Ab Day Nursery

Inspection of Ab Day Nursery 21 Station Road, Swanley BR8 8ES

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

Children enjoy the time they spend at this nursery. Staff are caring and provide a calm and reassuring approach for children. They nurture children's well-being and encourage them to share and take turns. Children gain confidence and build positive relationships with staff and their peers. However, the quality of education that children receive is not yet consistent across the nursery. Staff get to know children well and generally provide activities that will interest them. However, not all children benefit from a meaningful and effectively planned curriculum that supports them in their development. Overall, staff do not have high expectations of what children can achieve. Consequently, children are not making the progress they are capable of.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff generally have realistic expectations for children's behaviour. Children learn to be kind and caring towards others and learn to follow simple instructions. For example, children confidently tidy away resources when they have finished and show care for the environment. Staff help children to learn about their local community. Children visit the local library and enjoy trips to parks. This helps to build their understanding of the world around them.

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need to do better?

n Relationships between staff and children are caring. However, the provider acknowledges that there is a need to recruit additional staff, and there are plans in place to address this. The provider works directly in the nursery, to meet adult-to-child ratios. However, at times the provider does not ensure there is the required number of qualified staff working directly with the children. This is a breach in requirements. n The provider generally supports staff well. They hold regular meetings to monitor staff practice. However, these arrangements are not effective in identifying weaknesses and areas to improve their skills. Consequently, staff do not deliver effective teaching to support children to make good progress in their learning. n Overall, children enjoy their time at the nursery. They greet their friends with big smiles and enjoy playing with or alongside their peers. Staff are sensitive and

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need to do better?

kind when children are upset or in need of reassurance. They get down to children's level and offer extra support and comfort to help them feel safe and secure. However, the weakness in planning means that children's individual learning needs are not consistently met. Although staff have identified children's interests and the next steps in their learning, the opportunities they provide do not consistently reflect these. This means that not all children receive consistently good interactions that fully meet their learning needs n Staff ensure children have daily opportunities to hear stories and sing songs, to

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need to do better?

27 November 2024 support their developing language skills. They repeat words and encourage younger children to recognise pictures in books. Older children engage in conversations with each other and staff. They demonstrate a wide vocabulary and are confident to ask questions. However, support for children who speak English as an additional language is less effective. For example, children have few opportunities to use or hear their home languages in their play and learning. n The provider ensures the nursery has appropriate arrangements in place to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff work closely with parents and communicate with other professionals to follow targeted plans to help meet children's needs n Overall, children behave well because they know what staff expect of them. Staff remind them of the nursery rules throughout the day, such as using 'kind hands'

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need to do better?

and walking feet. n Staff provide children with clear daily routines, such as designated times for sleeping and meals. While staff are aware of these routines, they often fail to ensure they are effectively organised. At times, children sit for long periods waiting for their lunch. The lack of organisation during daily routines impacts on children's behaviour at these times as they become bored and distracted, and miss out on meaningful learning experiences. n Children enjoy being outdoors. Staff provide opportunities for children to be physically active. For example, they learn to develop their balance and coordination as they ride bicycles, jump in puddles and use a climbing frame. Children benefit from nutritious meals and snacks, and have access to fresh water throughout the day. This helps to promote healthy eating. However, hygiene practices are not always robust. Younger children do not always receive

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need to do better?

the support they need to help them to learn about the importance of handwashing and develop their self-care skills. For example, some staff do not always ensure that younger children wash their hands before mealtimes. n Staff inform parents of their children's experiences through daily updates and sharing photos on an online system. Generally, parents are happy with the care that their children receive. They report that their children are happy and feel that they are making progress.

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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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Due date

27 November 2024 ensure at least half of all staff hold an approved level 2 qualification 20/12/2024

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Due date

implement an effective system for staff supervision, coaching and mentoring, to ensure that weaknesses in staff practice are identified and addressed 20/12/2024

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Due date

ensure the curriculum is fully ambitious and challenging for all children to help them make good progress in their learning. 20/12/2024

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should:

n provide further opportunities for children who speak English as an additional language to use and hear their home languages in their play and learning n organise daily routines more effectively to ensure that they meet the individual needs of children at all times n support staff to implement the nursery's hygiene procedures in relation to handwashing consistently.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2787607 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10369790 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 28 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person AB childcare3 Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07393301691 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Ab Day Nursery registered in April 2024 and is in Swanley, Kent, The nursery is open all year round, Monday to Friday, from 7am to 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for children. The nursery employs five members of staff. Two staff members hold relevant qualifications at level 2 and 3.

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Inspection activities

n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. 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 quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to several parents 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 at 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

27 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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