Childrens Ark Day Nursery

Inspection of Childrens Ark Day Nursery Papworth Hall, Ermine Street South, Papworth Everard, Cambridge CB23 3RD

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children form strong bonds with their key person and other adults in the nursery. Babies are inquisitive and confidently interact with visitors. They smile as they play and react positively to the praise they receive, such as staff clapping the babies when they successfully complete a puzzle. Staff are kind and speak to children using calm voices and tones. At sleep times, staff read stories to children to soothe and relax them before they sleep.

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The provision is good

Older children spend quality time playing in the fresh air and can move freely between play areas. This gives them good opportunities to make their own choices about where they would like to play. Children enjoy being physically active. They race their bikes and scooters around a track, negotiating the space well. Children enjoy jumping off low apparatus on to a large inflatable cushion. They count loudly before they jump, both forwards and backwards from five. Babies learning to walk move themselves around their room with ease, using low-level furniture to pull themselves up to a standing position.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is good and they are confident to express their feelings to others. For example, when other children step in the way of them scooting, they politely say excuse me. Children learn to share and take turns in their play and this is consistently reinforced by staff.

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need to do better?

n Staff are knowledgeable about the children they care for. They understand their individual personalities and learning needs. Staff provide a varied curriculum, using regular assessments to build on what children know and can already do. n There are effective systems in place to monitor the delivery of the curriculum to ensure all children receive a positive start to their education. The management team provides good support and professional development opportunities to help enhance staff's teaching skills and confidence. Staff feel that they are well supported to carry out their role. They are positive about changes the new owners are implementing at the nursery and understand how these benefit the children who attend. n Staff communicate well with children, including those who speak English as an additional language. They give meaningful narrative to activities and ask age- appropriate questions to develop children's thinking skills. At the sand tray, staff

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need to do better?

introduce children to interesting words, such as 'squished' and 'veins' to extend their vocabulary. Children throughout the nursery sing songs and listen to stories throughout the day, which helps to promote their language skills. n Staff plan interesting sensory experiences for the youngest children. Babies use their hands and feet to explore flour and smile when they can feel it between

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need to do better?

22 September 2021 their toes. At the sand tray, children pat and push the sand with their fingers to make their creations. When staff sing, children shake their shakers along to the song. n Children are developing their independent skills in preparation for adult life. Older children confidently toilet themselves and change their slippers to shoes for outdoor play. Children complete tasks such as serving themselves food at lunchtime and pouring their own drinks. They make good attempts to cut their own food with a fork and knife. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive good, targeted support. Staff meet regularly with families and other professionals involved in the children's care to discuss progress and next steps. n Parents are positive about the nursery. They feel they receive constant, clear communication about their children's development. Parents have welcomed the changes the new owners have implemented, such as the introduction of a book

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need to do better?

bag and book to read with their child at home. n Staff are vigilant about safety and well deployed to supervise children effectively, especially around higher risk areas, such as large apparatus in the garden. A culture of risk assessment and daily hazard checks is embedded into the daily routines so that children can play safely in all areas. Children are taught safe practices, such as how to pass scissors safely to each other. n Older children enjoy consistently good opportunities to learn and play outdoors. However, there are some missed opportunities to provide the youngest babies with daily, rich experiences that promote their physically active play outdoors.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand their duty to protect children they care for. They know the procedures to follow should they have any safeguarding concerns, including how to report concerns to the appropriate agencies. Staff demonstrate clear knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse, including signs associated with extreme behaviours and possible radicalisation. They attend regular safeguarding training to keep their knowledge refreshed. Recruitment procedures are very thorough and ongoing suitability is regularly checked.

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should:

n strengthen the planning for the outdoor play to provide babies with rich learning experiences that consistently promote their physical well-being.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2603004 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10207553 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 42 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Monarchs Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01480 831200 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Children's Ark Day Nursery registered in 2021. The nursery employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, level 4, early years teacher status, qualified teacher status and master's degree level. The provider also holds qualified teacher status and has a master's degree in education. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.15am to 6pm. The setting 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 nursery received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The provider joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The provider and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

22 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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