Marmalade Caterpillar

Inspection of Marmalade Caterpillar St Judes Chuch Hall, Heslop Road, London SW12 8EG

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children settle exceptionally well in this extremely nurturing, highly inspiring nursery. Staff carefully build very close relationships with children by carrying out initial visits to children in their homes. They send each child a video of their key person reading a story, which helps to develop excellent bonds between children and staff. All staff, not just the key person, have excellent knowledge of all children and value each child highly. Staff create personal calendars for each child, which contain details about special events or occasions that are important to them, such as cultural or religious events. They discuss and celebrate these occasions with children. For instance, staff donate items brought in by children to local charities to celebrate Eid.

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The provision is outstanding

Children behave in very positive ways, and older children remind younger children of group rules. Staff manage children's behaviour in carefully considered and very effective ways. They have high expectations of children and always encourage children to do their best.

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The provision is outstanding

The curriculum is enriching, carefully considered and inspiring. All children make excellent progress. Staff help children to gain an excellent understanding of the world. They make planters containing wildflower seeds with children to attract pollinators. Children learn that this supports food production and the ecosystem. Staff use an innovative approach to teach children about planets in the solar system. For instance, they use elements from the 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' story to teach children that mars is 'too cold' and the sun is 'too hot', which children really relate to very well.

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need to do better?

n Children develop excellent creative skills. Staff provide children with experiences that are focused on the process of creativity, rather than the outcomes. For instance, children engage in transient art using a wide range of natural materials, such as flowers and leaves, to experiment with patterns and design. Children thoroughly enjoy using a pestle and mortar to change the texture of grains. n Staff support children's mathematical skills exceptionally well. Children skilfully sort graded shapes in order of size. Children count reliably to 10 and beyond. Staff teach children how numbers are formed by providing textured numbers, and children gain exceptional mathematical skills. n Children have excellent communication, language and literacy skills. For instance, children use the word 'constellation' to describe a group of stars that form a pattern. They have a clear understanding of rhyme and even younger

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need to do better?

children say, 'Dish rhymes with fish.' Staff organise small-group activities with

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need to do better?

4 March 2025 children where they create their own group story. Children are highly articulate, imaginative and have very good vocabulary. n Children are extremely independent and highly motivated learners. They select baskets of toys from shelves and settle down to complete challenging tasks. Children prepare their own snacks by spreading paste on rice cakes and chop fruit. They put on their coats and shoes and fetch tissues to wipe their noses. Staff organise small friendship groups where children generously take turns to share their toys with each other. n Staff work exceptionally well with parents. Leaders organise online parent coaching sessions covering different areas, such as behaviour management to support children's development. Parents say the nursery is 'amazing and has excellent links with the community'. Staff keep parents very well informed of children's activities and progress in highly effective, flexible ways.

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need to do better?

n Leaders monitor and support staff in excellent ways. They observe staff formally and informally and provide in-depth feedback, in regular supervision meetings, to enhance their skills. Leaders model best practice to staff, and staff exchange visits with other nurseries to learn from each other and continually build their skills and knowledge. n Leaders are wholly committed to the professional development of staff. They ensure that staff have ongoing opportunities to attend a vast range of training courses. For instance, staff attended a course on health and nutrition in early years, which led to better understanding in this area. n Leaders carry out periodic reviews of the nursery's strengths and areas for development. They set ambitious goals for ongoing improvement. For example, leaders aim to enhance the outdoor area further to continually promote best outcomes for children. n Children develop excellent physical skills. Staff provide challenging and

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need to do better?

interesting obstacle courses where children step and balance carefully over stones and beams. A sports coach regularly visits the nursery and provides stimulating challenges to support children's physical coordination skills. n Staff provide excellent focus on supporting children's well-being. They ask children how they are feeling, and children select wooden 'mood' spoons to match their mood. Staff provide regular yoga sessions for children where they learn how to slow down and be calm. This helps children to regulate their emotions very effectively, and children gain an excellent awareness of their feelings.

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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 interests first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2702411 Local authority Wandsworth Inspection number 10368655 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Marmalade Schools Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0208 6753137 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Marmalade Caterpillar registered in 2022. It is located in Balham in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, from 8.45am to 4pm, during term time only. There are nine staff, including the manager, eight of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. This includes one staff member who holds qualified teacher status; one member of staff who holds early years professional status; two staff members who hold a degree in early years; one member of staff who holds a level 4 qualification in childcare; and three staff members who hold a level 3 qualification in childcare. The nursery accepts government funding for childcare places.

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Inspection activities

n During the inspection, the inspector went on a learning walk around the nursery with leaders. n Leaders and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children and spoke with children, when appropriate. n The inspector held a meeting with the leaders and sampled some documentation. n During the inspection, the inspector considered the views of staff and parents.

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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

4 March 2025 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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