Brambles Childcare

Inspection of Brambles Childcare St. Helens Primary School, Bluntisham, Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire PE28 3NY

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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 are safe and well cared for at this nursery. They form very good attachments with the staff. Children speak confidently to adults, expressing their wants and needs. Toddlers learn to wait and take turns with toys, and pre-school children model positive behaviour to their younger peers, reminding each other to share their toys. Children are confident to interact in mixed-age groups in the garden, sharing trains and mark making using paint.

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The provision is good

Children are encouraged to develop their independence. They cut up their snack with knives and make choices about what fruits they want to eat. Children participate in self-care routines independently in preparation for school. They are encouraged to be active and use the outdoors as a means of exploration. Children use the mud kitchen cooperatively, baking cakes and taking turns with their peers. They make use of a wooded area, where they engage in forest school activities and explore the natural environment.

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The provision is good

Children gain new experiences and learn about their wider community. They visit farms and the local community to gain new experiences. Children have visits from the MAGPAS air ambulance and people who help them to gain knowledge about the wider community.

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need to do better?

n Staff join in with children's play and help to build their vocabulary. For example, children playing with an optician's set learn words such as 'visually impaired', 'glasses' and 'optometrist'. Staff members repeat the words and check that children understand these as they play. However, children sometimes need more time to respond during conversations. n Children work collaboratively together. For example, they work together in the garden to construct a train track. Toddlers play alongside one another and with each other in the sand tray. Staff help them to build friendships with those around them. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are quickly identified. Staff support them with short, focused activities to help them interact with others in preparation for school and later life. They use visual boards to support children to understand what will happen next. These strategies contribute towards all children making good progress.

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need to do better?

n The nursery works very well with parents to ensure that children are happy and secure. Parents say they 'would be lost without them'. Links with local schools are strong and children are happy and confident to start school. Pre-school children visit the school next door for an hour a week in preparation for their next stage of learning. n Children who speak English as an additional language receive strong support.

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need to do better?

30 June 2022 Staff find out about children's backgrounds when they start at the nursery. They learn key vocabulary in children's home languages and work collaboratively with parents. This helps them to meet children's needs. Younger children demonstrate their developing understanding of English. For instance, they talk about animals and what baby animals are called. Staff provide children with relevant language as they complete activities and use visual aids to support this. As a result, children are able to communicate what they know effectively with staff. n The management team and staff have identified the impact that COVID-19 has had on children. As a result of this, staff encourage children to interact with others and build their confidence. Children spoke to the inspector to involve her in their play and confidently told her about what they enjoy at nursery. n Overall, children behave well. They sit down and eat their meals together,

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need to do better?

developing their manners and reminding each other of the nursery rules. However, children do not consistently benefit from rich opportunities to enjoy a social experience at mealtimes that supports high-quality interactions with adults and their peers.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand how to identify the potential signs of abuse and neglect. They confidently understand the process to follow should they have concerns regarding children's welfare. Staff complete regular safeguarding training. They are aware of wider safeguarding issues, such as how to identify children who may be at risk of exposure to radicalisation. The manager liaises with other professionals, such as social workers, and she recognises the importance of sharing information with them regularly to help to keep children safe.

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should:

n give children the time they need to enable them to process their thoughts and respond with their answers n review the organisation of mealtimes to provide children with a sociable experience that raises that quality of their interactions with adults and each other.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY560545 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10190776 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 60 Number of children on roll 103 Name of registered person Brambles Childcare

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reference number

Telephone number 01487843466 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Brambles Childcare is run by a charitable incorporated organisation. The committee employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including the manager, who is qualified to level 4. The pre-school and out-of-school club opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions for pre-school are from 9am until 3pm. Sessions for the out-of-school club are from 8am until 8.50am, and from 3pm until 6pm. The pre- school 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 provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provision. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed their curriculum and what it is that they want their children to learn. 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 at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n Children spoke to the inspector about the activities they were doing. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the

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Inspection activities

nursery. n A number of parents provided written feedback and the inspector 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

30 June 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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