The Willows Day Nursery

The Willows Day Nursery Old Main Road, Fleet Hargate, Holbeach, SPALDING, Lincolnshire, PE12 8LL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 February 2017 13 June 2013

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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 manager is inspirational and, over time, has nurtured a team of staff who share her drive, passion and enthusiasm. Parents recognise the high standards demonstrated at the nursery and the lengths staff go to, in order to ensure all children have memorable early years experiences. Consequently, children thrive in an environment that has their best interests at heart.  Teaching throughout the nursey is exceptional and worthy of dissemination. Staff are dedicated to providing the very best for children and show a genuine interest for their work. Outstanding professional management systems are in place to help them maintain and surpass their already excellent abilities.  Staff provide a highly stimulating environment for children. They thoughtfully display resources so that children become budding investigators eager to examine the contents of baskets, boxes or pots. Children become totally engrossed in their play and are able

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This provision is outstanding

to fully explore what interests them.  Staff are highly skilled and go the extra mile to support children to feel safe and secure at the nursery. They get to know children exceptionally well and work diligently with parents to support them to become accustomed to new environments and friends.  Older children make excellent progress and many are able to read by the time they go to school. They learn to recognise numbers and count during adult-led activities and, in doing so, show they can concentrate, listen and follow instructions well.  Partnership working is central to the ethos of the nursery and is outstanding. Parents have opportunities to attend excellent workshops where they hear at first hand how to support children's learning at home. The manager actively seeks strong links with other providers and professionals to ensure children benefit from a coordinated approach to their care and development.

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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

 continue to build on current teaching strategies being used to reflect children's interests and evaluate the impact these have on their further attainment.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and the deputy managers. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection, read emails from others and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The senior management team has high expectations and its drive for excellence is exceptional. Everyone concerned with the nursery is involved in the outstanding self- evaluation procedure and, as a result, plans for the future are exciting. For example, managers and staff have plans to further enhance teaching strategies so that children's natural curiosity, creativity and interests are even more central to the planning. The dedicated staff team welcomes and readily undertakes the wide range of training opportunities available to them. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are vigilant and knowledgeable about child protection matters and the local reporting procedures to follow if they have a concern. Monitoring of children's progress is meticulous. The manager has excellent procedures in place and, due to her diligence, targeted support is implemented swiftly when necessary.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

All children thrive at the nursery. Activities on offer are exciting and capture children's interests and imaginations exceptionally well. For example, children are able to explore their fascinations for pirates as they gather the resources needed to build a treasure island scene. Staff show excellent teaching abilities as they extend children's creativity and thinking. This enables children to consider the use of sand, materials and real treasure to enhance their play. Babies enjoy exploring and practising their toddling both inside and out in the garden. Staff are highly skilled and interactions with babies are delightful. Babies confidently make utterances as they join in with favourite rhymes or readily investigate resources to stimulate their senses.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children have exceptional bonds with staff and, as they arrive at the nursery, they are delighted to be welcomed by them. Staff involve children in routine activities and, in doing so, children's confidence blossoms. For example, children take turns to become the health and safety representative and undertake daily checks to ensure there are no hazards posing risks to friends and staff. Children prepare their own snacks at 'The Nibbles Bar' and, in doing so, they learn about healthy foods and good hygiene. Children are able to access activities outside in all weathers. Older children regularly go on the bus to visit the library and choose new books to read at home. This gives children an excellent awareness of their own community and the different people living and working there. Children behave exceptionally well according to their stage of development.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children flourish at the nursery in an environment that is stimulating, homely and welcoming. Unsurprisingly, children are highly motivated to investigate and become active independent learners. They show great confidence as they move around the nursery and have a strong desire to follow their own interests. This excellent start in life gives them every opportunity to begin school with the skills and attitudes they need to succeed.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY439986 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 1065817 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 11 Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 151 Name of registered person Willows Childcare Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 13 June 2013 Telephone number 01406423112

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reference number

The Willows Day Nursery was registered in 2012. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff. Of these, 17 hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 2 to level 5. The manager holds early years professional status and qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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