Sunbeams Day Nursery

Inspection of Sunbeams Day Nursery 2 Compass Terrace, Southwell Business Park, PORTLAND, Dorset DT5 2NP

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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 arrive happily and separate from their main carers with ease. Staff greet children and their families warmly and know them all well. Children explore the nursery confidently. They show a keen interest in the learning and resources that staff provide for them. For example, babies giggle as they explore leaves with their feet and hands, enjoying the sensory exploration. Staff support children to learn to take care of their environment and the world around them. For example, older children learn about recycling and the importance of keeping the pre-school tidy.

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The provision is good

Children benefit from plenty of fresh air and exercise to help keep them fit and healthy. They learn how to climb safely and negotiate space as they run and explore the garden from a young age. Staff support children to play cooperatively and praise them for sharing and considering the needs of others. For example, staff teach children how to ask for a turn with a toy. Staff nurture children's language well. Children enjoy a wealth of stories and songs and listen closely as staff read to them. Babies use single words to describe the pictures in the books and staff support their pronunciation by repeating the words they say. Children make good progress from their starting points and are well prepared for the next steps in their development.

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need to do better?

n The provider has made improvements to the sequencing of the curriculum since the last inspection to help ensure that staff consistently build on what children already know and can do. Staff's interactions with children are much improved and focus on supporting children to develop their communication and language skills. n Staff training, coaching and supervision processes now provide effective support to continually improve staff practice. For example, most staff are now working towards their next childcare qualification level. Staff morale is high, and there is a strong, caring team ethos. n Staff promote children's communication skills well. Staff working with babies narrate children's play to help give their actions meaning. All staff add new words to develop children's vocabulary. For example, they add the words 'elastic' and 'stretchy' as children thread beads onto string. Children later demonstrate

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need to do better?

they have learned these words when they use them by themselves. n Staff support children to learn early mathematical concepts in preparation for school. For example, staff count with babies to three. Staff working with older children introduce the language of shape and help them learn to identify numbers and know that the final item in a set represents the total. n Staff read stories to children throughout the day to nurture a love of books. For example, older children join in with the parts of the story they know well as staff

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need to do better?

25 November 2024 read 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. This helps children to learn about the structure of stories. Babies learn to turn the pages of board books by themselves, which also promotes their physical development. n Children's large-muscle skills are well nurtured. All children access the outdoor area throughout the day, where they learn to ride tricycles, balance and climb. Staff extend children's learning well to help them reach the next steps in their development. For example, they support children to move onto bigger equipment that requires more strength and balance when they are ready. n Children behave well. However, staff are not always consistent in how they manage behaviour and do not always apply the same rules. For example, some staff allow children to stand up on the swing and others do not. This causes confusion for children because they are not sure of the expectations to help them learn to manage their own behaviour.

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need to do better?

n Children learn to take responsibility for some small tasks, such as tidying up when they have finished using a resource. However, staff often jump in too quickly to do things for children, rather than letting them learn to do things for themselves. For example, children are not encouraged to put on their own shoes or coats, prepare snacks or pour their own drinks. n The provider works with parents to find out what children already know and can do before they start attending the nursery to help ensure children make good progress from the outset. Parents report that they are happy with the care and education their children receive and that they value the feedback that staff give them about their children's development.

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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 manage children's behaviour in a consistent way to help children to understand what is expected of them and to learn to manage their own behaviour n further promote children's independence to build their confidence in managing more tasks for themselves.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY444777 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10331819 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 40 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person The Cubbyhouse Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01305 823111 Date of previous inspection 16 January 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Sunbeams Day Nursery registered in 2017 and operates from Portland, Dorset. The nursery opens each weekday, from 7am to 6pm, all year round. It employs seven staff to work with children. Of these, six hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 2 to level 5, and one is unqualified. The nursery offers government funded places.

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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 inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector and manager carried out a joint observation of a small-group activity. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff and parents at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

25 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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