Camelot Day Nursery

Inspection of Camelot Day Nursery Camelot Day Nursery, 79-81 Moulsham Street, CHELMSFORD CM2 0JD

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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 are happy to attend this setting and display a positive attitude to learning. They form strong relationships with the staff, who support children's emotional well-being, self-esteem and resilience. Children have access to a wide array of inspirational books. Older children enjoy looking through a book about recycling and learning how they can make the world a better place. They listen intently to the story. This helps them develop a passion for reading and build on their language and literacy skills. Children move with ease and interest around the setting, choosing activities that spark their curiosity and excitement. For example, they enjoy exploring a tray with blue water, foam, sea animals and cups of varying sizes. Children talk with the staff about the sea animals and join in pretend play with their peers. This helps them to strengthen their social interactions and widen their understanding of the world.

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The provision is good

Children have fun exploring the messy activities, which offer meaningful opportunities to investigate and mix different coloured paints. They learn that mixing red and yellow makes orange and mixing red and blue makes purple. As a result, children feel proud and accomplished. Staff support younger children's sense of discovery and sensory exploration. For example, while in the garden, the children enjoy exploring a sand activity. They concentrate well and manipulate the sand tools with good control. This helps to build on children's hand-to-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff offer a rich environment with plenty of meaningful learning opportunities. Children make their own choices about the activities they would like to explore next. They learn to take turns with ease and confidence. For example, in the garden, children play well together with a large parachute. They listen and follow instructions well, giggling and laughing with excitement. n Staff model language well and engage in conversations with the children. They use open-ended questions and introduce new vocabulary, such as 'metal' and 'organic'. However, staff do not use all opportunities to encourage younger or less-confident children to repeat these words to embed their knowledge. n Staff always demonstrate positive behaviour and support children in learning about this. They use a puppet to teach the children all about emotions and how to express these with ease and confidence. For example, children can say when

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need to do better?

they feel happy or excited. Children benefit from activities which help to build on their fine motor skills. Younger children use play dough to mould with their hands and break into smaller pieces. Older children use tweezers with good control to pick small resources from sand. n Children have good opportunities to be active and engage in physical activities.

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need to do better?

26 January 2023 For example, younger children follow staff's instructions to jump like a frog and crawl like a bear. They also copy yoga poses to build on their balance, coordination and stamina. However, staff do not always encourage children to explore such opportunities further and challenge their learning. n Children form strong relationship with the staff, who offer a calm, stable and nurturing environment. They feel secure in their care and readily ask for help when needed. This supports children's emotional well-being effectively. Staff have good knowledge of children's learning. They understand what children need to learn next and use information from their observations of children to guide their planning. However, occasionally, staff do not identify when children need more challenge to extend their learning further. n Leaders' vision and ethos for the setting are ambitious. They strive to deliver a

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need to do better?

high quality of care and education. This includes working in close partnerships with parents and other professionals. Leaders value their team's well-being and professional growth. They organise regular meetings and training sessions to ensure they keep their knowledge up to date. n Partnership with parents is effective. Parents praise the flexibility and inclusiveness of leaders and staff. For example, parents feel supported and involved in their children's learning and development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff and leaders have a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, including wider aspects, such as female genital mutilation and county lines. They have effective and accurate policies and procedures in place to guide them, which they review regularly and share with parents. Staff and leaders understand the importance of following the correct procedures to report any concerns to relevant professionals to protect children from harm. They complete regular training to keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date. Staff take steps to help ensure that the setting and garden are safe. They carry out regular risk assessments. This helps to assure children's safety and welfare.

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should:

n strengthen the quality of teaching and education to ensure that children benefit consistently from extensive and challenging learning opportunities n find ways to engage children more effectively in challenging conversations and introduce new vocabulary, particularly to younger children, to develop communication and language to a high level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY427876 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10265269 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 156 Number of children on roll 202 Name of registered person Camelot Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01245349397 Date of previous inspection 31 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Camelot Day Nursery registered in 2011. The nursery employs 38 members of childcare staff. Of these, 18 staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery opens on Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 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 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 provider. n The provider and the inspector completed a learning walk together. They discussed how the curriculum is organised and what they want children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and education, outdoors and indoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with the staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n Children spoke with 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 manager. She looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of the staff working at

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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

26 January 2023 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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