Elm Cottage Day Nursery

Elm Cottage Day Nursery 11 Crescent Park, Stockport, Cheshire, SK4 2HS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 July 2017 17 January 2014

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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 leads her team with great efficiency and wonderfully inspiring practice in all aspects of the nursery. She is extremely proactive and, together with the views of staff, parents and children, consistently reflects on ways to continue to drive and maintain this already outstanding provision.  Well-qualified staff have an excellent knowledge and understanding of the individual needs of the children they care for. They accurately observe and assess children in order to plan sharply focused, challenging activities for the next steps in their learning. Babies' and children's learning needs are superbly met and they make rapid progress in relation to their starting points.  Staff provide children with a rich, vibrant and imaginative environment, both indoors and outdoors. It is superbly organised to help promote children's physical and emotional skills and to support their learning and development needs. Children gain an

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This provision is outstanding

abundance of confidence and enthusiasm and are extremely motivated to learn.  Key persons are exceptionally skilled and sensitive, and help babies and children to successfully form strong emotional attachments and feel very secure within the nursery. Care practices are superb and contribute to children's excellent health and well-being.  Partnerships with parents and other early years providers are highly effective. This shared approach helps to ensure excellent consistency and continuity for children and they achieve the best possible learning outcomes.

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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 enhance the highly effective programme of professional development in order to consistently drive the already outstanding quality of teaching.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation of a planned adult-led activity with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as children's records, safeguarding policies and procedures and evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection and from written feedback on questionnaires obtained by the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a very secure knowledge of the procedures to follow in order to keep children safe from harm. The manager knows which children are attending each day and has highly robust systems in place to ensure that the ratio requirements are consistently met. Staff are deployed to maximum effect in order to ensure that children are supervised at all times, including managing children as they move between the indoor and outdoor environment. The manager closely checks the progress made by different groups of children extremely well. Informative data is obtained which helps her to identify gaps in children's learning and implement effective strategies to ensure all children reach their full potential. Extremely thorough and accurate self- evaluation and action plans help to ensure that children continue to receive high-quality learning experiences. The manager carries out one-to-one supervision meetings,

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

observations of staff practice and appraisals to manage their performance superbly. She recognises the importance of continuous professional development to consistently drive and maintain high-quality teaching and learning outcomes for children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

All children demonstrate high levels of engagement in activities. For example, babies squeal with delight as they take part in a singing session. The excellent use of puppets and props helps to bring songs to life and keep children interested. Toddlers are thoroughly engrossed in their play when they explore a tray filled with assorted cereals and investigate how they can use tractors and diggers to move it around. Children learn using all their senses and develop their natural sense of curiosity. Older children have a wonderful time in the outdoor play area. They are thrilled and excited to show staff the snails they find in the garden. Children splash in puddles, investigate how many buckets of water they need to fill containers and listen to stories in the snug area.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff provide children with appropriate clothing to enable them to experience enjoyable exercise and fresh air in all weathers. Many children choose to spend long periods of time outdoors, exploring and investigating the very wide range of experiences on offer. Parents comment that they understand the importance of this and that their children prefer to play and learn outside. Children behave extremely well. They demonstrate a kind, caring and helpful attitude towards staff and each other.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Babies and children make rapid progress. This includes children whose starting points are below expected levels of development for their age. Toddlers and pre-school children demonstrate an extremely mature understanding of mathematical concepts, linking sounds to letters and a positive attitude towards learning. They acquire an excellent range of skills and abilities that helps them prepare exceedingly well for future learning and school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 307135 Local authority Stockport Inspection number 1109273 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 50 Number of children on roll 95 Name of registered person Elm Cottage Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 January 2014 Telephone number 0161 443 2228

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reference number

Elm Cottage Day Nursery opened in 1989. It is one of five provisions run by Elm Cottage Limited. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 8am until 6pm, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. The nursery provides funded early education for two- , three- and four-year-olds. There are a total of 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds early years teacher status, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at degree level, one holds a qualification at level 5, 11 hold level 3 and four hold level 2. The nursery is supported by a general manager who holds qualified teacher status.

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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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