Harlequin Childcare

Inspection of Harlequin Childcare The Old School House, 54 Downham Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 1BL

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children flourish in this exceptional nursery. They receive high-quality care from the attentive and caring staff. Leaders and staff promote a joint passion and dedication to providing the best possible care and education for all children. Children become deeply engaged in the abundance of activities available to them. Children eagerly share their thoughts about experiences and say what they like to do at nursery. They take visitors on a tour to show them the resources. Children point out their artwork of light and dark circles, explaining that the artist believed 'everything starts with a dot'.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They show kindness and consideration for each other, and this results in high levels of well-being. Staff show the utmost respect to children and each other. They seek permission from babies before changing their nappies and allow young children to make their own play choices. Children are impressively self-sufficient and develop a can-do attitude from an early age. Babies feed themselves and younger children wash their own hands at snack time. Older children put their shoes on and fasten them with ease. Staff empower children to carry out small tasks, which helps to prepare children to start school with confidence.

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need to do better?

n Highly experienced leaders share their ambitious curriculum with all staff. The management team is visible in the nursery, which enables them to really know what is happening. They constantly reflect and check children's progress. Staff provide an inspiring sequenced curriculum, building on what they know children can do and what they need to learn next. As a result, children are wonderfully engaged and focused on learning. n Staff use books and stories exceptionally well. Children develop a love of words and show excellent concentration as they listen to frequent, animated story reading. While reading a book about finding the perfect pet, babies giggle with delight as staff tickle them with a soft toy monkey. n Children immerse in a language-rich environment. Staff expertly build children's speech and language skills through meaningful conversations. Staff show a genuine interest in what children say. Children share experiences from home

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need to do better?

and recall what they know. Staff provide exciting opportunities to encourage children's speech. For example, children enter a 'crime scene' to decide 'who done it?' Children talk about the clues they find, engage in lively conversation and share ideas to solve the crime. n Staff are extremely passionate about the use of mathematics as they weave this into many activities. Babies learn about proportion as they successfully explore wooden blocks ranging in size. Staff embed concepts to enable children to move

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need to do better?

21 July 2022 to the next stage. For example, as older children make patterns using 2D shapes that fit together, they talk about 'tessellation'. n The outside area provides a high-quality, rich environment for children to explore and learn in. The staff encourage children to strengthen their muscles as they climb ladders, master an assault course and play a spontaneous game of cricket. Staff know this helps children to develop the ability to progress on to making finer movements and eventually making marks and the start of early writing. n Parents are exceptionally positive about the manager and staff team, who are always approachable. They comment their children are thriving and eager to come to nursery. Parents feel they are extremely well informed about their children's learning and know how to support this at home. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are quickly identified

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need to do better?

and supported. Detailed care plans and working with other professionals, such as speech and language therapists, allows children to have expert support. This helps them make excellent progress. n Management has high regard for staff. Staff receive regular and relevant supervision, and extensive opportunities to attend training to further their skills. As a result, staff's knowledge is consistently built over time, which translates to the high-quality teaching for the children. Staff report high levels of support for their well-being.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures all staff's knowledge is up to date. Staff have a clear understanding of a wide range of safeguarding issues, including child exploitation. Staff follow the effective policies and procedures in place and know what steps to take if they have any safeguarding concerns. The managers and staff know where to report any concerns should there be an allegation made against a member of staff. Children learn to think about their own risks under the close supervision of staff. This leads to children quickly developing an understanding of how to identify risk and keep themselves and others safe.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY275444 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10113147 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 78 Number of children on roll 93 Name of registered person Harlequin Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01353 661172 Date of previous inspection 27 May 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Harlequin Childcare was registered in 2004. The nursery employs 29 members of childcare staff, of these these, 22 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. 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 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 nursery. n The manager, deputy and the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss and understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector observed activities indoors and outside and assessed the impact these have on children's learning. She had discussions with staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n Children told the inspector about what they like to do when they are at nursery. n Parents spoke and gave written feedback to the inspector about their views of the nursery. n The inspector met with the manager and senior management to discuss the leadership and management of the nursery.

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Inspection activities

n Relevant documentation was reviewed by the inspector, including evidence of the suitability of adults 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

21 July 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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