The Willows Day Nursery (March)

Inspection of The Willows Day Nursery (March) 50 Knights End Road, March PE15 9QA

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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 flourish in this warm and welcoming, home-from-home setting. They are greeted by friendly staff and eagerly join in with activities. Children thoroughly enjoy role playing hairdressers with staff and with their peers as they enthusiastically complete different hairstyles on one another. Staff promote positive behaviour and are good role models. Children effortlessly use their manners and are kind and considerate to one another. Staff support children to share resources with their friends and to tidy away their toys when they have finished playing.

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The provision is good

Children show curiosity in their environment and explore the resources on offer. For example, babies use fidget boards to investigate how to operate the switches to make the lights turn on. Older children look for bugs in the garden and discuss how they can find food and a home for them. Staff plan interesting activities for children using what they know is of interest to them. This helps to motivate children's learning. Staff plan a range of outings that build on children's experiences. For example, they recently went to visit the pumpkin patch and the sea life centre. This helps children to develop an understanding of their community and the wider world around them.

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need to do better?

n The provider has an ambitious curriculum in place for all children. Staff know the children well and have a secure knowledge of their development. They regularly complete assessments of the children to monitor their progress and put support systems into place if needed. However, next steps in children's learning are not shared effectively with parents to enable them to continue to support their child's learning at home. n Children are encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle. They enjoy nutritious, home- cooked meals that are prepared by the in-house chef. Children excitedly join in with dance and yoga sessions, which help to develop their physical skills. Staff understand the importance of teaching children about good oral health and set up activities and stories that help to develop children's understanding of this. n Staff skilfully support children's personal, social and emotional development. They teach children to understand and express their feelings and emotions. Staff

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need to do better?

praise children's efforts and achievements, and children learn how to effectively manage their behaviour. As a result, children show high levels of confidence and willingness to have a go. n Staff know how to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They work closely with parents and other professionals to identify, plan and coordinate support for them. This helps children with SEND to make the best possible progress. n Staff provide children with a broad range of activities that reflect their interests.

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need to do better?

23 October 2023 They are aware that children have different developmental needs and adapt activities for this. However, there are occasions when staff do not engage effectively with children to challenge their thinking and extend their learning even further. n Staff have built strong parent partnerships. Parents comment that staff are approachable and caring and provide 'exceptional care and education' for their children. Parents say that their children are provided with great support that enables them to be ready for when they move on to school. n Staff understand the importance of supporting children's communication and language development. They model good language and use visual aids and sign language to help children communicate. For instance, babies sign 'thank you' as they are given their lunch. Older children engage in meaningful conversations with staff and have opportunities to join in with stories and singing.

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need to do better?

n The management team places a strong emphasis on supporting staff's well- being and developing their skills and knowledge. Staff have ample opportunities to complete a wide variety of training, including supporting children's social and emotional development and helping children to be ready for school. Staff report that they feel well supported by management and enjoy working at the nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. They know the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. Staff understand the correct agencies to contact if they have a concern about a child or member of staff. They complete safeguarding training and have ongoing discussions to ensure that their knowledge is kept up to date. Staff ensure that the premises are safe and secure. They undertake indoor and outdoor checks before children arrive in the morning. The management team follows robust procedures when recruiting new members of staff to ensure that all adults are suitable to work with children.

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should:

n strengthen information-sharing with parents to help them to guide and support their child's learning at home n support staff to engage in more effective interactions that help develop children's thinking skills and extend their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494898 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10301046 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 69 Number of children on roll 103 Name of registered person The Willows Day Nursery (Chatteris) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01354462417 Date of previous inspection 24 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The Willows Day Nursery (March) registered in 2015. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Three members of staff hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 5 and 13 at level 3. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round. 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 and the inspector completed a learning walk of the nursery to discuss the curriculum and what staff want children to learn. n Staff and children talked to the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection and she took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector carried out joint observations of a group activity with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector held a leadership meeting with the manager and the owner. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability

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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

23 October 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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