Dolphins Day Nursery

Inspection of Dolphins Day Nursery 73 Chesswood Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 2AB

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children arrive happy and ready to start their day at this welcoming and inclusive nursery. Staff work closely with families and other professionals to gain a deep understanding of the children in their care. This ensures that children's individual needs are met, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The diverse team of staff bring a wealth of experiences and speak many languages, supporting children who speak English as an additional language. Staff show genuine care and affection for the children. For example, new children receive sensitive support from their key person to help them settle into nursery. This helps all children to have a sense of belonging and make good progress from their starting points.

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The provision is good

Staff implement a curriculum to help promote children's good health and physical development. For example, children take part in activities to learn about oral health. They learn new words and their meanings, such as 'cavities'. Children benefit from regular fresh air and exercise in the spacious garden. They enthusiastically burn off steam as they play chasing games with their friends. Staff use these opportunities to help children identify the effects that exercise has on their bodies. For example, they remind children to drink plenty of water to give them 'energy' and keep their bodies 'hydrated'.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, leaders have worked hard to improve the quality of the provision. For instance, staff benefit from regular supervision sessions and tailored training to help them improve their knowledge, skills and teaching practice. Staff are passionate about their roles and work well together as a team, sharing the same vision for continuous improvement. For example, they use what they have learned from recent training to enhance the curriculum. This contributes towards ensuring children receive good-quality care and education. n Children benefit from the strong curriculum for mathematics. Staff skilfully weave in counting and numbers during children's spontaneous play. For example, staff encourage children to predict how many fish there are as they sing familiar number songs. Older children concentrate intently to complete simple addition and subtraction activities to challenge their learning further. This

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need to do better?

helps children to make good progress in their mathematical development. n Staff know what they want children to learn, building on their existing knowledge and skills. Staff carry out regular observations and assessments to plan for children's next steps in learning. However, staff do not focus precisely enough on what they want individual children to learn. This means that children do not always receive specific enough support to help them make even better progress in their learning.

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need to do better?

26 March 2025 n Staff act as positive role models. They offer lots of support and use gentle reminders with children as they play, such as encouraging them to take turns and share resources. Staff quickly help children to resolve any minor disputes, giving them time to discuss their feelings. This helps children to behave well and develop respectful friendships. n Staff support children to develop their independence skills from an early age. For example, younger children are encouraged to serve their own food and clean their face after eating. Older children show a 'can-do' attitude as they take clothes out of their bag and attempt to get themselves dressed. Children of all ages confidently find their water bottles when they are thirsty and put them away afterwards. This helps children to learn to do things for themselves. n Staff support children's communication and language skills well. They engage

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need to do better?

children in meaningful conversations, asking questions to support their thinking skills. For instance, staff encourage children to find different ways to fit puzzle pieces together. Children talk with confidence to staff, who listen with interest to what they say. This supports children to problem-solve and become confident communicators. n Overall, staff support children to engage well in meaningful learning. Children are curious and eager to take part in activities that staff provide. For example, younger children delight in making marks with paint on paper. Older children are inquisitive and explore how many objects they can fit inside plastic Easter eggs. However, occasionally, staff do not redirect children's play to ensure their learning is fully supported at all times. This means, for short periods, children become disengaged. n Parents are highly complimentary about the nursery and the staff team. They

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need to do better?

comment about their children's good development in their communication and language skills. Staff share strategies and ideas with parents on how to support their children's learning at home. This successful communication with parents enables consistency in 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 enhance staff's understanding of how to use their knowledge of what children know and can do to plan more precisely for their next steps in learning n support staff to recognise and maintain children's engagement during their play when they become less focused.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 113462 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10353040 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 54 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Mendes, Nicole Helena

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reference number

Telephone number 01903 537755 Date of previous inspection 13 May 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Dolphins Day Nursery registered in 1997. The nursery is located in Worthing, West Sussex. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round. The nursery employs six members of staff. Of these, five are qualified to level 3 or above. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year- old children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during a group activity. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of 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

26 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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