Millington Road Nursery School

Inspection of Millington Road Nursery School 4a Millington Road, CAMBRIDGE CB3 9HP

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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The provision is outstanding

Children settle extremely quickly into their play at the nursery. The more established and confident children greet the staff with enthusiasm and delight. Others take time, with support from staff, to begin exploring at their pace. Children who are upset on entry are soon marvelling at the sandpit.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff know what interests and inspires children to learn. They plan activities together and children identify materials they want to use, such as clay and coloured dough. They mould these materials to recreate 'Cambridge cows' that they saw when out and about over the summer. Children show their creative skills in this activity and make links to their community.

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The provision is outstanding

Children develop a love of reading and stories. They copy the staff and pretend they are the teacher and read a story about owls to dolls and each other. They use the owl puppets to fly around the garden, replicating the storyline and repeating familiar phrases from the book. Children develop physical control and strength through an abundance of opportunities. They climb and balance and safely manoeuvre tricycles around the garden. They encourage their friends to have a go and celebrate their achievements together. Children engage and concentrate for a sustained period as they stretch and crawl, using planks, spades and their hands to spread and smooth large areas of sand to their satisfaction.

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need to do better?

n The highly skilled staff team strive to constantly better their practice to benefit children. The deputy is completing an action research project to review and further develop the service they provide for children. n Staff gather a range of information about children's unique starting points and use this information superbly to build on children's learning and help them make links in their world. Staff know their key children extremely well. They celebrate festivals that link with their culture. Additional funding is used wisely to meet children's needs and help build on children's experiences from home. n Staff are excellent role models for the children. They are considerate and respectful. When a new child arrives, their key person excuses themselves from the group of children they are with and explains that they will return in a moment. This helps children gain a highly sensitive awareness of appropriate

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need to do better?

social skills. n Staff make the most of opportunities to expertly extend children's learning. When children want to decorate their sand creations with sand shapes, staff work together with the children to experiment. They suggest 'we use our brains' to find out if and how they can do this. As result, children use a range of strategies and equipment to test out their idea and predict whether the same

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need to do better?

9 September 2021 thing will keep happening. n Children competently make links in their learning. They respond to adults when they use new definitions. For example, staff explain the meaning of the word 'multi-colour' to which children respond that they have multi-tools at their home with a variety of items on them. Staff listen and value children's contributions. As a result, children practise and explore new words, developing the communication skills needed to be lifelong learners. n Staff identify children with emerging needs early and have clear plans to support these needs. Staff are trained to deliver specialist language groups to help children develop their communication skills. This helps children to catch up quickly and exceed the expectations for their age. n Staff help bilingual children and those who speak English as additional language to use their home language, giving them a sense of belonging in the nursery.

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need to do better?

For example, they frequently sing nursery rhymes in the languages of the children who attend. n Parents are very pleased with the nursery. The feel well informed about their children's learning, including the two year progress check discussed and completed during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. They value the communication they have from staff, which offers highly practical guidance on how to support children's learning at home and to provide healthy lunches. n The principal and deputy work closely to support staff well-being. Supervision meetings and professional development for staff is given high priority. For example, staff take on further qualifications and attend training courses that complement the skills of other team members. This means children receive a curriculum of education that always considers their needs and offers exciting learning opportunities.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's well-being and safety is at the heart of the nursery. The staff have a very strong safeguarding knowledge and know how to report any concerns about children or staff. The designated officers are aware of local issues that could affect children's welfare, and they work tirelessly with other agencies to help ensure children and families receive all the help they need. The committee has a designated officer who is trained in safer recruitment and the principal checks the ongoing suitability of existing staff.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY385967 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10147294 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 45 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person The Millington Road Nursery School Trust

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reference number

Telephone number 01223 356565 Date of previous inspection 14 February 2020

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Information about this early years setting

Millington Road Nursery School re-registered in 2008 and is located on the outskirts of Cambridge. The setting is open Monday to Friday from 8.15am to 4.30pm, during school term times. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including two with early years professional status. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector and the nursery principal carried out a tour of the nursery to discuss and understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. They carried out a joint observation. n The inspector observed activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact these have on children's learning. n A meeting was held between the inspector and the nursery principal. The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including the safeguarding procedures and evidence of the suitability of staff and committee. n The inspector held discussions with staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

9 September 2021 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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