Blackberry House Day Nursery (March)

Inspection of Blackberry House Day Nursery (March) 12 The Causeway, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 9NT

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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 Good

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The provision is outstanding

Children arrive confidently, eager to greet their friends and staff. They separate from parents and carers with ease and thoroughly enjoy their time at this home- from-home nursery. Children show that they feel relaxed, safe and secure. They openly share their ideas and thoughts with staff, who build meaningful conversations with them. Children demonstrate that they have strong bonds with staff. They listen to instructions and eagerly help to keep the environment tidy.

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The provision is outstanding

Children prefer to play outside. They have plenty of space to move about freely and gain increasing control of their bodies and movements. Children learn about the different habitats and features of other living creatures. For example, they learn that some insects appear slimy and that this helps them to move. Children compare this to how humans walk and that penguins waddle. They are articulate when they describe the creatures and show how they use what they already know to make sense of new information.

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in this welcoming nursery. They show increasing levels of concentration. They greatly benefit from how skilled staff adapt their teaching to provide each child with meaningful learning experiences. Younger children show high levels of concentration and engagement with books and stories staff read to them. They accurately retell stories and create pictures that demonstrate that learning is embedded. For example, children explain that there is not a monster in the story, rather it is the frog's shadow.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are highly reflective and committed to providing all children with the high-quality care and education that they deserve. They strive for excellence in all they do. They use their professional knowledge and experience to evaluate and develop a curriculum that provides children with the key skills, attitudes and hands-on experiences to support their future education in an ever-changing world. n Qualified staff know children incredibly well. They take time to understand children's lived experiences and what they know and can do. Staff successfully tailor their approach to meet each child's individual needs. Children settle quickly and flourish in the nurturing environment that staff effortlessly provide. They have time to practise new skills and receive lots of praise and encouragement to keep trying. For example, when younger children wobble as they walk across a slightly raised plank, they support each other by holding each other's hands.

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need to do better?

They mirror the support they have seen modelled by staff. n Leaders and staff prioritise children's communication and language development. They reflect on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and identify ongoing

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need to do better?

17 February 2023 delays for some children in speech development. Staff use knowledge gained from training and working with other professionals. They routinely provide children with targeted short sessions that successfully help children to say and understand more. Parents state that they notice the progress their children make, commenting on the new words they use, the songs they sing and their growing confidence. n Staff working with children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well trained and work closely with parents and other professionals. They establish precise targets that help children progress in their learning and development. Plans and strategies to support children are shared with all staff. This provides children with consistency and significantly contributes to the progress they make. n Parents are extremely positive about the nursery and staff. They state that they are very well informed about their child's learning and development and how to

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need to do better?

support ongoing learning at home. Parents say they highly recommend the nursery and they appreciate the difference staff make to their children's lives. n Leaders greatly value the staff team. They meet regularly with staff to help them develop their knowledge and skills and to ensure their workload is manageable. Staff's well-being is important to leaders, who recognise staff's commitment to the children and nursery. They create a culture of mutual support and respect, recognising staff's achievements in many ways, including awards nights. Staff state that they feel well supported in their roles. They work well together as a highly effective team. n Staff promote books and stories throughout the nursery. For example, building on children's interest, they share books about different forms of transport. Children create trains that imaginatively take them to the beach or to the shops. Staff encourage children to share books at home with parents and carers.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders prioritise children's safety and well-being. They ensure all staff receive regular training and updates about child protection and safeguarding. Staff confidently identify possible signs of abuse and neglect. They know precisely what to do should they have a concern about a child's welfare or about a member of staff. They understand the local safeguarding partnership processes. Leaders follow robust recruitment procedures that help to assure the suitability of adults working with children. Staff demonstrate an informed understanding of wider safeguarding issues, such as the risks to children of being exposed to extremist views. They share information with parents to promote awareness of e-safety for children at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494606 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10270227 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 40 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Blackberries Childcare ( March) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01354 660309 Date of previous inspection 8 March 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Blackberry House Day Nursery (March) registered in 2015. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, six staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and two at level 6, including one member of staff who holds qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. 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 provider 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 their 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 spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

17 February 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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