Ashdon Childrens Nursery

Inspection of Ashdon Childrens Nursery Hill Farm, Radwinter Road, Saffron Walden CB10 2ET

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children flourish in the warm and welcoming nursery. They have a genuine thirst for learning. This is because staff plan an enticing curriculum with activities that embrace children's unique interests and preferred patterns of learning. These sustain children's engagement for long periods of time and result in a calm and productive environment.

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The provision is outstanding

Children demonstrate high levels of engagement in the activities that are provided for them and use resources and tools on offer to extend their own learning. The language-rich environment that is created by staff supports all children to acquire and use language, and they are excellent communicators. Children are confident to express their own ideas and needs, and staff listen and respond with great interest. Children are highly independent and confident. They are rapidly developing the key skills needed to be ready for school.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's emotional well-being is superbly considered by staff who are caring and responsive to their needs. Children behave exceptionally well. They are highly respectful and kind to each other. They readily help their friends to complete tasks together. For example, children eagerly take part in tidying-up activities. They carry resources back to storage areas, helping each other to carry heavier items.

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need to do better?

n Managers are passionate about the work they do. They lead the nursery with integrity, ensuring that all children in their care access high-quality early years experiences. Managers are ambitious in their vision and want all children to thrive and be ready for what comes next. n The dedicated staff feel well supported. They receive regular supervision sessions and benefit from peer-on-peer observations. Professional development opportunities for staff are precisely targeted to further support children's learning needs. The manager seeks out new initiatives that enable staff to implement excellent practice. n Parents are highly complimentary of the care provided to their children and feel well informed about their children's learning and development. They know what their child is working on and how they can support them at home. Parents describe the staff as 'caring', 'creative' and 'inspirational'. They also comment on

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need to do better?

the great communication and say that they feel lucky to be a part of this exceptional nursery. Regular parent workshops offer knowledge of how to support children's learning at home, as well as social events. n Staff deliver a high-quality and ambitious curriculum that is varied and precisely tailored to meet the individual needs of each child. They know children extremely well and build on what they already know. All children are provided

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need to do better?

3 July 2024 with a high level of challenge through their chosen play. This successfully supports them to reach their individual potential. Rich opportunities enable children to learn Spanish and visit the local garden centre. They watch in awe as chicks hatch out of eggs and help to harvest fruit to cook and eat. n Children benefit from a wealth of rich experiences during forest-school sessions, which provide opportunities to take risks through climbing and exploring natural resources. Staff intuitively enrich children's curiosity. For example, they add herbs to water and talk about what they can smell as they make 'soup' in the mud kitchen. They investigate height by measuring how far they can stretch up, using water brushes to mark trees. n Staff create a personalised induction and a settling-in process for each child. This means staff have a clear starting point that enables them to build on what children already know. Staff meticulously plan transitions to support the smooth

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need to do better?

move from one room to another. For instance, children are accompanied by their key person while they become familiar with the new room and the daily routine. This helps children to feel safe and secure and to settle quickly. n Children demonstrate high levels of independence. Staff carefully guide children to solve problems and meet challenges. For example, at mealtimes babies work towards feeding themselves with spoons. Toddlers practise using forks with increasing control, while pre-school children self-serve their food and use knives and forks competently.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interest first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500473 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10344312 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 79 Number of children on roll 69 Name of registered person Ashdon Childrens Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01799584848 Date of previous inspection 30 August 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Ashdon Childrens Nursery registered in 2016. It employs 23 members of childcare staff. Of these, 17 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. One of the joint managers holds early years professional status and the other holds qualified teacher status. The nursery operates from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. It 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 managers took the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children spoke to and communicated with the inspector during the inspection. 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 carried out joint observations of activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

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

3 July 2024 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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