Sunny Day Nursery & Play Club

Inspection of Sunny Day Nursery & Play Club Middle Farm Barn, Middle Farm Way, Poundbury, DORCHESTER, Dorset DT1 3WA

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time at the nursery. They form positive relationships with staff. Those who need more reassurance receive cuddles and support from staff, who show empathy and consideration for children's feelings and emotions. Key persons know children well, including their experiences at home and where the children are in their development.

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The provision is good

Staff understand the learning intentions of the activities they provide. There are clear expectations for all children's learning and progress. The curriculum builds as children progress through the nursery. For example, the baby and toddler rooms currently have a focus on children's communication and language development and their personal, social and emotional needs. In the pre-school room, the curriculum then further builds on children's independence and self-help skills, preparing them for their eventual transition to school. Staff skilfully weave these priorities into the daily routines. They offer a wide range of sensory and messy play opportunities. Staff introduce new vocabulary as children explore the different textures. Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, hear and learn new words. This supports children's good communication and language development.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. The staff give children consistent messages and support regarding managing their own behaviour and how this may impact on others. Staff support younger children to regulate their emotions and are sensitive towards their feelings. They guide children to make the right choices. Children understand the expectations and their behaviour is good.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, the leadership team has made improvements to the nursery. Staff have embarked on further training to increase their knowledge and understanding of how children learn. They have received help from the local authority to support them in their progression. This has had a positive impact on the provision and the children benefit from a range of child-centred activities, based around their needs and development. n Staff engage children in meaningful conversation and provide running commentaries during activities. They have a clear comprehension of how children develop their conversation skills. Staff introduce new words to challenge children's ability to communicate and increase their vocabulary. However, on occasion, staff sometimes provide the solution to a problem and are not consistent when asking questions to encourage children to think critically and solve problems for themselves.

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need to do better?

n Staff help children to develop the skills they need for the future, including independence. This is well embedded throughout the nursery. For example,

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need to do better?

24 October 2024 babies sit together to eat their lunch. The staff support children who are ready to feed themselves by using encouragement and modelling what to do with forks. Across the setting, staff consistently recognise and provide praise for children who persevere to do things for themselves. This supports children's emotional development and well-being. n Children are motivated to join in with the activities provided. Overall, staff engage them well in play and show them how to use different resources. However, on occasion, older babies and toddlers do not receive the support and attention from staff to help them stay focused and they become distracted. For example, when staff prepare children for sleep or get children ready to go home, some children wander around the room waiting for interaction from staff. This means that, during these short periods, children are not fully engaged in their play and learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff throughout the nursery use age-appropriate methods to support children's behaviour. Babies are encouraged to use 'gentle hands' when playing excitedly with their friends. Toddlers discuss the impact that not taking turns and sharing has on their friends during activities. Pre-school children construct their rules that they follow well. As a result of this consistent approach, children of all ages behave well in the nursery. n Staff identify opportunities to introduce maths during children's daily experiences. For example, they encourage children to count steps as they walk inside. They also invite children to count how many spoonsful of pumpkin they add to their bowls during a messy play activity. This gives children opportunities to practise counting which helps them to embed this knowledge. n The setting has heavily focused on strengthening communication and engagement with families. This includes giving staff support to provide effective

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need to do better?

handovers when parents collect their children. Parents state they are well informed about their child's time at nursery and improvements have been seen with the new management in place.

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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 review and improve transition periods so that children are engaged in meaningful learning during these times n use effective questioning techniques to help them think critically and solve problems independently.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY216520 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10369516 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 170 Number of children on roll 165 Name of registered person Sunny Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0345 88 88 123 (Option 3) Date of previous inspection 8 April 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Sunny Day Nursery & Play Club registered in 2002. It operates from the village of Poundbury, in Dorset. Opening times are Monday to Friday, from 7am to 6pm, all year round. The nursery is in receipt of funding for free early education for children. There are 32 members of staff who work with the children. Of these, 16 hold a relevant qualification at level 2 or 3. In addition, there are four support staff.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors Marie Swindells Mikaela Jauncey

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspectors talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspectors observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspectors carried out joint observations with the manager. n The inspectors spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspectors looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspectors spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the setting.

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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

24 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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