Kindred Wheathampstead

Inspection of Kindred Wheathampstead 4 Meads Lane, Wheathampstead, ST. ALBANS, Hertfordshire AL4 8BW

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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

Leaders and staff warmly welcome children on their arrival. Successful settling-in procedures support all children to build a sense of belonging and enable them to quickly build attachments with their designated key person. Children become engaged in their play, explore the environment and demonstrate a positive attitude to their learning. Staff encourage babies and younger children to explore the texture of soil, oats and hay and to immerse their hands in water. Staff play peekaboo games with young children and show them how to pour a pretend cup of tea for the dolls. Additionally, during painting activities, babies and younger children are taught how to grip appropriately-sized paint brushes. Children enthusiastically paint marks on paper and are praised for their achievements.

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The provision is good

Leaders and staff implement appropriate boundaries and support children to manage their emotions. Children behave well. They learn to share and take their turn, and they understand the importance of being kind to their friends. Staff demonstrate to younger children how to pour water from one container to another and how to build a sandcastle in the sand pit. Children eagerly copy and persevere, demonstrating their hand-eye coordination skills well. Staff provide older children with a range of activities that enhances their imagination and creativity skills. Children eagerly create potions at the mud kitchen, make dens using willow tree branches, and have opportunities to pretend to be builders in the builders yard.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are committed to providing good quality childcare and there is a strong team ethos. They place a strong emphasis on supporting staff's well-being and offer a range of training opportunities. For example, staff have completed training to develop their understanding of the care of babies. This has supported staff to understand the importance of providing babies with a range of sensory play experiences to aid their development and the importance of positioning babies appropriately for their sleep. n Children form close bonds with the staff, who know them well. Babies receive cuddles and reassurance if they are upset, and older children naturally seek the support of staff if they need help. This supports children's emotional well-being. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. They also develop self-care skills and enjoy a good range of nutritious meals and snacks. n Leaders and staff place a high priority on developing children's independence,

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need to do better?

curiosity and love of the outdoors in readiness for school. Staff complete ongoing observations of the children and evaluate this information to plan what they want them to learn next. However, on occasions, staff do not use every opportunity to extend children's learning. Additionally, some daily routines are not always effective. For example, older children sometimes lose interest in the

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need to do better?

7 November 2024 activities provided ahead of their lunch and staff rush younger children's snack time. Therefore, learning opportunities are not always maximised at these times. n Children thoroughly enjoy their time outside. Staff support older children to take managed risks in their play as they practise new skills, such as balancing on the wooden balance ladder and climbing on the apparatus. Older children are supported to practise their pedalling skills as they learn to manoeuvre wheeled toys. They enthusiastically play games such as 'What's the time Mr Wolf', screaming when they are chased by the wolf. Staff support children to learn about planting and growth. Older children recall past experiences and confidently recall the vegetables that they have grown and nurtured. n Staff effectively support children's communication and literacy skills. They share picture and story books with babies and play 'what's in the bag' and picture card

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need to do better?

games with them. This successfully introduces babies to new words and sounds associated with the words. Younger children are encouraged use their developing language to talk about their puzzles and the models they are making out of dough. Older children enthusiastically re-enact familiar stories and enthusiastically sing familiar songs, such as 'The Wheels on the Bus'. n Staff work closely with external professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They use pictorial prompt cards to aid children's communication and help them understand routines throughout the day. Parents speak highly of the support and progress their children have made during their time at the nursery. n Partnerships with parents are a strength of the nursery. There is a good two-way flow of communication. Parents are invited to consultation evenings, and information about their child's day, care routines and development is shared via

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need to do better?

an app. Parents are able to take home 'learning bags' to share with their children at home, and they receive advice on topics such as potty training and supporting children to manage their emotions. Additionally, parents are invited to family fun days, such as sports day.

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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 improve the consistency of teaching to ensure all staff extend children's learning during planned and spontaneous activities n review the organisation of routines to better support children's individual needs and learning outcomes.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY481793 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10360015 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 65 Number of children on roll 84 Name of registered person Rainbow House Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01582 831 991 Date of previous inspection 17 December 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Kindred Wheathampstead registered in 2015 and is located in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks per year, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. The nursery offers government funded places for childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years curriculum is organised. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitabity of the premises. n The area manager, manager, staff and children engaged in discussions with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation in the baby room. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working at the nursery. n The inspector took account of the views of parents from written information and by speaking to them.

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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

7 November 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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