Growing Places @ Havant Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Staff have extremely warm and nurturing bonds with children.

They are incredibly kind and caring. Children can confidently articulate their emotions, including why they feel a certain way. This skill is carefully nurtured by staff through their daily reflections with children.

Staff have exceptionally high expectations for all children. Children understand and follow the rules and boundaries impeccably. For example, they know that they need to hold hands for a walk and automatically do so as they head out.

Children are fuelled by curiosity and have a thirst for learning. Staff introduce celebrations tha...t are important to children. For example, children excitedly take part in activities for Poland's National Independence Day.

They confidently talk about their experiences from home as they eagerly exclaim, 'It's my day'. This helps children to develop a real sense of belonging in the setting. Staff teach children independence skills from an early age.

They nurture children as they develop a 'can-do' attitude. For example, very young children skilfully dress themselves in waterproofs when going outside. Children take pride in their independence as they excitedly tell staff, 'I can do it'.

They are very eager to show staff just what they are capable of.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

The manager is exceptionally driven and passionate about providing the very best education for children. She has created a curriculum that is highly ambitious and is built on the belief that children are capable of anything when given the right support from staff.

The curriculum builds on what children know and can do. It focuses on providing children with 'skills for life'. These skills include children being confident in themselves, being independent and being able to build new friendships and connections from a very early age.

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities have their needs met exceptionally well. Staff put strategies into place immediately to help close the gap in children's development. They ensure there is meticulous and effective information sharing with other professionals.

This helps to ensure that children have access to the support they need.Staff very successfully support children to make rapid progress from their starting points. Children are highly motivated and determined to learn.

Staff use children's interests to highly challenge and inspire children. They also value each child and celebrate their individual progress. This means children flourish at each stage of their development.

The manager has developed an intervention programme that starts from a young age. Staff are then able to extend children's learning even further as they get older, as they have already had any intervention they may have needed. For example, staff very successfully implement a programme aimed at developing children's listening and attention skills while giving them opportunities to engage in physical activity.

This has a significant impact and supports the excellent progress children make in their learning and development.Additional funding is used exceptionally well to meet the needs of individual children. For example, the manager uses funding to provide cooking classes to children who do not have the opportunity to learn elsewhere.

Children learn about all aspects of cooking, including kitchen safety and tiding up, and they follow recipes to make, for example, naan bread. This helps to provide them with the skills they will need in the future to thrive.There are well-thought-out arrangements that support children very effectively to learn excellent hygiene practices.

For example, there is a 'nose station' in every room. Children, even some of the very youngest, confidently know how to blow their own noses and dispose of tissues hygienically.Partnerships with parents are exceptional.

Parents' feedback about the nursery provision and the staff team is incredibly positive. For example, they comment that the provision and staff are the 'pillar of the community'. Staff work tirelessly to support parents in a variety of ways.

For example, staff organise a 'pumpkin patch' event so that all children can experience pumpkin picking. This strengthens the close bond between parents and staff even further.The management team prioritises staff well-being and staff training.

This helps to develop a team that is passionate and works tirelessly to provide high-quality education.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have an excellent knowledge of safeguarding.

They are constantly alert to the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. Staff have a secure understanding of the processes to follow when reporting concerns. This includes reporting concerns to the relevant local safeguarding partners, such as in the case of an allegation against a member of staff.

The management team has an in-depth knowledge of effective recruitment practices to ensure the suitability of staff. The team recognises the importance of ensuring the ongoing suitability of staff and works extensively and collaboratively with staff to achieve this. Staff work hard to share their safeguarding knowledge with parents, such as sharing information about internet safety.

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