Alpha Kindergarten Stanground

Inspection of Alpha Kindergarten Stanground 273 Coneygree Road, Peterborough PE2 8LR

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are happy, well settled and thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery. Staff know children and their families very well. They instinctively adapt their practice and approach to ensure that each child's needs are met and that they are nurtured as individuals. Children show that they feel safe and secure. They build strong bonds with staff, seeking them out for reassurance when they feel sad or to share excitement when they achieve something new. Children show good levels of attention and curiosity. They follow simple instructions given by staff, such as forming a line when it is ready to return inside. Children learn to take turns and share as they play. They enjoy a social experience at nursery and are forming friendships with their peers.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy varied opportunities that help them practise their physical skills. They especially enjoy coordinating their bodies to climb up the climbing wall to then glide down the slide, under staff supervision. Staff support the youngest children well as they learn how to crawl, stand and step. There is a focus to help children secure their gross motor skills. Staff understand that children must first develop large arm movements before building fine motor skills and beginning to develop a pencil grip or to use scissors skilfully.

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need to do better?

n The provider has established a clear curriculum that helps children build on what they know and can do to help prepare them for the move to school and life in modern Britain. Staff understand the learning intent of the curriculum. They plan well, using their knowledge of the children and typical child development to sequence children's learning. All children make good progress in relation to their starting points. n Parents are very positive about the nursery and the staff. They say they feel well informed about their child's day and their progress in learning and development. Parents say that staff provide ideas of things they can do at home that are tailored to meet children's individual next steps in learning. Parents report that communication is excellent and that they feel there is effective partnership working in place. n Children develop good levels of confidence and self-worth. Staff consistently

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need to do better?

seek children's consent before helping them with hygiene routines. They give children lots of praise and encouragement to keep trying new things. Children are encouraged to make choices. Staff are attentive to ensure that children's needs are met promptly, but also encourage children to do things for themselves. This helps children to build positive attitudes to learning and to take pride in their growing independence with some tasks. n Staff provide children with a wide range of books. They encourage children to

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need to do better?

31 October 2024 borrow books to take home and share with their parents. Children choose to look at books during the day. Staff make good use of books that help children build emotional intelligence. They encourage children to reflect on such stories to help them identify their emotions and work towards self-regulation. n The provider highly values the staff team. Staff benefit from regular supervision meetings and are supported to gain professional qualifications and undertake training. This helps to equip staff with the skills they need to support all children, including disadvantaged children, to benefit from the carefully sequenced curriculum. Staff say that they enjoy their work and feel well supported to fulfil their roles. n Children enjoy playing outside during the day. Staff also take children on outings into the local community, such as to local parks. However, children are not yet able to explore the natural world around them to begin to learn about and

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need to do better?

appreciate its ecological diversity. n There is a hum of conversation in the nursery as staff talk to children as they play, describing their actions and explaining what is happening. Some staff naturally introduce new words that help children build their vocabulary and understanding. However, some staff show less ambition in the language they use with children. At times when children dig in the mud kitchen, emptying and filling containers, staff tend to make links to what children know about making food. There is less focus to introduce mathematical language to help children make links to, for example, space and measure.

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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 enhance further opportunities for children to learn about the natural world n help staff to enhance interactions with children to inspire awe and wonder and develop curiosity in the world around them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2695888 Local authority Peterborough Inspection number 10365272 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 80 Number of children on roll 142 Name of registered person Alpha Kindergarten Group Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01733 977799 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Alpha Kindergarten Stanground registered in 2022. The nursery employs 27 members of childcare staff. Of these, 12 hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 and above, including one at level 6. The nursery opens from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery offers government funded places for all eligible 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 The inspector talked to staff and the children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this has on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and reviewed written feedback provided by other parents, and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability

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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

31 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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