The Duckling Nursery

Inspection of The Duckling Nursery Writtle Infant School, Writtle CM1 3HZ

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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

The provider has a clear vision of what she wants children to learn and achieve and has high expectations for all children. There is a well thought out key-person system in place. This ensures that staff know the children and families well and can plan appropriate next steps for children. Staff provide a varied curriculum that follows children's interests and developmental needs. Staff engage with children during their play and adapt their approach to meet the needs of all children. Children can make choices about where they play and what they engage in throughout the day.

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The provision is good

Staff are effective in engaging with other professionals when required. They communicate with other settings and professionals involved with families to ensure continuity of care and learning. Funding is well used to provide additional opportunities for children to make progress. This ensures that all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children in receipt of additional funding, make good progress from their starting points.

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The provision is good

Staff treat the children with kindness and respect and are good role models. They encourage and praise children throughout the day. As a result, children are kind, considerate and polite to one another. For instance, they move to make room, so their friends can join them for story time.

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need to do better?

n There have been clear improvements since the last inspection. The provider has worked hard to implement the changes required. For example, all staff are now aware of the procedure to follow when there are child protection concerns. In addition, large-group times have been reviewed to enhance the children's learning opportunities. The whole team is motivated and continues to reflect on the service it provides to ensure the best possible outcomes for children. n Children are becoming confident communicators. They enjoy stories and songs and enthusiastically join in with action rhymes. Staff read stories with enthusiasm, and children confidently fill in the gaps that staff purposefully leave. Older children competently retell stories to visitors. Staff use stories to introduce concepts, such as stranger danger, to children. n Children demonstrate high levels of concentration in their chosen activities and

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need to do better?

are engaged at all times. Staff interact with children during their play. They teach them new skills, such as how to use scissors. They provide information and use explanations to develop children's understanding of basic concepts, such as hard and soft. However, staff do not always identify times in their interactions when they could extend children's learning further. This means that children are not consistently provided with high levels of challenge.

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need to do better?

3 December 2024 n Children have constant access to the outdoor space where there are plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills. Children are extremely competent in using the balance bikes and can manoeuvre around obstacles with ease. They practise balancing on the climbing frame with staff, suggesting they use their arms to help them balance. Staff have identified that children need more space to develop these skills further. As a result, they have started to use the school playground, so children can continue making progress in their physical development. n Staff support children in developing their independence with self-care skills. They encourage the children to find and put on their coats when going outside and to return them to their hooks when coming back indoors. The children also learn to put on and take off their shoes. All children help tidy up before mealtimes. Children independently wash their hands before mealtimes. However, children

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need to do better?

are not encouraged to wash their hands after blowing their noses, and staff do not model this behaviour when assisting the children. This does not promote positive attitudes towards hygiene practices. n Parents speak highly of the setting. They report that their children have made good progress in their development since starting and are happy to attend. Staff offer effective support and guidance to parents. For example, they support families with potty training. Parents feel that any issues they raise are dealt with quickly and efficiently. Parents are invited into the setting to take part in themed days.

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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 strengthen the quality of staff's interactions with children to help them consistently challenge and extend children's learning as they play and during planned activities n encourage staff to implement appropriate hygiene procedures in relation to handwashing after nose wiping.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY535765 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10364600 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 102 Name of registered person The Duckling Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07359754682 Date of previous inspection 27 June 2024

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Information about this early years setting

The Duckling Nursery registered in 2016 and is run by a limited company. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of whom, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, during school term times. Sessions are from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 7.30am to 12.45pm on Fridays. This includes a breakfast- and after-school club. The nursery provides funded early education for eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the setting and discussed the early years foundation stage curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 carried out joint observations of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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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

3 December 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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