Pencil Pots Day Nursery

Inspection of Pencil Pots Day Nursery 321 The Drive, ILFORD, Essex IG1 3PW

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 Inadequate

p.1

The provision is good

Staff are warm, friendly and caring. Children are visibly happy and content at this setting. Staff form close bonds with children and support their emotional needs well. They are responsive to children's needs, giving reassurance and comfort when needed. Children show they feel safe and secure. Staff plan activities well to interest and engage children. Children are keen to join in and try and have good levels of concentration during their play. Overall, staff manage children's behaviour well. They remind children of the rules and what is right and wrong to help them understand what is expected of them.

p.2

The provision is good

Leaders have an ambitious curriculum intent. The setting has a clear focus on developing children's communication and language, and their personal, social and physical skills. Staff know what children need to learn next and they generally plan activities well to help them build on what children already know and can do. They adapt the way they teach well to meet the needs of all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). For instance, staff provide regular small-group sessions for children who may need extra support in their development to help meet their individual learning needs. All children make good progress in their development.

p.2

need to do better?

n Leaders have worked conscientiously to improve practice at the setting following the last inspection. They work well with other professionals, such as the local authority, to seek guidance and feedback. They act on advice given to raise the quality of care and education offered to children. n Staff know their key children well. They make accurate assessments of what children are able to do and use these effectively, overall, to plan age-appropriate activities that help children learn what they need to next. For instance, babies develop their small hand muscles well as they scoop up rice in their hands to transfer onto plates and into bowls. Pre-school children progress on to use scissors skilfully with good control. Staff sequence children's learning well across the setting to help them develop good hand-eye coordination and physical skills. n Leaders and staff work well with other professionals and parents to meet the

p.2

need to do better?

individual needs of children, including children with SEND. They share information effectively to help ensure consistency in children's care and learning provided in the setting and at home. n Children develop their communication skills well overall. Staff model language well to children while they play and give them opportunities to share their ideas and thoughts, such as during story time. Older children enjoy recalling parts of the story and are able to express themselves well. Babies enjoy using words to name objects in their play. Children develop good language skills. However, at

p.2

need to do better?

12 February 2025 times, there is scope for staff to enhance their interactions with children to extend children's conversation skills further. n Staff support children effectively to develop their independence. For instance, they encourage younger children to manage their own self-care, such as wiping their own nose and putting the tissue in the bin. They support older children to serve themselves at mealtimes. Children confidently and carefully use cutlery with good control to eat their food. They develop good levels of confidence and self-esteem. n Staff successfully share their expectations with children to help them learn what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. They give reminders to children to help them understand boundaries. However, staff do not consistently teach children the consequences of their behaviour to help them develop their understanding of how their actions can have an impact on themselves or others.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children have good opportunities to be physically active to support their health and well-being. For instance, they enjoy using balls to kick and learn to balance and move on beams and obstacle course equipment. The setting provides healthy and nutritious foods for mealtimes to help children learn about healthy lifestyles. n Leaders provide good opportunities for staff to improve their understanding of their role and responsibilities. They check on staff's performance well, for example, through regular observations of their practice and supervision meetings. Leaders successfully help staff to refresh their knowledge and skills, such as through staff meetings and training.

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 support staff to strengthen their interactions with children to extend the opportunities children have to enhance their conversation skills n improve the support that staff provide for children when teaching about behavioural expectations to help deepen children's understanding of the consequences of their actions.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY454335 Local authority Redbridge Inspection number 10365179 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 34 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person Pencil Pots Day Nursery Ltd

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 02085540033 Date of previous inspection 13 August 2024

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Pencil Pots Day Nursery registered in 2012. It is located in Ilford, in the London Borough of Redbridge. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. Opening times are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The setting employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight members of staff hold a qualification at level 3.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. Staff and children also spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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 and the manager carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

p.5

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.5

Inspection activities

12 February 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.5

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.6

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.6

Inspection activities

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

p.6

Inspection activities

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

p.6