Explorers Seaford Nursery

Inspection of Early Birds Pre-School Seaford Baptist Church, Belgrave Road, Seaford, East Sussex BN25 2EE

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Leaders and staff are ambitious for all children who attend. They pride themselves on taking the time they need to fully understand the needs of each child. This includes their family context, lived experiences, cultural heritage and what makes them unique. Staff nurture incredibly warm and engaging relationships with children as well as planning a meticulously sequenced curriculum that is tailored to children's individual needs. As a result, children demonstrate they are very settled, have high levels of curiosity and have excellent attitudes to learning as they apply themselves to a variety of thoughtfully planned activities.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff have a fully embedded understanding of curriculum priorities and provide children with an extensive range of enriching experiences to successfully build on their existing knowledge and skills. For example, staff recognise the importance of exposing children to high-quality experiences to enhance their communication and language skills. They plan activities that are linked to core books that they teach children and seek highly effective ways to weave themes from the stories within their play. Staff work with children to embed rich-language opportunities in all they do. This includes challenging children to recall stories, re-enact and test out ideas and meet and engage with people in the community, as well as regular visits to explore and find out about the natural world. Staff demonstrate highly effective teaching practice as they skilfully introduce new words and descriptive language that are connected to children's play and learning experiences.

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The provision is outstanding

The provision's commitment to special educational needs and/or disabilities and for children and families that need extra support is highly commendable. Senior leaders identify beneficial ways to use funding. This helps children gain positive outcomes in their learning and development. All staff show high levels of professional curiosity and work closely with families, external professionals and the local authority and access initiatives and projects. This helps to ensure that children get the very best start in life with highly effective interventions that support children to make the best progress they are personally capable of.

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need to do better?

n There has been a change in senior leaders, and they demonstrate passion and dedication to ensure that they can offer excellent early years provision in their community. They show high levels of integrity as they seek out the views of others, so they can rigorously evaluate the quality of their provision. They continuously test what they provide to children through regular audits to assess and identify where they can build on their already successful work. Leaders use audits to identify even more ways to ensure that what they deliver is highly effective, so children receive the very best start in their formative years.

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need to do better?

25 February 2025 n Staff plan an exciting range of experiences to expose children to a broad and balanced curriculum that captures their curiosity and interest. For instance, children have opportunities to be physically active in the natural world, from tree climbing and rope swings to building on their physical skills, to lighting fires and learning how to stay safe. Staff plan visits to meet the local choir and orchestra to engage with people in their community for singing and exploring musical instruments. Additionally, professionals, including parents, spend time with the children in the pre-school to discuss their roles and how they help others. This includes police, firefighters, dentists and paramedics. These first-hand enriching opportunities provide a platform for children to talk about these experiences and help them to learn about life beyond the pre-school. n Children behave very well. Staff empower children to learn effective social skills.

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need to do better?

As a result, children have excellent relationships and play harmoniously with their friends. Children use egg timers to wait their turn when sharing resources between their friends. They are kind and courteous to one another. For instance, children have an awareness of the needs of others as well as themselves. During snack time, they pass cream cheese round the table, so everyone gets to have a portion to accompany their vegetable crudites. Children listen well and demonstrate deep engagement as they negotiate with friends and share play ideas. Their relationships are incredibly strong with their friends and the adults who care for them. n Children are extremely curious, and staff are highly receptive to this. For example, when children ask questions, staff really take the time to explore children's ideas with them. This includes engaging children in shared thinking practices to encourage them to problem solve and test out their ideas in play.

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need to do better?

This encourages children to be inspired and to keep trying. Staff have highly effective teaching approaches and ensure that what they want children to know, remember and do is delivered in a sequence. For instance, staff plan for children to practise using a variety of resources to build hand dexterity. This includes pipettes and syringes during water play. Staff confidently explain these activities improve children's muscle control and fine motor ability, so they have the skills they need for later handwriting. n Leaders and staff deeply value the importance of working in partnership with parents. Parent representatives share views with the pre-school that they acknowledge and act upon. Parents comment their children make excellent progress that is attributed to the committed leaders and staff.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number 109411 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 10363256 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Seaford Baptist Church Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07974835978 Date of previous inspection 16 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Early Birds Pre-School registered in 2000. It operates from a church in Seaford, East Sussex. The group opens five days a week, Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 5pm, during school term times. During school holidays, they offer holiday club sessions from 8am to 4pm. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are nine members of childcare staff, with seven of those holding relevant childcare qualifications at level 3 or above.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector conducted a learning walk with the manager to establish the priorities for the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and daily routines to assess the impact that this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at suitable times during the inspection. n A joint observation was completed and discussed with the manager. n The inspector held a discussion with senior leaders in relation to the leadership and management of the pre-school. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as safeguarding policies, evidence of suitability and vetting checks and first-aid certificates.

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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

25 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.

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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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