Sunshine & Showers 1

Inspection of Sunshine & Showers 1 16 Jefferstone Lane, St. Marys Bay, Romney Marsh, Kent TN29 0SW

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children are happy and content at this friendly and welcoming nursery school. Staff greet children with smiles and cuddles as they arrive, supporting children's emotional well-being effectively. Staff plan interesting and motivating activities for children. For example, children are eager to join in with painting shells together, talking excitedly with staff about their 'rainbow' designs. Staff praise and encourage children, developing their confidence and self-esteem. Children demonstrate good behaviour. For example, older children find their friends' name cards, kindly explaining that it is their turn at snack time. This helps to support their developing friendships positively.

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The provision is good

Staff are good role models and have high expectations for children. For example, staff prioritise children's language and mathematical skills well. Children enjoy playing a game of snakes and ladders outside, learning to count forwards and backwards. Other children learn about hammerhead sharks when sharing books with staff. Babies delight in playing peekaboo with staff, giggling as they learn to copy actions. These activities support children's knowledge and understanding successfully. Staff know the children and families very well. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. For example, staff work closely with parents to promote children's individual needs effectively. This means that all children make good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff have worked hard since the last inspection to make effective improvements to practice and provision. They have sought effective support from the local authority to help them, and are passionate and committed to ensuring that children are provided with good-quality care and education. They have effective plans for the future to continue to develop this. n Children demonstrate positive behaviour. For example, older children explain that they are sharing their toys with their 'best friends' when playing with dolls. Babies wait patiently as staff prepare their snacks, demonstrating their understanding of routines well. n Staff support children's understanding of being safe successfully. For example, staff talk with children about keeping safe in the sun and the importance of applying sun cream. Children remind their friends to wear their hats outside. Children enjoy exploring foam and large toothbrushes to brush dinosaurs' teeth.

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need to do better?

These activities help children learn to keep themselves healthy. n Children benefit from activities that are planned to support their physical and movement skills. For example, older children enjoy riding bikes, learning to manoeuvre them outside. Babies delight in learning to climb and balance on large foam shapes. This helps to support children's coordination skills very well.

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need to do better?

1 July 2025 n Staff work well with parents to develop individual plans to support children with SEND. Staff liaise effectively with other professionals to share information about children to help them settle in. They have formed strong partnerships with local schools to support children's smooth transitions. This means that children are fully prepared for their next learning stage. n Staff provide children with a range of activities to support their developing language and communication skills. Staff skilfully extend children's interest in stories, explaining how skeletons are found inside our bodies. Staff regularly sing rhymes and songs with children, supporting children's vocabulary and listening skills well. n Children's mathematical understanding is supported effectively. For example, children spend time finding puzzle pieces together, identifying colours and shapes to make them. Other children concentrate for long periods when creating

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need to do better?

their own beads and patterns. This supports children's understanding of shape and space effectively. n Staff encourage children's independence. Children help put their own artwork away in their trays and learn how to put on their aprons when painting. Children are encouraged to make choices about what they want to play with, and staff encourage and praise them. These activities support children's confidence. n Parents are provided with daily updates and photographs about what their children have been doing at nursery. However, not all parents know precisely what their children are learning to help them support their children's learning further at home. Nevertheless, parents talk highly of the experiences their children have, for example, going to the beach, nearby train station and shops. Parents appreciate the support they receive themselves and the flexible sessions offered. They praise the kind and caring 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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should:

n strengthen information-sharing with parents so that they fully understand how to further support their children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127664 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10397667 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 30 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Sunshine & Showers Nursery School Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01303 872610 Date of previous inspection 12 March 2025

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Information about this early years setting

Sunshine & Showers 1 registered in 1998 and is one of two privately owned nurseries run by Sunshine and Showers Ltd. The nursery is in St Mary's Bay, Kent and is open from 8am until 6pm on weekdays, for 46 weeks of the year. There are 11 members of staff, including the owner, 10 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery receives funding for free early years education for children aged from nine months to four years.

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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 The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. 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 carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

1 July 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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