Abacus Children's Day Nursery

Abacus Children's Day Nursery Valley Court, Barras Lane, Carlisle, CA5 7NY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 August 2016 Not applicable

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The nursery has rapidly become extremely well established and is already making an extraordinary impact on outcomes for children. The provider, managers and staff team are incredibly knowledgeable, highly skilled and qualified and show a complete dedication to providing the highest-quality care and education for all children.  A culture of evaluative practice is extremely well embedded within the nursery. Staff routinely reflect upon their own practice and actively contribute to planned changes within the nursery. Incisive and targeted improvement plans help to drive continual improvement. The staff team demonstrates an outstanding capacity to make and sustain ongoing improvements to the nursery.  The atmosphere within the pre-school is vibrant and dynamic. This is matched by staff's enthusiastic and animated approach to their interactions with children. Staff provide outstanding teaching that is particularly well matched to children's needs.

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This provision is outstanding

 Partnerships with parents are highly effective. Regular information sharing helps to ensure that parents are entirely involved in their children's learning, both in the setting and at home. Parents are extremely complimentary about the nursery and the progress their children make.  Children's behaviour is impeccable. Staff are excellent role models and positively promote children's good behaviour through the abundance of praise they show.  The nursery is expertly run and managed. The provider has a clear vision for the nursery and demonstrates exceptionally high expectations of the manager and staff team. A vast range of policies, procedures and other documentation is consistently implemented and rigorously monitored.

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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

 review the implementation of the planned changes to the monitoring of children's progress and evaluate the impact of this on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning both inside and outside.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager of the nursery.  The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held a meeting with the provider and manager of the nursery.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's records, planning documentation, evidence of the suitability of staff and a range of other documentation, including policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff have a comprehensive understanding of safeguarding and their individual responsibilities to protect children. They work collaboratively with partner agencies to further safeguard children's welfare. Staff receive highly effective systems of support and performance management based on incisive and rigorous monitoring of staff practice. Professional development of the staff team is effectively prioritised and helps to maintain their exceptional knowledge and quality of teaching provided. The manager is currently working on extending the already detailed monitoring of children's progress. Children who have special educational needs are given excellent support. Intervention is sought at the earliest stage from external agencies and services. Advice received is threaded effectively into individual plans and ensures children receive a consistent approach from all adults working with them.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Highly effective systems of observation and planning are implemented with outstanding results. Staff use their expert knowledge to seize opportunities for children to progress. Staff accurately assess children's learning and, together with information from parents, plan spontaneously to draw out children's knowledge and build on it there and then. Children become deeply involved in their own learning. For example, they dress up as characters after listening to a story and act out scenes. Staff skilfully involve themselves in children's play to pose challenges to help them learn. They encourage children to explore using their senses. For example, younger children and babies have tremendous fun as they play with a wide variety of messy-play resources, including jelly and sprinkles.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children develop a strong sense of emotional well-being. Highly effective settling-in procedures and the particularly well established key-person system help to ensure children settle very quickly and develop the confidence to explore and learn. Children are great risk assessors and show great control in a range of situations. For example, when playing outside children mount the tyre mountain, carefully navigating over the uneven surface. Children learn about and take part in range of health related initiatives. For example, the nursery has been working towards different health awards that include children learning to brush their teeth correctly and engaging in a wide range of healthy eating activities. Children have access to a wealth of interesting and innovative resources and play experiences that greatly support their learning across all areas.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children are making outstanding progress and are confident, motivated learners. Children acquire excellent independence skills and demonstrate very positive attitudes as they learn to respect each other. Children are skilful communicators and critical thinkers, showing an excellent 'can do' attitude. They develop excellent social skills and show confidence in new and social situations. Children learn the skills they need for their future learning and in readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY493351 Local authority Cumbria Inspection number 1031543 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 90 Name of registered person Abacus Children's Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01228 712888

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reference number

Abacus Children's Day Nursery was registered in 2015. The nursery employs 16 members of staff, 13 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round, apart from one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early years education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery has facilities to support children who have special educational needs or disability.

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reference number

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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reference number

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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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

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

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