Maldon Court Nursery

Inspection of Maldon Court Nursery Maldon Court School, 10 Silver Street, Maldon CM9 4QE

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

The youngest children thrive at this extremely warm and welcoming nursery. Staff make their time in the nursery fun and nurturing. They are consistently kind and loving towards children and ensure that their needs are met. Children are happy and relaxed. They form very close bonds with staff and seek them out willingly for cuddles and interactions in activities. Children show a very strong familiarity with the routines of the day and demonstrate exceptional concentration and perseverance skills for their age. They are fully included in daily activities, such as circle time with the older children, and beam with pride when they are chosen to carry out a small task.

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The provision is outstanding

Children show pure delight in activities. They squeal and giggle as they help to lift a parachute high into the air and excitedly jump underneath as the parachute falls to the ground. Young children are encouraged by enthusiastic and motivating staff to develop a have a go attitude and to develop their problem-solving skills. They begin to explore resources, such as large tweezers, and use them to attempt to pick up conkers, learning from the older children around them and the consistent praise and encouragement from staff.

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need to do better?

n Highly passionate leaders and staff teach a curriculum that is ambitious and successfully builds on what children know and can do. There is clear intent and high expectations of what staff want young children to achieve before they transition to the next room and stage of their education. Staff demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of their key children's personalities and learning styles and tailor activities to complement these and that motivate them to learn. n Children's well-being is given high priority within the nursery. They can express their emotions in a range of age-appropriate ways, such as using a teddy bear to show how they feel, and are comfortable to do so. Children are confident to make choices in their play and their voices or gestures are heard and valued. They respond very well to the positive interactions from staff and give themselves a pat on the shoulder for their achievements.

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need to do better?

n Parents are overwhelmingly complimentary about the nursery and staff that care for their children. Communication is excellent and they are consistently informed about the learning and care their children receive. Staff highly value parents input about their children's achievements at home and use this to help plan activities. Parents enjoy taking part in activities with their children and suggested by the nursery, such as an autumn hunt in local areas. n The staff at this nursery work exceptionally well together and make a very strong staff team with shared values and ethos. Staff are highly valued by

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need to do better?

13 October 2022 leaders and are consistently encouraged to share their thoughts, ideas, and opinions. Staff say that they love working in the nursery and feel very well supported. Staff engage in meaningful professional development opportunities that enable them to fulfil their roles to a high standard and consistently improve children's experiences. n The encouragement of children's language development is constantly fostered by highly skilled staff. They use every opportunity to provide children with opportunities to practise their use of language and development of words. At snack time, a visual word mat is used to initiate simple conversations and introduce new words. During activities, staff provide a simple, but clear narrative and use lots of repetitive words to consolidate children's speech and understanding. Recently, simple sign language has been introduced as a further way of supporting young children to communicate. Children have opportunities

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need to do better?

every day to sing songs and read books, choosing their favourite ones to have read to them. n Staff encourage children to be independent from an early age. Young children confidently wash their hands and fetch their name card and water bottle for snack. Older children help to role model positive behaviour to the youngest and they all help to tidy away resources when asked. Children are quickly learning how to share and take turns as this skill is consistently promoted and praised by staff.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff demonstrate an excellent understanding of their responsibility to protect children in their care and to be alert to concerns about children's welfare. They are confident to discuss the possible indicators of a wide range of abuse and know how to report their concerns to the appropriate people, both within the nursery and the school. Safeguarding is always held in high regard and staff's knowledge is regularly refreshed through training and in staff meetings. Robust recruitment procedures ensure that the suitability of staff is thoroughly assessed.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY554686 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10225421 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 16 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Cromwell Hall (Maldon) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01621 853529 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Maldon Nursery School registered in 2017. Children under the age of two years are covered by this Ofsted registration. Children over two years of age form part of the school's registration. The provision for children over the age of two years is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and 5. The nursery opens Monday to Friday term time only. Sessions are from 8.30am until 3.30pm. Wraparound care is available from 7.30am until 6pm.

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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 nursery. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff 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 with the manager. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff 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

13 October 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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