The Maltings Day Nursery

Maltings Day Nursery, The Ship Lane, Ely, Cambs, CB7 4BB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 April 2015 14 May 2009

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is outstanding

 The management team are inspirational. They continually reflect on practice and seek innovative ways to improve outcomes for all children in their care. This means children benefit from very happy and fulfilling early years experiences.  The staff team are skilful, conscientious and dedicated to their roles. They have an excellent understanding of each child, their preferred ways of learning and how they can promote learning to an even higher level. As a result, children's excellent progress is assured.  Teaching is excellent. Staff know how to enthuse children with stimulating activities and play alongside to enhance experiences by asking pertinent questions, demonstrating play or allowing children time to find out things for themselves. Children are, consequently, engaged, active and inquisitive learners.  Babies and the youngest children are especially well cared for and benefit from the excellent practices demonstrated by staff. They thrive in an environment thoughtfully

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This provision is outstanding

organised to ensure they can practise their developing physical skills in safety and explore the stimulating resources available to them.  Children settle quickly at the nursery because of the outstanding links with parents and key staff. Consistent and continued sharing of information further ensures a coordinated approach to children's care, learning and well-being.  Safeguarding practices are robust. Staff know how to protect children from harm and who they should report their concerns to. Consequently, children are safe both in the nursery and when making local trips with staff.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 implement planned improvements to the already excellent monitoring systems that will both inspire staff to attain even higher levels of skills and knowledge and benefit all children in their care.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the main rooms and in the outside learning environment.  The inspector held meetings with the manager and proprietor and spoke with children and staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector and manager took part in a joint observation.  The inspector took the views of parents into account.  The inspector looked at children's learning and development files, planning documentation, evidence of the suitability of practitioners working within the setting, the provider's self-evaluation form and a range of other documentation.

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who attend. This is outstanding

Children have an excellent start in their education at the nursery. Throughout the day they enjoy stimulating activities, such as those to enhance their senses. Colour mixing in the outdoor water tray provides endless scope for experimentation as does playing with porridge oats to explore texture. Babies also enjoy investigating and delight in experiencing gloop, which is a mixture of corn flour and water. Here they spend a considerable amount of time pushing their hands through the substance and developing strength and important coordination skills. Pre-school children are prepared extremely well for school. Staff ensure they have the attributes needed, such as, concentration, careful listening skills and the independence needed for their transitions. Children thoroughly enjoy favourite stories skilfully read by staff. Their literacy skills are promoted extremely well as they learn about authors and appreciate that text carries meaning. Entertaining

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who attend. This is outstanding

props accompany stories and enhance children's experiences. This helps children to develop a love of books which will support them extremely well in the future.

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outstanding

Staff value outstanding partnerships with parents. Consequently, children feel secure at the nursery and form strong attachments with their key person. Independence skills are encouraged at an early age. Staff teach younger children about washing their hands before meals and encourage them make decisions about their own meals and drinks. Children learn about healthy diets during mealtimes, as staff talk about what is, and what is not good for them. Outside play and frequent visits to the local community on board the large nursery push-along bus, also ensures children have plenty of fresh air and exercise in their daily routines. Staff have an excellent understanding about how to keep children safe at such times and also help children to learn how to keep themselves from harm. When needed, staff use a variety of soothing activities as a distraction from disruptive behaviours. Consequently, children behave well and learn to play happily together.

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provision is outstanding

The management team have an excellent understanding of their responsibilities. Outstanding recruitment, induction and professional management procedures are in place and this means that only the best staff are selected and remain at the nursery. Exceptional opportunities are in place to encourage staff to attend training and develop their skills further. For example, staff have received training about how children show repeated patterns in their play, otherwise known as schemas. This has had a great impact on children's experiences and allows staff to plan learning opportunities best suited to individual needs. Monitoring of children's progress is robust and enables staff to clearly identify those in need of further support. Nevertheless, managers aspire to developing both staff skills and ways in which this is achieved even further. Partnerships with parents and other providers are outstanding and this too supports children's excellent progress in

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY389853 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 859221 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 86 Name of provider Wigwam Nurseries Ltd Date of previous inspection 14 May 2009 Telephone number 01353661442

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Setting details

The Maltings Day Nursery was registered in 2009. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 and above, including the manager with Early Years Professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted 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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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, 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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Setting details

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Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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