Spring Hollies

Inspection of Spring Hollies Hollies Children Centre, South Street, Taunton TA1 3AG

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children interact positively with staff and go for spontaneous cuddles with them. Staff focus well on supporting children's personal, social and emotional skills within the curriculum. They work closely with parents to help children settle in gradually so they feel comfortable in the setting. Children respond well to staff's expectations and learn how to be kind and helpful to their friends. They develop good independence skills and hand-eye coordination from a young age. For example, babies start to put the colourful building blocks on top of each other and then help to put them back into a box. Toddlers are keen to help staff set the lunch table, and show good control when pouring out drinks for their friends. Pre-school children happily take turns trying to carefully hook a monkey's tail onto a jungle- themed frame in a table-top game.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff are keen to help children achieve through their play, and provide a broad curriculum to encourage children's learning. Overall, this helps staff to engage children in purposeful play and support them to make good progress. For example, babies develop their sensory interest in colour and texture and enjoy feeling soft, colourful scarves across their faces. They develop early problem-solving skills as they work out how to climb on and over the low, textured ramp. Toddlers become engrossed in pushing toy vehicles through paint and look at the marks they make. They draw circles and lines with a purpose and tell staff, 'it's mummy'. Pre-school children concentrate well as they help to make some gloop and see how the mixture changes when they add water. They become confident using tools, such as pipettes, to help develop their pincer grip and support their early writing abilities.

p.2

need to do better?

n The provider has worked well with staff and other agencies to improve practice since the last inspection. The provider encourages staff to develop their skills and promotes their well-being. This approach has helped staff to establish more effective communication and teamwork and provide a more consistent approach to support children's needs. For example, staff have raised their understanding of behaviour management strategies. They implement simple 'golden rules' with the children and help them to recognise how to use kind hands and walking feet and to take turns with their friends. n The provider and staff have worked together to develop a curriculum that gives more focus to children's individual interests. They observe children's play and identify their next steps in learning. This helps them to provide activities that children enjoy and help them progress overall. However, staff are still embedding

p.2

need to do better?

the implementation of the curriculum to build on what children know and can do consistently well. For example, pre-school children are keen to count during their action songs and rhymes. They begin to recognise numbers of personal

p.2

need to do better?

15 January 2025 significance as they hold up four fingers and say 'I am four'. However, staff do not extend children's counting as well as possible, for example, to help them learn how written numbers link with the quantity they count. n Staff encourage children's language development well. Babies are keen to repeat words such as 'yes' and 'ok'. Toddlers start to say two- and three-word sentences. Pre-school children start to describe the texture of the gloop they make and say 'it feels yucky'. They watch with fascination as they scoop this onto a spoon and watch as it then starts to drip off onto their hand. Children tell staff 'it's like melted chocolate'. n Parents speak highly of staff and say that they keep them well informed of their children's activities. Staff liaise well with parents about their children's development. However, staff do not always liaise as well with all other providers whose settings children attend. For example, they do not ensure that they are

p.2

need to do better?

aware of all children's next steps at the other provisions, to promote continuity for children's learning at each setting. n Staff continue to develop the play environment and have created cosy book areas indoors. Children like to snuggle into the cushions and look at a book or talk with their friends. Babies and toddlers settle easily to sleep in a comfortable, quiet area. They wake refreshed and go happily to staff for a cuddle before going to play. n Children enjoy their outdoor play and have good opportunities to exercise and develop their physical skills. For example, children learn to control their speed and direction when using the ride-on toys. They push their dolls around in prams and practise jumping on space hoppers. Babies begin to climb, and smile when going down the slide. However, staff do not always plan for all areas of learning outdoors. This does not fully support those children who learn best outdoors.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n continue to monitor and embed the implementation of the curriculum to ensure that staff build on children's existing skills consistently well n make more use of play experiences in outdoor play areas, to consistently support the interests of those children who learn best outdoors in all areas of their learning n strengthen partnerships with all other provisions that children attend to provide a more continuous approach to support all children's next stages of

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2711634 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10344909 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 55 Name of registered person Action For Children Developments Ltd

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01823 330554 Date of previous inspection 11 April 2024

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Spring Hollies registered in 2022 and is located in Taunton, Somerset. It opens each weekday from 8am to 6pm, all year round. The group provides government funded places. The group employs 11 staff to work with children, seven of whom hold appropriate qualifications between levels 2 and 7. It also employs kitchen and garden staff.

p.5

Inspection activities

n The inspector and manager undertook a learning walk, and the manager discussed their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector observed children's interactions in play indoors and outdoors, and had discussions with staff about children's learning and next steps of development. n The inspector viewed a sample of documentation, such as records of suitability for staff. n The inspector and the manager completed a joint observation of children's activities and discussed the quality of education provided. n The inspector took into account the spoken views of parents.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

15 January 2025 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7