Clarence House Cambridge

Inspection of Clarence House Cambridge Old Church Hall, Green End Road, Cambridge, Cambs CB4 1RW

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time in this welcoming nursery. They arrive happy and settle easily on arrival. Staff are kind and caring in their approach and children have formed strong bonds with them. They readily seek them out for cuddles and reassurance. Children have built close relationships with their peers and play together well. They learn the importance of sharing and turn taking in their games and group activities. Children excitedly chase each other around the garden in a game of tag and engage in role play together, making up stories of a trip to the shops and acting it out.

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The provision is good

Babies and toddlers explore their environment with confidence. Staff encourage them to be independent and make their own choices, such as the paint colours they wish to use when painting. Children enjoy sensory experiences as they experiment with paint and create models and make cakes with dough. In pre- school, children use cereals, water and gravy granules in small world play to create an excellent representation of mud as they learn about farm animals. All children have good opportunities to be physically active. The eldest children climb steps and use a climbing wall with confidence. They show good awareness of space as they carefully ride their balance bicycles and scooters along a path.

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need to do better?

n Children receive a good level of care and education. Key persons know their children well and the curriculum in place builds on what children know and can do in preparation for school. Staff follow children's interests when planning the activities they provide. n Overall, staff demonstrate a consistently good level of teaching. They talk to children as they play, are a good role model and provide encouragement. However, on occasions some staff do not adapt their teaching skills effectively to ensure that the eldest children's learning is extended. They sometimes allow more confident children to dominate an activity, which means quieter, less confident children are overlooked. n The manager is fairly new to her role but is establishing strong leadership skills and is committed to providing a quality provision for all children. Staff feel the manager makes them feel valued, is supportive and they are listened to. The

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need to do better?

manager meets regularly with staff and monitors their performance. n Staff understand the importance of building children's communication and language skills. They help children who speak English as an additional language to communicate effectively. Reading stories and singing songs are part of everyday practice and children can and do access books independently. Staff speak directly and clearly to children and give them opportunities to think for themselves and express their ideas. Staff introduce new words to help build

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need to do better?

25 January 2022 children's vocabulary, such as the word 'friction' when children rub their hands together to make them warm. n Parents receive a good account of their child's day at collection time. They say that staff are friendly and courteous, and communication is good. Observations and photos of children in play are regularly shared with parents through an online platform. The manager has good plans in place to further extend parents involvement with their children's learning through a range of schemes, such as a lending library. n Children play in a safe and secure environment. Risk assessment is robust to ensure that any risks to children are quickly identified and minimised. Sleeping children are regularly checked and staff constantly supervise and support children using the large apparatus in the garden. Children are reminded of safe practises, such as being mindful of other children's fingers when shutting the

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need to do better?

play house door. n Staff help children to become independent. Older children are able to manage their own self-care skills in preparation for school and life. They toilet themselves, dress for outdoor play and scrape their leftover food into a bin after lunch.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand their duty to protect children in their care. They show a clear understanding of the procedures to follow for reporting their concerns about children and adults in the setting. Staff can recognise a wide range of signs and symptoms of abuse, including who may be at risk of female genital mutilation. They undertake regular training and discuss safeguarding issues in supervisions and staff meetings. There are robust procedures in place for the safe recruitment of staff and their ongoing suitability is regularly checked.

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should:

n enhance teaching, particularly for older children, to help staff extend children's learning to the highest level n improve small group activities, so that all children have equal opportunities to join in and express their ideas.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY478404 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10218473 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

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inspection

Total number of places 38 Number of children on roll 52 Name of registered person Clarence House Day Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01223778383 Date of previous inspection 13 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Clarence House Cambridge registered in 2014. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. 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 nursery 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 nursery. n The inspector undertook a learning walk with the manager to find out about the nursery and the children who attend. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n A joint observation was completed and evaluated with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. n The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents to gain 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

25 January 2022 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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