Cracker Jacks Day Nursery

Cracker Jacks Day Nursery 3 Foundry Way, St Neots PE19 8TR

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Inspection date 14 May 2019 Previous inspection date 20 February 2019

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires improvement Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision is good

n Children are happy and enjoy their time at the nursery. They form secure attachments with their key person. This helps to promote their emotional and physical well-being and gives them the confidence to explore. n Staff use the key-person system well to gather information from parents about their child's needs. They then use this to inform the planning and routines, helping children to feel comfortable and settled. n Parents report a high level of satisfaction with the nursery. They say communication is good and staff are reassuring and helpful. Staff work hard to develop and maintain good relationships with parents. n Staff build good working relationships with other agencies to help support children and their families. This is effective in providing children with continuity in their learning. n Staff assess any risks thoroughly. They implement clear procedures for keeping children safe when they move from one room to another.

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This provision is good

n Staff support children to develop skills that help them to become independent at an early age. Children learn to use cutlery at mealtimes and to serve themselves drinks, pouring water from jugs into cups. n Staff do not provide consistently challenging activities to extend older children's learning. n The leadership team has not sought further ways to share good practice that help all staff develop a deep knowledge of teaching and 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

n provide more highly challenging activities to extend older children's learning n find more innovative ways to share good practice across the nursery that help to raise the quality of teaching to a higher level.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation of staff's practice with the deputy manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the management team. She looked at relevant documentation, including daily registers and risk assessments, and saw evidence of staff suitability checks. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The provider is clear about her responsibility to notify Ofsted when appropriate. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities. They know how to record and report child protection or safeguarding concerns to help keep children safe. The members of the management team follow robust recruitment processes. They have clear procedures for checking the ongoing suitability of the staff. Systems for reviewing staff performance are in place and staff have regular opportunities for training. The management team evaluates the nursery provision and uses this information to inform continuous improvements to the environment. Children's progress is checked, ensuring any gaps in learning are quickly identified and addressed.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff carry out observations and assessments of children's learning and use this information to plan for their next steps in learning. Staff provide varied and imaginative experiences that interest and motivate children to learn. Children show good levels of engagement during their play and readily select resources to lead their own play. Babies are curious about the water spilt on their tray. They observe how it trickles across when they poke it with their finger. Toddlers have good opportunities to use their voices. They join in with great enthusiasm to sing familiar nursery rhymes. They confidently demonstrate to visitors how the monkeys jump on the bed. Some staff skilfully demonstrate and use questions to challenge children's learning. They use signs and words to build on children's communication skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff plan settling-in routines for children, in consultation with the parents, which help foster children's emotional well-being. All babies have their own routine for sleeping and staff gently comfort them when they are tired or upset. Children's behaviour is good. Staff encourage children to share and take turns, which helps them to develop good personal and social skills. Staff use praise well to help children recognise their strengths and support them to overcome any difficulties. Children are very active and enjoy their time outdoors. They explore the wealth of resources and carefully pour water from one container to another. Children understand and adopt good hygiene practice. They benefit from nutritious home-cooked meals.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress and are developing the skills they need in readiness for school. Babies are developing good physical skills. They pull themselves to standing and use chalk to make random marks. Children enjoy looking at books and listening to well- read stories. They are keen to have a go at mark making and develop this into writing. Older children form recognisable letters to competently write their name.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY482195 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10099406 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 - 12 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 108 Name of registered person Splatz Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 20 February 2019 Telephone number 01480 477515

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reference number

Cracker Jacks Day Nursery registered in 2014. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and five hold qualifications at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It provides before- and after-school care and a holiday club for older 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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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