Watermead Nursery

Inspection of Watermead Nursery 2 Watermead Lane, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TN

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children show that they are settled and feel secure in the nursery. This includes staff playing peekaboo games with very young children. In response, children form positive relationships with staff as they giggle and laugh when they interact with them.

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The provision is good

Children are supported to understand how to behave positively. For instance, staff model with younger children how to share fruit. Staff have rules in place when children access the woodland area. Children show they understand these, telling visitors that if they want to go on the swing, they ask their peers and if they say no, they need to wait their turn. Staff help older children to understand similarities and differences between themselves and others. This includes explaining to older children that some children learn in different ways, when referring to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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The provision is good

Children have plenty of experiences to develop a love of books. Children sit well when staff read them stories. Younger children are asked to pretend to be animals in a book, such as to hold their arms up high and pretend to be a giraffe. Older children, including those with SEND, are asked questions about the images they see on the pages. This helps children to stay focused and engaged.

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need to do better?

n Children with SEND are supported very well. Staff work in partnership with parents and other professionals to meet children's individual health and learning needs. Additional equipment is sourced to ensure children are able to join in activities, to promote inclusive practice. Additional funding that some children receive is used effectively. For example, staff provide one-to-one support to focus on developing children's abilities to make choices. n Staff provide children with a variety of experiences to be creative. Children use cotton wool with paint to make marks on paper. Staff show older children how to use flowers and a hammer to create colours and patterns on material. n Staff work in partnership with parents to support children's learning. Information is shared with parents about how staff intend to help children progress in their development. Parents are invited to share photos of children's learning and

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need to do better?

achievements from home. n Children understand the routines in the nursery and show an eagerness to join activities staff plan for them. These are well matched to children's known next steps and support children well to gain the skills they need. Children are well prepared for the next stage of their learning, including school. n Children behave well. They listen to and follow staff's instructions. For example, staff ask older children to help set tables for their peers at lunchtime. Children

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need to do better?

4 August 2025 arrange plates, cups and cutlery on tables and receive praise from staff for their achievements, helping to raise their self-esteem. n Staff's well-being is supported effectively. For instance, they can speak to the management team when needed. Staff receive information about contact numbers to speak to counsellors. They have time away from children to complete paperwork, helping to promote a home-work life balance. n Staff help older children to build on their vocabulary. For example, they introduce descriptive words, such as 'shiny' and 'sparkly', when children use paint. However, the support for younger children's language skills is not as effective. For instance, at times, staff do not communicate with children when they play alongside them to provide a language-rich environment. n Children are offered healthy meals to promote a nutritious diet. Children help staff to plant and grow vegetables in the garden. Children learn how foods grow

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need to do better?

and tell visitors that when the strawberries grow, they will eat them. n Staff identify a curriculum to support children's independence. They implement this well, giving older children choices in play and encouraging them to serve their own food. Younger children competently remove their own shoes and learn other tasks, such as washing their own hands and hanging their coats up. This further supports children eventual move to school.

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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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should:

n build on staff's knowledge of how to strengthen the support for younger children's early language skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY248193 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 10398685 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 230 Name of registered person Watermead Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01509 239205 Date of previous inspection 5 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Watermead Nursery registered in 2004 and is situated in Loughborough, Leicestershire. The nursery employs 51 members of childcare staff. Of these, 44 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for children age nine months upwards.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and one of the inspectors completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed how staff implement the curriculum. n The inspectors observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspectors throughout the inspection. n The inspectors spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspectors carried out joint observations with the manager. n One of the inspectors held a meeting with the management team. She reviewed relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Parents shared their views about the nursery with the inspectors.

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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 August 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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