Busy Bees St Neots

Treetops St Neots 4 Marlborough Road, Colmworth Business Park,, Eaton Socon, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 8YP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 July 2017 28 September 2016

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Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The quality of teaching does not always consistently stimulate and challenge children’s learning and development. As a result, children are not always encouraged to make best progress in their learning and development.  Recently introduced supervision procedures to monitor staff practice are not fully effective. Procedures need time to embed in order to have a greater impact on improving the quality of teaching.  Children’s early mathematical understanding is not fully maximised. This is because staff working with the younger children do not consistently introduce mathematical language and numbers as they explore the activities provided.

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It has the following strengths

 The newly appointed manager demonstrates enthusiasm and motivation. She has begun to evaluate all aspects of the nursery and has identified areas for improvement.  Management and staff develop caring relationships with the children. This supports children to feel safe and emotionally secure. Children behave appropriately, express their needs and enjoy their time at the nursery.  Successful settling-in procedures help staff to know children’s personal care needs and stage of development prior to them starting. This supports continuity in the children’s care and development. Parents comment positively about the nursery.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 improve the quality of teaching to ensure all children receive consistently good quality learning and development experiences to help them make good progress. 30/09/2017

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 implement revised performance management arrangements so that staff deliver high quality teaching practice  introduce mathematical language and numbers during child-initiated activities with younger children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspectors observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and senior management staff. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the nursery’s self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspectors considered the views of parents in discussions during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The newly appointed manager is working hard to make improvements across the nursery. This includes the introduction of revised supervision procedures. However, at the time of the inspection these arrangements are not having a significant impact on improving the quality of teaching. Safeguarding is effective. Recruitment and induction procedures, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks, are in place. This enables management to assess a person’s suitably. A number of staff hold appropriate qualifications. Staff complete the company’s safeguarding and health and safety training before they start working at the nursery. This supports management and staff to understand the indicator signs of abuse and the referral procedures in the event of a child protection concern. Staff complete daily checks of the nursery to ensure the environment is safe for the children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The quality of teaching varies across the nursery. Staff sometimes miss opportunities to question and challenge children’s thinking as they play. This restricts children's progress. Additionally, storytelling activities do not always captivate the attention of all children. Staff follow the children's interests and incorporate this into their planning. For example, older children’s interest in mini beasts has led to them learning about the life cycle of the butterfly. Children develop their hand-to-eye coordination and physical skills as they use tools in the sand and explore resources. Younger children pour water from one container to another. However, staff miss opportunities to introduce early counting and mathematical language. Babies smile and make babbling sounds as they play peek-a-boo games with the staff. This supports their early communication skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Steps are being taken to improve aspects of the nursery environment, including the range of resources and activities. However, available resources are, sometimes, not effectively used to enhance children's learning and enjoyment. For example, props to support story telling activities. Children have daily opportunities to be active in the fresh air. They enjoy nutritious meals and snacks. Older children independently wash their hands and serve their own drinks and food. Appropriate procedures are in place to support children with special dietary and health requirements. Accidents are handled appropriately and the administration of medication is carefully monitored.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Overall, children, including children who speak English as an additional language, make steady progress in their learning. Older children show an enthusiastic approach in their learning and develop some key skills in readiness for school. They independently access activities and manage their self-care needs. Older children communicate their thoughts and ideas during constructions activities. They count with growing confidence and are beginning to name and sound letters of the alphabet.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY316231 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1096276 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 93 Number of children on roll 130 Name of registered person Treetops Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 28 September 2016 Telephone number 01480 476817

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reference number

Treetops St Neots was registered in 2005. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold early years qualifications at level 2 and level 3. 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. It supports children who speak English as an additional language.

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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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