Hill Row Day Nursery

Inspection of Hill Row Day Nursery 35 Hill Row, Haddenham, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 3TQ

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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 receive a warm welcome and settle quickly in this homely environment. They are happy and build strong bonds with their key person who knows them well. Staff plan to ensure that children receive continuity in their care. For example, they collect detailed information about babies and young children's routines at home, such as sleep and feeding patterns and comforters. Staff remain with their key children at mealtimes and eat together. This consistent approach helps to support children's emotional security.

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The provision is good

Children behave well and demonstrate kindness to each other. Older children enjoy having responsibility for routine tasks, such as setting the tables at lunch and helping to tidy away activities. They receive consistent praise from staff for being helpful. Children's achievements and efforts, both in the setting and at home, are recognised and displayed, further reinforcing the nursery's message that each child is valued.

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The provision is good

Children are confident and motivated to learn. They are eager to explore with their peers and with the responsive staff. For example, following the story of 'the three bears', children explore textures by adding water to oats. They listen carefully to the words staff use as they describe the changes taking place. Children learn and use new vocabulary, such as 'soggy' and 'sticky'. They beam with pride as they receive praise for sharing their thoughts and ideas.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with parents are excellent and they speak very highly of the staff. They describe the setting as 'homely' and refer to staff as 'nurturing' and 'caring'. Parents appreciate the effective communication staff provide. For instance, in addition to the daily verbal hand-overs and reassuring messages, parent evenings are offered to accommodate those working longer days, providing opportunity for parents to meet their child's key person. Parents receive regular updates about their children's learning and development. Parents can access a lending library of activities as well as suggestions for supporting children's learning at home. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well. Staff work closely with external agencies and parents to ensure children receive effective care and support, in both the nursery and at home. Staff provide children with additional support to meet their individual needs during their

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need to do better?

transition to school, such as visiting classrooms when they are quiet and sharing photos of teaching staff. They ensure that all information is gathered and shared with the most appropriate staff to support a smooth transition. n Staff understand the importance of supporting children's language and

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need to do better?

25 July 2023 communication skills from a young age. For instance, they respond to babies' babble and model turn taking in conversation. They narrate children's play and repeat back children's words, to clarify their meaning. Staff listen to children and expand their sentences to extend their developing vocabulary. However, not all staff are ambitious in the language they use and there are some instances when staff do not pronounce words correctly. This means children are not fully supported in developing their wider vocabulary. n Children behave well. Staff are good role models and they are consistent with their expectations of children's behaviour. They use gentle reminders to support children to take turns with equipment and share resources. Children are reminded of the rules of the setting and staff explain why these are in place. n Staff encourage children to things for themselves and sequence children's

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need to do better?

learning well. For example, they provide babies with spoons at mealtimes to encourage them to feed independently. Older children confidently handle cutlery, and staff demonstrate how to cut food items into smaller pieces. n The managers value their staff team and provide regular staff meetings to share information and ideas for improvement. Staff comment that they feel supported and that the managers are extremely approachable. Staff receive regular supervision meetings and annual appraisals to discuss their professional development. However, while the managers ensure that staff complete mandatory training, they have not yet sought further ways to help all staff develop a deeper knowledge of teaching and learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff receive regular training in safeguarding to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. They are secure in their understanding of the procedures to follow should they have any concerns about the children or adults associated with the children's care. Staff recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse, including any concerns associated with female genital mutilation and radicalisation. The managers provide regular supervision meetings. Recruitment procedures and regular checks of ongoing suitability help to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. Ongoing risk assessing ensures that children play in a safe and secure environment.

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should:

n enhance staff understanding and practice of how to help children develop a wide and varied vocabulary and model correct pronunciation of words n build on the opportunities for staff's professional development that focus more specifically on developing an expert knowledge of teaching and learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 221590 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10289618 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 38 Number of children on roll 65 Name of registered person Hill Row Day Nursery Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 01353 741340 Date of previous inspection 30 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Hill Row Day Nursery registered in 1996. The nursery operates for 51 weeks of the year, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery currently employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. This includes the childcare manager who holds a level 6. They provide 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 nursery has 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 her evaluation of the provision. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with manager and assessed the quality of teaching and interactions they saw. 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 spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

25 July 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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