

29 October 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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