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Early years · Report card

Embsay Children's Centre

Inspected 17 Feb 2026 · URN 400136

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Summary

No overall grade in this frameworkSafeguarding met

Andrew Clark

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Achievement verified

    Strong standard

  • Behaviour, attitudes and routines verified

    Strong standard

  • Children's welfare and wellbeing verified

    Strong standard

  • Curriculum and teaching verified

    Strong standard

  • Inclusion verified

    Strong standard

  • Leadership and governance verified

    Strong standard

  • Framework verified

    Report card

  • Group verified

    Caroline Midgley and Simon Midgley Partnership

  • Inspection datesingle source

    17 Feb 2026

  • Inspectors verified

    Andrew Clark

  • Postcode verified

    BD23 6RQ

  • Name on report verified

    Embsay Children's Centre

  • Safeguarding verified

    Met

  • URN verified

    400136

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.

  • AchievementStrong
  • Behaviour, attitudes and routinesStrong
  • Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong
  • Curriculum and teachingStrong
  • InclusionStrong
  • Leadership and governanceStrong

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

+85Very positivemore positive than 78% of reports of this type

In line with other reports of this type.

Praisepositiveeffectiveconfidenthappyenjoyconsistentlywarmvery well
Criticismweaknessesconcernsgaps

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsSafeguardingAbout the inspectionLeadershipWhat needs to improve positive critical
  • Findings1323w+91
  • Leadership172w+56
  • Safeguarding51w−11
  • What needs to improve111w0

Strengths

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Concerns

Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.

No strong criticism found.

Next steps

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What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
8
Words of findings
1,657
about usual (typical 1698)
Reading level
Hard
Flesch 42, typical 43
Average sentence
19 words
Next steps
4
typical 3
Hedged sentences
0%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 65%Leadership 8%Safeguarding 3%What needs to improve 5%About the inspection 19%

Full report text

Embsay Children's Centre

Unique reference number (URN): 400136 Address: Pasture Road, Embsay, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6RQ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 05/02/1993 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: Caroline Midgley and Simon Midgley Partnership

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Safeguarding standards met

The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.

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How we evaluate safeguarding

When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:

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How we evaluate safeguarding

Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.

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Achievement Strong standard

Children progress well from their starting points and learn to express themselves clearly and with confidence. They benefit from frequent opportunities to explore well-chosen books and stories, which help them learn about the world around them. For instance, babies and young children eagerly sit with staff and friends as they investigate different textures and enjoy recognising simple repeated phrases such as 'that's not my …'. Older children learn to follow a detailed plot, understand the nature of different characters in a familiar book and explain their emotions as the story progresses.

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Achievement Strong standard

Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieve well in all areas of their learning. They learn to build and refine their body control as they explore many opportunities indoors and outdoors to strengthen their core muscles, their grip and balance on increasingly challenging soft-play and climbing structures. Children develop their mathematical skills and language as, for instance, they place soft-play stepping stones in number order and solve puzzles to find which went before, after and next.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Leaders and staff have very high expectations for children's positive behaviour and attitudes throughout the setting. Staff are consistently effective role models and establish warm relationships with all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They establish routines from the start so that babies and children soon learn to feel confident and assured. Staff work closely with parents to reflect home routines, such as sleep times, to help babies and young children transition confidently into the life of the setting. As a result, children are very well behaved and show care for others. For example, they are patient and polite at snack and mealtimes and follow staff's very positive example.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Staff make effective use of carefully considered routines to develop children's sense of belonging. For instance, welcome songs at the start of the day encourage children to greet each other warmly and to recognise each other's names. Children's attendance and punctuality are positively encouraged. There are well-established routines for staff and parents to communicate if there are any unexplained absences.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Leaders establish a warm, caring and positive ethos throughout the setting. This is based on assessments that sharply identify children's individual needs. Key persons establish effective relationships with children and their families from an early stage. Consequently, children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are happy and confident throughout the setting.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

There are robust procedures to support babies and children starting the setting to settle in smoothly. This contributes to their confidence and keenness to learn from the start. The same level of care and planning helps children to transition through the setting's classes and then to school. Parents are very appreciative of the guidance and communication staff provide, and this assures children's successful induction and overall wellbeing. Children are helped to recognise and manage their own emotions and behaviour. Well-chosen books and games help children to reflect on and understand their feelings.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Staff promote children's health and physical wellbeing. For example, children's development is systematically nurtured through programmes such as activity songs, dance and the use of the large and well-planned and extensive outdoor facilities. Children learn to wash their hands regularly and thoroughly. Children appreciate the value of healthy eating. They become increasingly independent in serving themselves with the nutritious meals prepared for them.

