Safari Childcare

Inspection of Safari Childcare Childrens Day Nursery, 79 Halstead Road, Colchester, Essex CO3 9AD

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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

Staff make children feel welcome with their kind and nurturing manner. They greet children warmly and remain close by for reassurance and comfort if needed. This helps children to separate from parents with confidence and settle easily into their day. Staff build trusting and affectionate relationships with children. Babies and children show they feel safe and secure as they happily explore the activities on offer.

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The provision is good

Staff plan a well-thought-out curriculum, ensuring that children build on what they already know and can do. Staff engage positively with children as they play and extend their learning. For instance, they encourage babies to explore the colours and textures they can see and feel around them. Opportunities for children to explore outdoors are plentiful. Staff recognise that children benefit from time outside to build on their ability to manage risks and enhance their physical skills. For example, they show younger children how to adjust their speed to balance and walk carefully along the low wooden plank.

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The provision is good

Staff successfully use strategies, such as positive praise and encouragement, to build children's confidence. They use fun initiatives to help children to have positive attitudes to learning. For example, children delight in being awarded the 'try- asuraus' dinosaur when they work hard to complete a task.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, leaders and staff have worked hard to raise the quality of the nursery to a consistently good standard. Children benefit from a consistent key person who builds a strong relationship with them. Key persons ensure that children receive tailored care that is unique to them, including arrangements to meet any specific medical needs. n Changes to the curriculum have enhanced the quality of education since the last inspection. Staff use a focus book to inspire an array of learning opportunities for children. They introduce children to new vocabulary and prompt conversations to extend children's understanding of the stories they hear. For example, children talk about the tractor that is featured in their focus book before working together to make a tractor by using cardboard boxes. This helps to strengthen children's communication and language development. n Staff extend children's mathematical knowledge and language well. They build

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need to do better?

mathematical language into the interactions they have with the children. For example, they encourage younger children to count within activities and describe concepts, such as full and empty, during sand play. n Overall, leaders ensure that provision is in place to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They work with parents and other

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need to do better?

8 November 2024 professionals to understand children's specific needs. However, some staff working with children with SEND have limited coaching or training to develop their skills in this area. This means that they are not yet implementing more tailored strategies to ensure that all children make the best possible progress. n There is a clear focus on supporting children's independence throughout the nursery. At mealtimes, older children are encouraged to pour drinks and serve themselves food. With support, younger children learn to tend to some of their own care needs, such as wiping their noses and washing their hands. This helps to ensure that children gain the skills they need in readiness for the next stage in their learning. n Leaders and staff foster relationships with parents and value their contribution to their children's learning. Parents express positive views about the nursery, noting that the staff are friendly and help to develop their children's confidence. Staff

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need to do better?

provide parents with daily updates on their children's time at the nursery and share resources to inspire them to support their children's learning at home. n The nursery is monitored well by leaders to ensure that staff are deployed effectively and risk assessments are reviewed. All staff are required to complete relevant checks to ensure their suitability to work with the children. They are mindful to ensure that the use of electronic devices, including cameras, is carefully managed. These arrangements help to ensure that children remain safe and secure in their surroundings. n The supervision arrangements for staff are effective. Staff have regular opportunities to reflect on their practice and discuss their well-being with leaders. There is a particularly sharp focus on ensuring that staff have a good understanding of policies and procedures for safeguarding children. This further promotes children's welfare.

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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 help staff to build on their knowledge and understanding of strategies to support children with SEND to make the most progress they can in their leaning and development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY488581 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10370527 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 56 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person Safari Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01206 546824 Date of previous inspection 13 June 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Safari Childcare registered in 2018. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of whom, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery provides government funded early years education for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years foundation stage curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of interactions during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector jointly observed and evaluated an activity. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector spoke with managers about the leadership and management of the nursery. 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

8 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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