The Willows Day Nursery (March)

The Willows Day Nursery (March) 50 Knights End Road, March, PE15 9QA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 January 2018 Not applicable

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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

 The well-qualified manager is a very reflective practitioner. She works effectively with the local authority and continually aspires to further improve practice and provision.  Partnerships with parents are strong. Discussions between parents and key persons help to establish children's starting points. Thereafter, parents contribute to their children's learning through a range of methods and they receive frequent information about the good progress their children are making.  There is effective communication with other providers when children attend additional settings. This helps to provide children with consistency in their learning and development.  Children benefit from the secure and nurturing environment. Babies demonstrate they feel safe and foster attachments with staff. For example, they often signal when they need a cuddle.  Staff meet children's individual needs well and prioritise their welfare. For example,

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This provision is good

they cater for children with a variety of allergies and dietary requirements.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Sometimes, staff do not give children enough time to respond to questions and deepen their curiosity and thinking.  Information from observations is not always used accurately to evaluate and target specific next steps in children's learning.

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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

 enhance teaching practice to allow children more time to respond to questions and develop their critical-thinking skills  make even better use of observations to assess and plan precisely for children's next steps in learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector held discussions with the manager and looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff understand how to keep children safe. They know the reporting requirements should they have concerns about a child's safety or welfare. Staff attend ongoing child protection training to keep their knowledge up to date. The manager follows effective procedures to recruit new staff safely. For example, she obtains relevant suitability checks. The manager evaluates the progress of individual and specific groups of children, including those in receipt of additional funding. She identifies areas for improvement, such as mathematics and technology. The manager has purchased additional resources and provided training courses for staff to help close any gaps in children's learning. Staff have opportunities to further improve their practice through regular supervision meetings.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff interact enthusiastically with children and join in with their learning. They provide babies with stimulating activities. For example, babies immerse themselves in the sensory properties of shaving foam. In addition, staff support them to make marks with vehicles in the foam, highlighting the notion of cause and effect. Staff build on children's anticipation skills. They use language, such as, 'ready, steady, go'. Older children learn simple mathematical concepts. They explore colour mixing with paint and predict what new colour will emerge. This helps children to think scientifically.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The key-person system is effective. Staff know the children well and develop highly effective relationships with them. They are positive role models. Staff listen to children and consult them in creating rules to establish mutually agreed behavioural boundaries. Children are willing to share resources and play contently alongside each other, respecting their differences. They have ample opportunities for fresh air and exercise. Children enjoy being active outside, where they develop competent physical skills. For instance, children delight in jumping, hopping and splashing in puddles. They foster a sense of independence as they routinely serve themselves during mealtimes.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning. They develop a wide range of skills which prepares them well for school. For example, children exercise the small muscles in their hands as they learn to use scissors safely and appropriately. Older children are beginning to demonstrate an understanding of phonics as they make links between letters and sounds. Furthermore, children show an interest in handwriting. They practise writing the letters in their name, demonstrating good pencil control.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494898 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1030262 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 58 Number of children on roll 70 Name of registered person The Willows Day Nursery (Chatteris) Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01354462417

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reference number

The Willows Day Nursery (March) registered in 2015. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 5, one at level 4 and seven at level 3. The nursery opens 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

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