Wigwams Nursery

Inspection of Wigwams Nursery Whitton Church Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 6LW

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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

Staff are passionate about their roles and ensure that children are central to everything the provision does. For example, children now bring in a lunch box so they are not restricted in their daily routines by sitting down for hot food, interrupting the flow of play. The involvement of families is exceptional. Staff encourage parents to attend forest school sessions to gain an understanding of what their children are learning and how to develop these skills at home, creating consistency. Staff go above and beyond to ensure that children have the best start in life. For example, resources are shared among families so children have access to a wide range of experiences.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff ensure the curriculum is ambitious and supports the individual needs of all children, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They carefully consider the mental well-being of children. For example, they recognise that children need quiet spaces to regulate their emotions and provide dens and sensory areas. As a result, children take responsibility for their own feelings and behave impeccably. Staff have high expectations for children. Planned experiences help children to recall activities they have undertaken at home. For example, children excitedly comment on animals they have seen at the zoo, when reading stories.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely independent as staff provide multiple opportunities for them to make decisions for themselves, for example, choosing when to eat and sleep. Children recognise the importance of physical and mental well-being, with staff placing a big emphasis on being active indoors and out. Children visit local fields to climb and roll down hills, explore climbing frames inside and jump off cushions and beanbags onto safety mats. Children show remarkable compassion and respect for each other, for example, by helping friends carry heavy buckets of water.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are tremendously passionate about the curriculum and apply their knowledge across a wide range of approaches, which highly motivates the staff team. This enables them to implement a robust and exciting curriculum for children. Staff explain that they feel valued and supported. The provider ensures that staff receive regular appraisals and training sessions to support their professional development. For example, staff have opportunities to visit other settings and Early Excellence centres to observe and learn about different approaches, for example Jabadao. This helps to ensure a consistently exciting and outstanding quality of education. n Staff have a strong understanding of the leaders' visions for the curriculum and plan activities to promote challenge and build resilience. There is a big emphasis

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need to do better?

30 April 2025 placed on children's rights, and children are confident learners, showing the utmost respect for each other and adults. n Parents speak highly of the setting and comment on how empathetic and patient staff are. They exclaim they wish they had found it earlier. Parents feel their children are settled and safe when attending. This results in calm and relaxed drop-off and pick-up times, where children separate from their parents exceptionally well. Staff keep parents up to date about their child's development and next steps in learning. n Partnership working is wonderful. Home visits are conducted before children start, and staff use these opportunities to build positive and collaborative relationships with families. This results in tailored support being put in place to ensure the high-quality care and education is easily accessible to all. n Staff are extremely enthusiastic and celebrate children's individual achievements.

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need to do better?

Staff speak with pride about children progressing in their development and demonstrating new skills, for example being able to walk independently from one side of the room to the other. n The setting makes significant links with the local community and supports children to understand the wider area. Children attend regular visits to charity shops to donate toys and to the local grocers to choose fruit and vegetables for snack. Staff recognise the importance of regular access to outdoor opportunities for all children, giving them well-rounded experiences that they might not otherwise have. n Children with SEND are supported fully with key persons engaging regularly with parents and multi-agency professionals, such as speech therapists, to share ambitious targets and outcomes for children. Staff work to share Makaton sign language with parents so children's communication development is supported at home. This ensures children make fantastic progress, gaps in learning are closed

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need to do better?

and they do not fall behind their peers.

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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 EY392538 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 10392186 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 110 Number of children on roll 81 Name of registered person Bows and Arrows

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reference number

Telephone number 01473 599038 Date of previous inspection 8 August 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Wigwams Nursery registered in 2009. It is one of seven settings run by Bows and Arrows, an independent registered charity that is managed by a board of trustees. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, 12 have qualifications from levels 2 to 5 and three of the staff, including the manager, hold early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 50 weeks of the year, closing for one week in August and over Christmas. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager took the inspector on a learning walk and talked about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n Children shared their views on what they like best about the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors across the setting, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n Parents were spoken to by the inspector and given the opportunity to share feedback about the provision. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

30 April 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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