Olive Barn Day Nursery

Inspection of Olive Barn Day Nursery Unit L, Blois Meadow Business Centre, Steeple Bumpstead, Haverhill Essex CB9 7BN

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children thrive in the welcoming, child-friendly nursery. Staff invest time getting to know the children and their family before they attend and tailor settling-in sessions to meet the needs of the child. Therefore, children happily arrive with enthusiasm to start their day. They leave their parents with ease and quickly engage in their play. There is a strong ethos of supporting children's learning through play, while following children's interests to support their development. Quality resources are easily accessible on low level shelving for children to select and initiate their own play. Children demonstrate they are confident and secure and have established warm and trusting bonds with their key person. The staff fully consider and respect children's individuality and all speak knowledgeably about the children in their care.

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The provision is good

Staff are kind and speak to children with respect. Children understand the staff's expectations, and their behaviour is good. There is a strong focus on helping children to regulate their emotions through resources and activities provided. They are beginning to learn the language they need to express their feelings. Children have made friendships and are generally kind to one another. They demonstrate they are good communicators and confidently engage visitors in conversation, asking lots of questions.

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need to do better?

n Children are offered a broad curriculum. Staff plan according to children's individual interests and what they need to learn next, promoting the skills they need to be independent learners. However, leaders have not considered how to ensure the curriculum offers enough challenge for the most able children to build on what they already know and extend their knowledge. n Parents speak positively about all aspects of the nursery. Many comment on the professional, warm and dedicated staff. Parents say that their children settle quickly, are happy to attend, and make good progress. They say they appreciate the effective communication. Parents say they are included in all decisions made regarding their child's experience at nursery. n Children relish their time outdoors. They make decisions where they want to play and can flow freely from indoors to the garden. Consideration is given to the curriculum outdoors, to ensure activities continue to support all areas of

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need to do better?

learning. Children work well together, for example, they fill saucepans with water, using a water butt. They negotiate how they will carry the heavy pot back to the mud kitchen, where they make potions. Babies concentrate for some time as they happily paint, using pots of water and large brushes. n A thorough recruitment and induction process mean staff are suitable for their roles. Staff's own welfare is fully considered and supported and the team comment that they feel valued and happy in their role. The management are

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need to do better?

28 April 2025 reflective and are committed to continually develop the nursery. Systems are in place to monitor staff practice and support their professional development through training opportunities. n Children's physical skills and spatial awareness are developing well. For example, children use large planks and tubing to make obstacle courses. They show curiosity as they work out how to roll tubing down slides they make. They persevere until they successfully complete the task and demonstrate a sense of pride in their achievement. n Mathematical language is used throughout all activities. Children learn about number and shapes through their play. They excitedly engage in interactive stories, and group sessions and talk about the 'rhombus' and 'parallelogram' shapes they see. n The session runs smoothly throughout the morning, and children are engrossed in their play. However, the organisation of mealtimes means staff are sometimes

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need to do better?

busy with other tasks. Therefore, they are not able to focus on supporting the children to prepare for lunch or a smooth transition for sleep time. n The environment is carefully considered to ensure it promotes learning. For example, cosy areas create homely and calm spaces for children to relax, self- regulate, or enjoy books. Recent improvements to support children's independence, such as installation of low-level sinks, enables children to wash their hands independently. However, this means the area used for nappy changing does not always offer enough privacy when children are being changed.

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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 consider how to ensure the curriculum offers enough challenge for the most able children, so that it consistently builds on what they already know and can do n improve the organisation of mealtimes to ensure that all children are fully engaged at these times n improve nappy changing areas to ensure children's dignity at all times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2722980 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10388662 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 42 Number of children on roll 69 Name of registered person The Barn Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07805114089 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Olive Barn Day Nursery registered in 2023 and is situated in, Steeple Bumpstead, Essex. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am until 6pm, all year round. It provides government funded early education for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the curriculum and what it is that the team want the children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n Parents provided the inspector with oral and written feedback at the inspection. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n The inspector spoke with the staff team during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of the staff working in the nursery.

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Inspection activities

28 April 2025 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 April 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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