Maple Leaf Nursery

Inspection of Maple Leaf Nursery 229 Cricket Inn Road, Sheffield S2 5AT

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

p.1

The provision is good

Children make a positive start to their learning in this warm and nurturing nursery. Staff help babies to build strong bonds with them and settle smoothly into nursery life. Children make good progress overall and are well prepared for the next stage of their learning, including starting school. Staff use their knowledge of children's interests and abilities well to develop their skills and understanding. For instance, babies learn to develop their fine hand movements as they squeeze and squash play dough and other tactile experiences. Older children confidently and independently use knives to cut fruit in their role play and at snack times or pick up small natural objects with pincers in their problem-solving activities. These skills help to support children's later writing experiences.

p.2

The provision is good

Children feel safe and are well cared for. They rise to staff's high expectations. Children behave well and show consideration towards others. For instance, three- year-old children thoughtfully work together to create a climbing structure to safely roll and balance on. Staff encourage two-year-old children to follow instructions from a picture recipe to mix their ingredients for 'pebble stew' in their mud kitchen. Parents and carers appreciate the strong support staff offer them to further prepare their children for learning, such as guidance on sleep and toilet training.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff plan well overall to help children to build sequentially on their previous learning, particularly for their communication, personal and physical skills. However, occasionally, staff do not match learning precisely enough to children's abilities in order to fully enrich and support their learning. For example, they expect children to use writing skills they are not yet prepared for or use limited strategies to encourage children to use and remember new learning. n The nursery supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged children well. Staff identify gaps in children's learning and development at an early stage and work closely with other professionals, such as speech therapists, to address them. They make good use of additional funding that children receive to support their learning through, for instance, enriching resources for their sensory development.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff prioritise the development of children's communication skills. They make good use of well-chosen songs and rhymes to engage children in listening to and learning new words and phrases. Staff support early talkers to develop keywords to build simple phrases such as 'ready, steady, go' and 'one, two, three' as they climb and jump in their physical play. n Staff encourage children to develop a love of books. They introduce children to a breadth of fiction, non-fiction and a wide range of songs and nursery rhymes that develop their language skills and knowledge of the world. For instance,

p.2

need to do better?

13 March 2025 babies learn to handle books and turn pages as they explore the feel of different materials on every page. Staff encourage older children to choose and appreciate favourite stories and to understand the plot and characters as they listen. n Staff promote children's good behaviour and personal development well. Staff encourage children to say 'please' and 'thank you' throughout their play and at healthy snack times. They support children to make decisions and persist in activities. Staff skilfully help children who find it hard to manage their emotions to learn to play with others and control their behaviour. For instance, they encourage them to follow simple routines through the use of pictures and sign language to reassure and build their confidence. n Leaders are ambitious and focused on developing the nursery to fully enrich children's lives and prepare them for their future learning. They regularly

p.2

need to do better?

evaluate their practice, taking account of the views of staff, parents and children. Leaders support staff to build their skills and knowledge through training focused on children's needs, such as building their communication skills. Staff's morale is high. n Strong links with parents are integral to children's learning. Parents appreciate the warm and caring attitudes the staff show towards their children and themselves. They welcome the guidance they receive on supporting their children's learning at home.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

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

p.3

should:

n match activities and support more accurately to children's needs and abilities to build consistently on their achievements.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2707986 Local authority Sheffield Inspection number 10380537 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 34 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Maple Leaf Nursery Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 07879771352 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Maple Leaf Nursery is located in Sheffield and registered in 2022. The nursery operates all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and the week of Christmas. It employs 10 members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including three staff at level 6. The nursery provides the government funded places for childcare and receives funding for disadvantaged children.

p.4

Inspection activities

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 observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector and the manager completed a joint observation of children's learning experiences and evaluated the activity together. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to children about their experiences as they played. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The manager provided the inspector with relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

13 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6