Montagu Square Day Nursery

Inspection of Montagu Square Day Nursery Montagu Square, Eynesbury, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 2TL

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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 feel comfortable to explore their environment and demonstrate that they are happy as they play. Parents and children are warmly greeted on arrival, and kind and caring staff help to quickly settle children for the day. Babies show particularly close bonds with the staff who care for them. They seek staff out for cuddles and feel relaxed enough to gently fall asleep in their arms.

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The provision is good

Children take great delight in participating in the sensory and creative opportunities presented to them. The youngest babies explore snow and rice, developing their hand muscles as they use spoons to stir and scoop. Older babies mix tea bags and hot chocolate powder with water as part of their tea party role play. Children throughout the nursery demonstrate a love of books and enjoy having stories read to them throughout the day, which helps to build on their communication and language. Toddlers independently look at books, adding their own narrative to the pictures they see.

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The provision is good

Children are physically active. They ride bicycles and negotiate an obstacle course in the garden. Children are encouraged to be independent. Older children learn to dress and toilet themselves and participate in tasks, such as preparing their own snack and scraping their plates after lunch.

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need to do better?

n Management, along with an experienced and dedicated staff team, work together well to provide a homely environment and a continuously good level of care and education for all children. Good consideration is given by managers to supporting staff's well-being and managing their workloads. Staff enjoy working at the nursery and feel they are well supported. n There is a strong ethos on helping children to learn how to care for their environment. All rooms have recycling areas and compost bins. When age- appropriate, staff link this practice to relevant children's books to help them understand its importance. Designated self-care stations allow children to manage their own personal needs, such as blowing their noses, helping themselves to drinks and cleaning their hands with sanitiser. n Staff understand the nursery's ethos and the management's intent for children's learning. Staff help children to engage in purposeful play that motivates them to

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need to do better?

learn. They know the children well and speak confidently about their personalities and interests. However, some staff do not identify clearly whether the things they want children to learn next are meaningful to their individual development. Furthermore, on occasions their expectations of older children's understanding are too high. n Children communicate well through words and gestures and are confident to

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need to do better?

9 March 2023 express their wants and needs. Staff understand the importance of developing children's language skills. They talk to children during play, repeating words and introducing new ones to build young children's vocabulary. When drawing pictures, staff help children to think about and describe what they have drawn. n Parents are provided with detailed verbal feedback about their children's day and, in the case of the younger children, daily written diaries are shared too. Staff share regular information with parents, such as the weekly food menus and guides to potty training and childhood illnesses. Children's progress is regularly discussed with parents, and they are involved in their children's learning and experiences. For example, older children take books home to read, and parents donate resources for the nursery. They help their children take part in events, such as World Book Day and a Spanish Day.

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need to do better?

n The nursery's special educational needs coordinator works closely with families and other professionals to provide targeted support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff ensure they then deliver an approach that helps children achieve their full potential. n Staff work closely with the local schools that children will eventually move to, helping to prepare their transition into school. However, where children also attend another childcare setting, these partnerships have not yet been formed. Currently there is no two-way flow of information to jointly support children's care and learning needs. n Children follow routines well and demonstrate positive behaviour in the nursery. Staff encourage children to share, take turns and manage minor conflicts with their peers. Staff introduce specific books and props that help pre-school children to understand and manage their emotions. Children welcome the

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need to do better?

positive praise and encouragement they receive.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff recognise their responsibility to protect the children they care for. They understand the safeguarding procedures and the steps to take if they have concerns about children and adults in the nursery. Their knowledge is regularly updated and tested through training and in staff meetings. A robust recruitment system is in place to ensure the suitability of all staff working with the children.

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should:

n seek further ways to focus professional development opportunities on enhancing teaching skills and knowledge to a higher level n implement effective procedures for sharing information with other providers that children attend.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 221620 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10279635 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 35 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person Irons, Rosemary Veronica

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reference number

Telephone number 01480 475522 Date of previous inspection 24 August 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Montagu Square Day Nursery registered in 1999. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff. Of these, 17 hold appropriate early years qualifications from levels 2 to 6. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am to 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 at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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. n The inspector carried out joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of

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Inspection activities

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

9 March 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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