Denton Island Nursery

Inspection of Denton Island Nursery Denton Island Nursery, Denton Island, NEWHAVEN, East Sussex BN9 9BA

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children arrive happy and are welcomed by the caring and friendly staff. Leaders and staff take the time to get to know children and families. For example, they meet with parents to discuss children's needs and work in partnership to settle them into nursery. Children show that they feel safe and emotionally secure. For instance, they confidently move around the environment engaging in activities and enjoy cuddles with staff when needed. Staff interact with babies warmly during care routines, such as meal and rest times. Children thrive with the care they receive from the professional, kind and dedicated staff.

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The provision is good

Staff's support for children's individual learning is strong. Activities are accessible and engaging and meet all children's needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). For example, children enjoy working together to build a tunnel for the toy cars to go through. Staff weave mathematical language into their interactions with children. For instance, children excitedly find gems hidden in the sand. Staff talk to them about the different sizes and how many they have. This supports children to make good progress.

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The provision is good

Staff act as good role models. They support children to develop good friendships. For example, babies sit in the cosy area where they share and look at books together. Furthermore, older children enjoy taking turns to blow bubbles, they laugh together as they chase the bubbles in the garden. Children learn how to behave well and develop good social skills.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff are passionate about their roles. They recognise the importance of having a knowledgeable and skilled staff team to help children make good progress. They ensure effective, regular staff supervision sessions are in place and support staffs well-being. All staff have access to targeted training opportunities, which supports their professional development. n Leaders and staff plan an ambitious and varied curriculum, that supports children to make progress as they move through the nursery. For example, they focus the curriculum for the youngest children on building attachments and providing a nurturing environment. For the older children, staff support children's social and self-help skills. This supports children's ongoing learning and development. n Leaders and staff are highly ambitious in supporting children with SEND. They sensitively adapt the provision to help children make the progress they are

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need to do better?

capable of. For instance, they have used funding to develop calm spaces with sensory resources, to support children with regulating their emotions. Leaders make timely referrals and work closely with parents and outside agencies. They

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need to do better?

28 January 2025 put detailed targeted plans in place for all children with SEND. These are used effectively by all staff throughout the nursery. This supports children with SEND to make good progress alongside their friends. n Staff help children to develop good independence skills, most of the time. For instance, they support older children to self-serve their food and pour their drinks at snack time. Furthermore, they teach children how to put their shoes and coats on. There is a clear routine in place that children know and understand. For example, children know to wash their hands before mealtimes and after messy activities. However, although staff ask children to tidy up, they do not consistently encouraged children to do this after they have finished playing with toys. This does not consistently support children's self-help skills or teach them how to respect their environment. n Leaders and staff effectively support children's communication and language

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need to do better?

skills. They use singing, action rhymes and stories as part of everyday practice. Staff teach children other ways to communicate, such as using pictures, gestures and Makaton. This helps all children, including those with SEND, to find their 'voice' and become confident communicators. n Staff identify the needs of their key children and use this to plan activities and experiences to support children's learning well. For instance, older children enjoy pretending to work in a cafe and ask their friends what they would like, writing their orders on paper. Furthermore, younger children enjoy learning about different sea life creatures, while playing in the water. However, on occasion large group activity sessions are sometimes too long. At these times children becoming unsettled and distracted, meaning they do not benefit fully from the intended learning. This does not consistently support children's listening and

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need to do better?

attention skills. n Partnerships with parents are a strength of the nursery. The leaders and staff form excellent relationships and support the children and families extremely well. For example, they share information on a daily basis, both verbally and through an online system. Staff provide information to help parents to support their children's learning at home. This supports children's learning and 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 children's independence skills further, so they learn about the importance of taking responsibility for their environment

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should:

28 January 2025 n strengthen the organisation of group times, to ensure children benefit fully from the intended learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY279429 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 10371084 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 61 Number of children on roll 74

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Name of registered person

Sussex Community Development Association Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01273 515125 Date of previous inspection 13 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Denton Island Nursery registered in 2004. The nursery is located in Newhaven, East Sussex. They open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, 50 weeks of the year. The setting receives early years funding for children aged two-, three- and four- years-old. There are 18 staff, 17 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above.

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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 Children spoke 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 spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the nursery. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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 manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during snack time. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. 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

28 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.

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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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