YMCA Childcare Blinco Grove

Inspection of YMCA Childcare Blinco Grove 100 The Annex, Blinco Grove, Cambridge CB1 7TX

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children have developed strong bonds with staff, who provide a welcoming and secure environment where children feel safe. Staff are kind and nurturing, helping children to develop good levels of self-confidence and an enjoyment of learning. Children manage their personal care well. They understand how sensible hygiene routines contribute to their good health. Children develop good physical skills and gain an understanding of healthy lifestyles. They carefully walk across stepping stones, scoot along on balance bicycles and enjoy running around in the fresh air.

p.2

The provision is good

Children's behaviour is good. Older children manage their feelings well and are beginning to understand how their behaviour affects others. Children follow the good example set by staff, who gently remind them of the rules. Staff praise children's efforts and children readily celebrate each other's achievements. This helps build their confidence and reinforces their positive attitudes to learning.

p.2

The provision is good

Children are confident speakers and are developing good communication skills. They eagerly share their thoughts and stories about home, telling others about their family. Babies take turns with staff to roll a ball back and forth. They enjoy the repetitive motion and excitedly say, 'Again'. Staff skilfully use signing to further engage babies and encourage their increasing language skills.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff have a good knowledge of their key children. They understand what children need to learn next and use information from their observations of children to guide their planning. Staff gather useful information about children when they first start at the nursery. This enables them to tailor their support for children, so that all make good progress in their learning. Additional funding, such as early years pupil premium, is used well to support children's learning needs. n Staff understood the potential effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children and kept in regular contact with them and their families during periods of national lockdown. Staff helped parents to guide their child's learning at home, providing resources and activities to support them during this time. They also understood that new children attending may not have had many social experiences and tailored the settling-in process for each child accordingly.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children relish opportunities to be creative in different ways. They enjoy decorating and re-decorating the Christmas trees. Children explore coloured rice and spend time tipping it from one pot to another. Staff offer good opportunities for children to develop the key skills that help them to be ready for school. For example, children practise sitting, listening, and taking turns during board games.

p.2

need to do better?

16 December 2021 n Parents praise the quality of care their children receive and provide positive comments about their children's experiences. They say that their child is thriving at the nursery and they appreciate the good information staff share about their children's learning. Parents comment that their children have settled very well and enjoy an interesting range of activities and learning opportunities. n Staff are well qualified and most hold paediatric first-aid certificates. This enables them to act swiftly in the event of an emergency. The manager provides effective supervision, ensuring staff have regular opportunities for training. Staff work well together. They say they enjoy working at the nursery and the manager is very supportive. However, the leadership team have not sought further ways to help all staff develop a deeper knowledge of teaching and learning. n Babies eagerly crawl to explore the inviting space and ably pull themselves to

p.2

need to do better?

standing on the sturdy furniture. They thoroughly enjoy exploring foam and excitedly clap their hands to make the foam go everywhere. Babies laugh with delight when the foam lands on a member of staff. n Although children enjoy being outdoors, the curriculum content is not embedded securely across the provision. There is less focus on using it to guide children's learning in the outdoor area in more meaningful ways. Sometimes, children's learning is less purposeful.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of child protection and the wider safeguarding issues. They know the importance of taking prompt action to protect children and the procedures to follow to report concerns they may have about a child in their care. All staff attend safeguarding training to ensure their knowledge is up to date. Robust recruitment and vetting arrangements help ensure that staff working with children are suitable for their role. Effective staff deployment means that children are well supervised and cared for. Staff carry out daily checks and risk assessments to ensure that the premises remain safe and secure.

p.3

should:

n strengthen the planning for the outdoor area to provide children with the same rich experiences for learning as those inside n build on the already good practice and seek further ways to help all staff develop first-rate teaching skills.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2565267 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10217360 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 73 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person YMCA Trinity Group

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01223 949090 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

YMCA Childcare Blinco Grove registered in 2020 and is run by a charitable incorporated organisation. The nursery is open all year round from 7.30 until 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for public holidays and one week at Christmas. There are seven members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including the manager. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector observed activities indoors and outside and assessed the impact these have on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss and understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n Parents and grandparents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector had discussions with staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n A meeting was held between the inspector and the manager. The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including the safeguarding procedures and

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

16 December 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6