The Malthouse Nursery (registration until: 31 Aug 2026)

Inspection of The Malthouse Nursery Malthouse Nursery, Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9DG

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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

Warm and friendly staff welcome the children into this nurturing nursery. They enter happy and excited for the day ahead. Staff build strong relationships with the children in their care. Babies receive cuddles and reassurance. This enables them to feel safe and secure. Staff give children lots of praise and celebrate their 'I am a star' moments together. This builds children's self-esteem and sense of belonging.

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The provision is good

Children take long walks within the beautiful grounds of Charlton Manor. They enjoy seeing the wildlife and rolling down grassy hills. Staff have created an outdoor classroom in a secluded woodland area. This benefits those children who 'learn the best outside'. Children run around, climb trees and explore a wide range of resources. They use their imagination as they pretend to cook in the mud kitchen and build things using the large items. This allows children the space to explore larger materials and helps to strengthen their muscles.

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The provision is good

Staff prioritise supporting children's personal, emotional and social development. They use books and signs to build children's understanding and use emotional language to support children to express how they are feeling. Staff act as role models to reinforce positive behaviours. Staff offer the children gentle reminders of the pre-school rules. When conflicts arise, staff support the children to talk about how they can be resolved. This means children learn how to manage their feelings and behaviours.

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need to do better?

n The manager and her team have created a well-balanced curriculum that covers all seven areas of learning. They use a blend of adult-led activities and child-led play to ensure children achieve their next stages of learning. Staff skilfully interact with the children to extend their knowledge past what they already know. This means children make visible progress from their starting points. n Children develop a love of books and literacy. Staff support children to identify letters and words by providing labels and written questions around the pre- school room. They place paper and pens in all areas to encourage mark making. Older children play literacy games using an interactive table and complete tailored workbooks. This further enhances their literacy skills and builds the muscles needed for later writing. n The newly opened baby and toddler room offers a calm and nurturing environment. The staff know the children well and ensure their needs are met.

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need to do better?

The babies clap along to their favourite stories and songs. Toddlers wave at staff from the slide and explore the farm animals. However, at times, planned creative activities are too structured and limit the children's time to explore creative materials, such as paint and glue. This means children do not always

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need to do better?

21 February 2023 get time to express their creativity and imagination. n Staff collaborate with parents and a range of professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff receive specialist training to enable them to understand a range of needs to ensure that children make the best possible progress in their care. For example, staff work with a speech and language therapist to gain strategies and activities to enhance children's confidence in communicating at group times. n Parents praise the kind, caring and nurturing staff. They love that their children get to spend so much time outside and immersed in nature. Parents receive regular newsletters outlining events, activities and reminders. They get regular feedback on their child's development and the next stages of learning. Older children bring home storybooks, and staff share ideas to extend learning at home. Parents feel included in their child's learning and feel comfortable seeking

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need to do better?

support and guidance from the staff. n Staff show passion and dedication when caring for the children. They work well as a team and continually share their thoughts and ideas for the nursery. The manager focuses on supporting staff's mental health and well-being. She wants all staff to feel valued and happy in the place they work. However, the manager has highlighted that, while staff attend some training courses, these need to be more targeted to raise the already good standard of teaching to an even higher level.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and her team have a secure knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures. They can identify the different signs and symptoms of abuse, including female genital mutilation and child exploitation. The staff know how to report any concerns about children or staff to the relevant agencies. The manager follows safer recruitment procedures and completes staff suitability checks. Staff complete daily checks of the woodland area. They ask the children to help them, which supports children to learn how to identify risks. Children understand the boundaries of where they can play. Staff make sure they continually count the children and take a register while exploring the grounds, which ensures that children stay with the group.

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should:

n provide children with more time to explore creative materials, allowing them to express their own ideas n consider developing a more focused professional development programme to raise the quality of teaching to the highest level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 199406 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10263813 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 43 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person Ayrton, Alison

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reference number

Telephone number 01666 825227 Date of previous inspection 12 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The Malthouse Nursery registered in 1992. It operates from a building within the Charlton Park estate, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire. The nursery is open each weekday, from 9am until 3pm, throughout the school term. The nursery employs 12 staff. The manager and four staff are qualified to early years teacher status. One staff member holds a level 3 early years qualification and one holds a level 2. The nursery receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 inspector and the manager completed a learning walk and discussed the provision and the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during both indoor and outdoor play and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection and completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager to discuss how they self- evaluate the provision. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. n The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of written testimonials.

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Inspection activities

n Children spoke and engaged with the inspector during the inspection.

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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 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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