St Ives Nursery

Inspection of St Ives Nursery Eastwood House, Needingworth Road, St. Ives PE27 5JP

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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 demonstrate that they feel settled and secure in this nurturing nursery. They receive a warm welcome from friendly staff who show a genuine interest in the children and their families. Consequently, children enter the setting confidently and seek out staff to share their news. Children benefit from a wide choice of sensory play experiences. For example, they explore slime and tell visitors that 'it's sticky' as they slide their hands into the tray. Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their self-care skills and independence. Babies enjoy helping to pour their drinks and wipe their hands following snack. Older children independently access water throughout the day and clean their dishes following lunch. Children learn to be kind and considerate as they follow the examples set by staff. They learn to play happily together and receive gentle support when they find turn- taking difficult.

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The provision is good

Staff are ambitious for all children. They work closely with families and other agencies to provide additional support when this is needed. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress. During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff provided activities and kept in regular contact with families. They posted videos of themselves singing rhymes and reading stories to remain familiar to children. Consequently, children settled back into the nursery quickly.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers are ambitious for the nursery. They regularly review the provision to enhance children's experiences. Staff report high levels of well-being and support, including regular supervision sessions and opportunities to develop their interests. Staff meetings are held to share learning from training with the whole staff team. Staff receive regular feedback about their areas of strength. However, the manager has not yet established a highly effective method for feeding back areas for improvement to raise the quality of teaching to an even higher level. n Parents speak very highly of the staff at the nursery. They value the regular feedback they receive and suggestions for extending children's learning at home. Parents describe the staff as 'nurturing' and 'approachable'. n The manager and staff have a clear understanding of what children need to learn across all areas of the curriculum. There is a strong emphasis on

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need to do better?

communication and language development. For example, staff have recently participated in a baby-room project that has led to the introduction of simple sign language to aid communication. This is extended across the nursery and children of all ages are encouraged to use Makaton sign language to support the development of their spoken language.

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need to do better?

15 August 2022 n Children with SEND have tailored support to help them to make progress. The manager and staff identify children with SEND through their assessments. They work with parents and other professionals to ensure a suitable curriculum is put in place. n Staff understand the value of books and use them to support teaching. For instance, children listen attentively to the story 'The Three Little Pigs', before exploring farm animals with shredded paper. Staff make reference to the story while the children play. Children notice similarities between the paper and the straw in the story. This promotes children's understanding that books are a source of information. n Staff help children understand the nursery's simple rules and routines. They recognise that children have had less opportunity to mix with others due to COVID-19 restrictions. Group times are positive learning experiences which are a good preparation for school. For example, children follow staff's instructions and

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need to do better?

use lavender as a sensory experience to produce a calm and focused atmosphere. n Staff use planned activities to teach children skills across the wider curriculum. For example, during a planting activity, staff encourage children to count the seeds they collect. Children compare the shapes and sizes of fruit they harvest. Staff encourage children to remember and they confidently share what they have previously learned and how activities link together.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers take their safeguarding duties very seriously. They follow a robust recruitment procedure. Managers ensure that all staff receive regular safeguarding training. They ensure that staff have understood the information shared through training and supervisions by setting safeguarding questions and scenarios during monthly staff meetings. Staff clearly explain what would cause them to be concerned about a child and wider safeguarding issues, such as county lines. Staff are clear about how to raise concerns, including should they have a concern about another member of staff. Staff risk assess areas regularly.

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should:

n provide staff with more accurate performance feedback to raise the quality of education to an even higher level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY553133 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10174118 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 120 Name of registered person Bright Stars Nursery Group Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01480 380081 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

St Ives Nursery, Huntingdon, registered in 2017. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from level 3 to level 6. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round. 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 provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and 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

15 August 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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