Newlife Nursery and Preschool

Inspection of Newlife Nursery and Preschool Station Road, Plymouth PL7 2AU

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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

The provider and staff are kind and caring and form warm relationships with children. Children arrive happily and look forward to the day ahead. They enjoy their familiar routines and feel safe and secure. Staff are good role models and encourage children to share and cooperate during play. Older children are very keen to work together to fill up bowls of lavender, for example, saying, 'Mine is full so now I can help you!'

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The provision is good

The provider and staff plan an ambitious and broad curriculum for all children, including children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. There is a focus on supporting children to become independent. Babies confidently drink from open cups with guidance from the supportive staff. They smile broadly as staff praise them for learning a new skill. This helps them to develop positive attitudes to learning and builds their self-esteem.

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The provision is good

Books are easily accessible throughout the nursery. This encourages children to curl up with a book in cosy corners, for example, or enjoy a story outdoors. Staff bring stories to life for older children, encouraging them to join in with familiar phrases. Younger children happily join in with action songs as staff use interesting props to inspire their interest.

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need to do better?

n The provider and staff work together as a committed team and have made substantial improvements since the last inspection. They have been very proactive in working with the local authority advisers, for example to review and improve their practice. The provider is passionate about providing children with high-quality learning experiences. They consult children and parents about possible changes in the nursery and continue to adapt and make improvements. n Since the last inspection, the provider has extended partnerships with parents through implementing a wide variety of ways of sharing information about children's achievements. Parents say they value the daily discussions with staff when they pick children up from the nursery and feel fully involved in children's learning. Parents speak highly of the provider and staff and comment positively on the good progress their children make in their learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff know children well and understand what they need to learn next. They build on what children already know and plan interesting experiences to develop their learning. For example, children enjoy exploring inviting seashore resources such as sand and shells. However, sometimes, staff do not talk to children about what they might see and do before the start of planned activities to inspire their curiosity and creativity even further. n Staff interact with children positively and support their communication and

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need to do better?

15 August 2025 language skills. They help babies to learn new words as they play, for example, saying 'water' when they are painting with water outside. Older children listen intently to instructions and speak confidently about what they are doing. Staff skilfully introduce phrases such as 'big, blue whale' to enrich and extend their vocabulary. n Staff support children's mathematical development well throughout the nursery. For example, older children use mathematical language such as 'full' and 'empty' when they explore the concept of capacity. They count and begin to compare quantities accurately. Occasionally, staff miss chances to ask questions that encourage children to follow their own thoughts and ideas to extend their problem-solving skills. n Children benefit greatly from daily fresh air and opportunities to be physically active. Older children confidently steer wheeled toys outdoors with increasing

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need to do better?

skill. Babies show great determination to walk by themselves with encouragement from enthusiastic staff. Everyone shows their happiness and delight, supporting children to keep trying until they succeed. n There are good partnerships with local schools to help children to move on in their education with confidence. For example, the provider shares valuable information about children's development with teachers and invites them to visit the nursery to meet the children. Children are excited to talk about their new schools and look forward to school life.

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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 interactions with children to encourage them to follow their own thoughts and ideas to deepen their engagement and extend their learning n extend children's understanding of what they are learning during planned activities to ignite their curiosity and creativity further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY468489 Local authority Plymouth Inspection number 10372051 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 50 Number of children on roll 45 Name of registered person Woodwater Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01752346399 Date of previous inspection 17 October 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Newlife Nursery and Preschool re-registered in 2013 and is located in Plympton, Devon. It is open from 8am to 6pm, each weekday, throughout the year. The nursery provides government-funded places. There are eight members of staff employed to work with the children. All staff hold relevant early years qualifications of at least level 3. The manager holds an early years qualification at level 6.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this is having on the children's learning. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The children talked to the inspector about what they enjoy doing at the nursery. n Parents shared their views of the nursery 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

15 August 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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