Dolphins Childcare Centre

Inspection of Dolphins Childcare Centre North Petherton County Primary School, North Petherton, BRIDGWATER, Somerset TA6 6LU

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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

Friendly staff welcome children and their families as they arrive. Children settle quickly and show they feel safe and happy. They ask staff to join their play and go to staff when they need reassurance or help. Babies in particular build strong bonds with their key person. They smile and giggle when staff talk and sing to them and take staff's hands to lead them to what they want to play with. Children behave well. They listen to staff and follow the boundaries and routines of the setting. For instance, toddlers find their place mats and sit at the table when it is time for snack.

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The provision is good

Children are keen to play in the carefully planned outdoor environment. They regularly take part in forest school activities and confidently climb on, over and under large equipment. Older children work cooperatively with their friends to move crates, boxes and blankets to create dens. These opportunities support children's physical development and build their skills and knowledge in all areas of the curriculum.

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need to do better?

n Staff in the baby room are nurturing and attentive. They swiftly respond to ensure that they meet the individual needs of each baby. Staff consistently engage in back-and-forth conversations with babies. They model new words, and name toys and actions for babies to learn and repeat. This helps babies develop their early language and communication skills. n The leadership team has designed a curriculum that focuses on children's interests. The curriculum builds on what children know and can do and gives children a strong foundation ready for school. Staff plan and deliver activities based on what children enjoy. They use resources well to engage and stimulate children. Staff enthusiastically join children as they play and use positive and encouraging language. However, staff do not always focus their interactions and teaching on what it is they want children to learn from the activities. Sometimes,

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need to do better?

children wander off from an activity after a short amount of time. This means children's learning is not always fully extended. n Children's literacy skills are developing well. Staff show excitement as they read to children and take time to teach children how to correctly use pens, pencils and chalk to draw and write. Children are developing positive attitudes towards reading and writing. For instance, children independently choose to spend their time learning how to draw different shapes with pens and chalk, and they enjoy sitting and sharing books in the quiet corner with their friends. n Parent partnerships are positive. Parents comment on staff being friendly and approachable. They appreciate how staff work with them to help settle their children when they first start at the setting. Staff share information with parents

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need to do better?

8 July 2025 about their children's care and learning. This is not always as regular or as detailed as it could be to give parents a clear understanding of their child's progress and needs. Parents do not always have a clear understanding of their children's progress or what their children may need more help with. This means parents are not sure on ways they can support their children's learning at home. n The leadership team has improved supervision and support for staff to help staff understand their roles and responsibilities. Staff attend regular meetings, and training is targeted to improve the quality of teaching. Several new procedures have been introduced recently, including a new assessment process to help staff focus more sharply on what children need to learn next. Staff are implementing this to make sure all children reach their full potential in a timely manner. n Children are encouraged to learn about and be part of their local community.

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need to do better?

They regularly visit the library, go on bus trips and take board games to play with elderly residents of the community at the local café. This helps build children's social skills and helps them learn about the world around them. n Babies and younger children are given many opportunities to develop their independence skills. For instance, staff encourage babies to find their own shoes and hats ready for going outside. Toddlers know they need to wash their hands after painting and can do this without adult support. This is not always consistent for older children. Staff occasionally carry out simple tasks for children that they could manage themselves, such as handing out plates and cutlery at lunchtime.

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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 who work with toddlers and pre-school children to improve their interactions and teaching to focus on what it is they want children to know and be able to do to fully extend children's learning n build on relationships with parents to ensure that information about children's care and learning is detailed and shared regularly to enable parents to have a clear understanding of their children's progress and needs.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY300144 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10376407 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 65 Number of children on roll 137 Name of registered person Dolphins Childcare Centre Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 01278661333 Date of previous inspection 12 November 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Dolphins Childcare Centre registered in 2004. It is sited in the grounds of North Petherton Community School. The provision opens from 7.30am to 6pm, from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. It provides a breakfast club and after- school club for children attending the primary school. There are 23 members of childcare staff. Of these, the majority hold an early years qualification at level 2 or above. The setting provides government-funded places.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises with the manager. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked about her curriculum and what she wants the children to learn. n The inspector looked at various documents relating to how children's progress is monitored. n Staff talked to the inspector throughout the inspection and discussed how the curriculum is planned and implemented. n Parents spoke to the inspector, and the inspector took their views into account. n The children spoke to the inspector. n The manager and the inspector carried out two joint observations. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and the children throughout the inspection.

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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

8 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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