Tops Day Nursery

Inspection of Tops Day Nursery 14 Denmark Lane, Poole, Dorset BH15 2DG

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children arrive happy and keen to attend, and they form warm and trusting relationships with staff. Babies and toddlers benefit from safe and nurturing environments in which they explore and investigate freely. Staff provide reassurance, such as one-to-one cuddles after babies and toddlers wake from a sleep, and books to read together to help them to settle in when they arrive. Children behave very well. They are polite, listen when asked and learn to take turns fairly. Staff are good role models who provide calm and consistent guidance according to children's development level, and they help children to learn safe behaviour.

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The provision is good

Children benefit from a broad curriculum to support their interests and learning goals. There is a strong emphasis on helping children to develop emotional security, resilience, literacy and language. Staff respect children's preferred style of learning and adapt activities accordingly. For example, they provide books and writing activities in the garden to encourage the literacy of more active children outside. Children confidently explore and create with many materials. Babies shriek with delight when splashing in water and finding objects in shredded paper. Toddlers make models with dough, paint and play for long periods while creating in the sand tray. Pre-school children create 'magic potions' with coloured water and herbs, and bake pretend cakes in the mud kitchen.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, the provider has made many improvements to the nursery. Staff have received training and coaching to develop their knowledge and skills. This has helped them to safeguard children's welfare and support their learning effectively. n Staff know children well. They monitor their progress accurately from the start and are clear what they intend children to learn next. Staff are quick to identify when a child is at risk of falling behind. They provide close support and targeted activities to fully include children with any additional needs, helping them, and all children, to achieve their potential. n Staff join in the activities with enthusiasm and help children to build further on their learning. Younger children learn about numbers, shapes and size. Older children learn to recognise letters and their sounds. However, on occasions, some staff do not provide as many mathematical challenges for older children to

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need to do better?

count further, compare quantities and to solve more practical problems. n Staff encourage children to listen, communicate and to learn new words. They verbalise babies' babbles, name the things they play with and read picture books. As children start speaking, they introduce more complex words, such as types of vehicles and the names of facial features. Staff initiate discussions and

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need to do better?

29 October 2024 ask children questions to encourage them to communicate. However, on occasion, they do not give children time to respond to support their thinking and problem-solving further. n Children develop healthy lifestyles. They enjoy lots of outdoor play and physical activities. Children of all ages join in action songs with enthusiasm, and babies practise walking in safe spaces. Older children learn to take controlled risks to develop their physical skills and confidence. For example, staff encourage them to use the large apparatus in the garden and to balance on stilts. Staff support children closely, and when they succeed, children laugh and repeat the activity with great confidence. n Staff help children to develop the skills they need for their future learning and starting school. They have high expectations for children of all ages to achieve good independence and self-confidence. Children learn to use the hand-washing

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need to do better?

and nose-cleaning stations themselves. Older children serve themselves at meals and learn to change their clothes and manage zips with great pride. n Staff well-being is valued and nurtured. The provider offers staff opportunities to celebrate their achievements and contributions. These include staff nominations on the 'Each Person Scheme' and special award nights to recognise both individual and nursery achievements. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff involve parents in their children's development from the start and keep them updated of their children's day and progress. Parents share positive views of the provision. For example, their children enjoy the quiet spaces created in the nursery when needed, and their children have made good progress. n Staff keep children safe and secure, and supervise them closely. They have a good understanding of their safeguarding roles, responsibilities and the

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need to do better?

procedures to follow in the event of a concern about a child or adult.

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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 provide more mathematical challenges for older children to further enhance their knowledge and skills n provide more time and opportunity for children to answer questions and solve problems to strengthen their thinking and language skills even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY290331 Local authority Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Inspection number 10356790 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 132 Number of children on roll 93 Name of registered person Tops Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01202 679799 Date of previous inspection 13 June 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Tops Day Nursery registered in 2004. The setting operates from Poole, Dorset. It opens each weekday, from 6am to 8pm, all year round. The setting offers funded childcare places. It employs 23 childcare staff, 19 of whom hold appropriate qualifications at levels 1 to 5.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the regional manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they intend the children to learn. n The inspector observed activities and the quality of staff's interactions with the children. She discussed the effectiveness of an activity with the manager. n The inspector sampled the documentation and discussed the manager's knowledge of the requirements of the early years foundation stage. n The inspector took account of parents' and children's views.

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Inspection activities

29 October 2024 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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