Deerlands Day Nursery

Inspection of Deerlands Day Nursery Ferry Road, North Fambridge, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 6LS

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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 feel safe and secure, as they skip confidently into the nursery that they are incredibly proud of attending. Children's well-being is promoted with tailored settling-in processes. A robust key-person system is in place, ensuring children build strong and nurturing attachments with staff from the start. Because staff know them so well, they ensure children have access to their favourite resources to help them settle seamlessly as they transition through the nursery.

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The provision is good

Staff create environments that are inviting and stimulating and support all areas of learning. Children enjoy trips in the local community and forest school that is on site, as well as daily play outside in the nursery garden. Staff have good knowledge of how children learn. They embed a curriculum that supports sequenced learning effectively through interesting activities and experiences that they plan for children. For example, toddlers have fun manipulating dough and using tools to make pretend pancakes. This helps to strengthen their fingers and small muscles in their hands to support their early writing skills.

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The provision is good

Staff are excellent role models and speak to children with genuine kindness and respect. During minor disputes, staff gently remind children to take turns and to be kind. Children copy staff's positive actions and frequently play cooperatively with their peers.

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need to do better?

n Staff implement robust and effective monitoring and assessments to identify what children need to learn next and share these with parents. Collaborative working ensures any gaps in children's learning and development are identified swiftly. Appropriate support is provided so all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), continually make good progress. However, at times, staff do not consistently challenge children to extend their learning even further to achieve their next steps. n Staff follow children's lead and interests to support their development. For example, toddlers develop core muscles and strength in their legs as they learn to push the ride-on rocking horse by themselves. Staff provide enthusiastic praise, and toddlers show they are developing their self-esteem as they clap their achievements. Staff extend their speech and language development by

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need to do better?

singing familiar songs. Toddlers attempt to say familiar words to songs while enjoying rocking back and forth. n The dedicated management team plays an active and integral role in all aspects of the day-to-day running of the nursery. They provide the utmost support to staff, children and their families. Staff say they feel fully supported through supervision and training opportunities and that their well-being is prioritised.

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need to do better?

7 March 2025 n Children learn the necessary skills they need to be ready for school, such as taking turns, sharing, independence and listening to instructions. Children benefit from one-to-one time with staff, which means they receive tailored teaching and support. For example, children quickly master their cutting skills as staff patiently sit alongside them and guide them on how to use scissors to cut paper successfully. n Parents applaud the professionalism and support given by the management team and staff. Parents express high levels of trust that their children are continuously well cared for and happy. Parents appreciate in-depth daily communication about their child's day and progress. Children eagerly choose a story and matching activities from the lending library, which parents say helps extend their children's learning at home. n Consideration is made by staff to incorporate all languages used by families in

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need to do better?

their homes. Staff use Makaton sign language effectively, which enhances children's communication skills. Staff ask children questions throughout their engagement with them and often introduce new vocabulary. However, staff do not consistently provide opportunities for children to communicate their own ideas and make meaningful connections to new words they hear. n Children's artwork and pictures of themselves are beautifully displayed on the walls, giving them an enormous sense of belonging. Staff value children's unique opinions and views. For example, children share their thoughts of what kindness means to them during a fun craft activity to create a 'kindness rainbow'. As a result, children frequently display acts of kindness and show they understand the importance of being respectful and kind to others.

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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 staff to develop their already good teaching and interactions so that children consistently receive higher levels of challenge in their learning n help staff develop the use of questioning to support children's thinking skills and help them to recall and use new vocabulary meaningfully.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY103599 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10372415 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 74 Name of registered person Deerlands Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01621 744041 Date of previous inspection 17 April 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Deerlands Day Nursery registered in 2002. The nursery employs 26 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one with early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks a year. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm. The nursery offers funded education for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The management team and the inspector completed a tour of the nursery, both indoors and outdoors, to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. Additionally, they showed the inspector the premises and discussed how they ensure it is safe and suitable. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact that this had on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of group activities with the manager and also discussed self-evaluation. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. The inspector spoke with parents and carers during the inspection and also took account of their views. n The inspector held a meeting with the management team and also discussed self-evaluation. The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as

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Inspection activities

evidence of the suitability of the staff working in the nursery and a selection of other records.

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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

7 March 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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