Sunflower Nursery Cambridge

Sunflower Nursery Cambridge 2a Stretten Avenue, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB4 3EP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 June 2017 11 June 2014

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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

 Leaders and managers are ambitious and have high expectations. Self-evaluation includes the views of parents, staff and children and is used well to identify and prioritise improvements.  Children benefit from a broad range of engaging experiences that take into account their individual interests. Older children behave extremely well and have grown into confident individuals who are more than ready for the new challenges of school.  There is a good focus on safeguarding. Managers and staff are well trained in child protection matters. They have a confident understanding of how to recognise and address concerns about children's welfare. They work effectively with other agencies to support children and families who need extra help.  Children are provided with many enjoyable activities that support their communication and language skills. From an early age, children develop a love of books and stories.

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This provision is good

They learn songs and rhymes and continually extend their vocabulary.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Not all staff recognise when to adapt their teaching in order to present more challenging learning opportunities for the most-able children, motivating them to make outstanding progress in their learning.  Group activities for younger children do not take account of those children who find sitting and listening more difficult.

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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

 adapt activities more skilfully to provide motivational and challenging learning opportunities for the most-able children  review the planning of group activities to take account of the varying abilities of the children taking part.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector carried out a joint observation with the deputy manager.  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 to several parents, looked at comments in children's records and examined the results of surveys.  The inspector spoke with staff and children at convenient times during the inspection. She held meetings with the manager and other senior leaders.  A range of documentation was looked at, including the nursery's self-evaluation, policies and procedures and children's records. Evidence of staff suitability and training records were checked.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Leaders have a strong commitment to staff's professional development. Staff are encouraged to improve their qualifications and attend training that increases their skills. For example, staff have attended forest-school workshops to better support children who enjoy being outdoors. Safeguarding is effective. Recruitment procedures are thorough to help ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. The nursery is secure and any visitors have their identity checked. Children are involved in carrying out risk assessments, such as helping staff with their regular checks of the premises. Staff have very good partnerships with parents. They involve parents in their children's assessments and provide ideas to help them extend learning at home.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Well qualified and experienced staff use their skills effectively to observe children and accurately assess their learning. The planning of activities is responsive to children's individual interests. Staff know the children well and have affectionate relationships with them. They have enjoyable discussions with children and value their contributions, promoting their self-esteem. Staff take children on walks to learn about the community around them. Children develop their awareness of different cultures and lifestyles as, for example, they learn about different festivals. Numbers are woven into practical activities. Children count the insects they find and mark the numbers off a clipboard. Staff encourage older children to develop shape and colour recognition in fun ways, such as playing games on the computer.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Most children have almost continuous access to the outdoors. They play exuberantly in the rain, delighting in splashing in puddles. Staff encourage children to look for insects and together they examine slugs and snails with interest. Mealtimes are well organised to give children time to sit, relax and socialise. Menus are well balanced and healthy. Staff talk to children about the benefits of fresh foods and help them to grow produce in the garden. Children develop strong emotional links with staff and enjoy their company. Parents provide detailed information when children first join the nursery, which helps to support a positive settling-in process. Babies and younger children are nurtured by attentive staff and benefit from following their home routines.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress in their learning. Additional funding is used well to support those children who need help to catch up with their peers. Children learn practical skills, such as tidying away and washing their hands. There is an array of writing materials to promote children's interest in making marks. Many older children confidently write their names.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 221564 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1087671 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 45 Number of children on roll 74 Name of registered person Cambridge Housing Society Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 11 June 2014 Telephone number 01223 578608

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reference number

Sunflower Nursery registered in 1995 and is part of a not-for-profit organisation. The nursery employs 18 members of staff, including an administrator and a cook. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, four hold qualifications at level 6 and one has early years teacher status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round, with the exception of bank holidays and some staff training days. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. 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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