Lancaster Lodge Childcare Ltd

Lancaster Lodge Childcare Ltd Lancaster Lodge, Lancaster Way Business Park, ELY, Cambridgeshire, CB6 3NX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 May 2017 19 March 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Self-evaluation is accurate and ambitious. Leaders and managers strive to implement new ideas and improve the outcomes for children.  Children build good bonds with their key person and the other adults and children around them. They feel safe and secure in this warm and homely nursery.  Outdoor play experiences are a feature of the nursery. Children enjoy long periods outside in all weathers and enjoy interesting activities that cover all of the areas of learning.  Children are taught well and make good progress in their development. Staff use observations and children's interests effectively to plan activities that closely match children's individual learning needs.  Parents praise the nursery staff. They say they are made welcome and are involved well in all aspects of their children's development.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Managers' coaching and mentoring of staff does not yet drive the quality of teaching, and the outcomes for children, to an outstanding level.  Opportunities for children to learn about their own community and other communities further afield are not frequent enough, to fully encourage children's understanding.

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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

 extend the supervision, coaching and mentoring of staff to focus more firmly on increasing their teaching skills to an outstanding level  enhance the range of experiences that helps children to learn about their own community and other communities further away.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact of this on children's learning.  The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the deputy manager.  The inspector held meetings with the provider, who also manages the nursery, another director and the deputy manager. Safeguarding arrangements were discussed.  A range of documents were sampled, including the nursery's self-evaluation, evidence of staff suitability and training and children's records.  The inspector spoke with a number of parents during the inspection and looked at the results of surveys of parents' views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. There has recently been a close focus on child protection training. This has helped staff to become confident in their understanding of the procedures to follow if there are concerns about children's welfare. Managers know how to deal with an allegation against a member of staff. Recruitment of staff is thorough. Regular supervision meetings are used well to discuss any safeguarding issues and help to ensure staff's ongoing suitability. Staff are encouraged to complete training and improve their qualifications, to develop their practice. Staff give parents comprehensive information about the nursery and their children's achievements to keep them informed. They are also developing partnerships with schools and other settings.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The well qualified staff team supports children well in all their activities. Young children are encouraged to test out new textures as they feel jelly and look for hidden items. Older children boldly use hammers to crack open blocks of ice and search for the dinosaurs within these. Staff join in children's imaginative play, for example, as they make pretend cakes from soil and sticks in the mud kitchen. Staff use enjoyable nursery songs and stories to help support children's listening and speaking skills. Activities, such as weighing and measuring, help children develop their mathematical skills. Children estimate quantity and recognise the numbers they need for their games. Young children make marks in paint and sand as they prepare for early writing.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children's behaviour is good and they play harmoniously together. Older children are polite. They understand how to share and take turns with favourite toys. Staff are calm and purposeful with the children, sensitively helping them to deal with their emotions. Children enjoy nutritious home-cooked foods. Parents are asked for their preferences and allergies are well managed. Children are developing an understanding of risk, for example, as they assess the safety of the climbing trees. Parents settling their children into the nursery have flexible opportunities to visit and get to know their key person. Babies are nurtured and develop close bonds with the adults around them. Staff work particularly well with parents when children need additional help.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress and develop the skills they need for their future learning. They form firm friendships and confidently engage with staff and other adults. Children successfully build on their independence, for instance, as they choose their own activities. They develop good practical skills. From an early age children learn to get ready for play outdoors and find their Wellington boots and coats.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY458324 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1095414 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 - 4 Total number of places 62 Number of children on roll 70 Name of registered person Lancaster Lodge Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 March 2015 Telephone number 01353662808

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reference number

Lancaster Lodge Childcare Ltd registered in 2013 and is privately owned. The nursery is open from 7.30am until 6.30pm each weekday, all year round, except for one week at Christmas. The nursery provides funded early education sessions for children aged two, three and four years. There are currently 14 staff employed, including three directors of the company. Of these, 11 staff work directly with the children. The provider, who also manages the nursery, holds a relevant qualification at level 4, eight staff have qualifications at level 3 and two have qualifications at level 2.

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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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