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Curriculum and teaching Strong standard

Leaders and staff place a carefully planned and systematic curriculum at the heart of learning for all children. They make effective use of assessment to meet all children's needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff work closely with parents, for example to accurately pinpoint babies' and children's stages of development from the start to ensure they settle and make positive progress.

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Curriculum and teaching Strong standard

Leaders ensure staff have the depth of knowledge and understanding to support progressive learning. For example, staff in the baby room are trained in supporting safe sleeping routines, eating and early communication skills. There is a consistent focus on enriching the personal and learning skills children need for later learning. For example, babies are supported to learn to listen well for extended periods and distinguish sounds as they use shakers and bells to accompany traditional nursery rhymes and songs. Staff build on this with older children, who learn increasingly complex songs that help them recall the days of the week, seasons and months of the year and recognise rhymes and syllable patterns.

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Curriculum and teaching Strong standard

Staff are knowledgeable and confident in building children's vocabulary through, for instance, asking questions as they join conversations in role play and at snack times. They use a range of strategies to develop children's mathematical skills and ensure they have a secure understanding of quantities and the order of numbers.

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Inclusion Strong standard

Leaders create a fully inclusive culture within the setting and the wider community. Staff know all the children in their care well. They build strong bonds and accurately assess their needs and achievements. They identify any gaps in children's learning at an early stage and work closely with parents and senior staff to identify and plan for the next steps in the children's development. For example, staff carefully analyse patterns of behaviour for children who find it difficult to manage their own emotions to provide the support they need. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make progress that prepares them well for later learning as they build their skills in gradual, precise and measurable steps. For example, staff work closely with speech and language, medical and physiotherapy professionals to plan, teach and regularly assess their progress. Leaders sharply focus on ensuring that staff have the training and mentoring to provide

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Inclusion Strong standard

targeted and systematic provision for children with SEND and other vulnerable learners. Senior staff rigorously pursue all avenues to help children and their families acquire the support they need. They carefully consider the use of additional funding to help all children access the setting's full curriculum and, for instance, ensure staff receive specific training to support children's physical or other needs.

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Leadership and governance Strong standard

The well-qualified and experienced leadership team has continued to sustain high-quality provision since the previous inspection. Leaders have a clear understanding of the setting's strengths and weaknesses. There are robust procedures to draw on the views of parents, staff and children to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the children's centre. Leaders and other senior staff work towards challenging actions, such as building a fully inclusive and sharply focused curriculum, to have a sustained impact on children's achievement and wellbeing, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They support this through strategic research, training and links with the local community.

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Leadership and governance Strong standard

Leaders place a high value on well-trained and positive staff to promote the highest standards. Staff are well qualified and a high proportion of apprentices supported by the setting achieve a distinction grade. Leaders use staff's self-evaluation, specific training days and regular staff meetings to promote staff's wellbeing and effectiveness. Consequently, staff morale is high, and they are keen to extend their knowledge, for example, as emotion coaches and mathematics champions.

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Compulsory Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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Voluntary Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children are very happy throughout their time in this stimulating setting. They progress consistently well from their individual starting points in all areas of learning. They are prepared for the next stage in their learning, including starting school. For example, children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, learn to communicate with increasing confidence, show curiosity about the world around them and are eager to learn.

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Babies learn to listen, enjoy and join in with the many familiar action songs, nursery rhymes and stories staff share with them. This helps to establish a firm basis for their emerging language skills. Older children build on this knowledge and understanding through, for example, games and group activities that help them recognise rhymes and initial sounds of words. They extend their vocabulary and have thoughtful conversations, for example when 2-year-olds identify the different expressions on the faces of the magnet game they are playing and explain what makes them happy, angry and sad. Older children talk with enthusiasm and knowledge about the different animals in the book they have been reading and why they behave as they do. Babies and children extend their knowledge and vocabulary through the many songs and rhymes they enthusiastically sing that introduce them to, for example, counting skills, the days of the week and the seasons of the year.

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children become independent and self-assured as they learn to follow instructions safely and organise their own play. For example, babies are guided to build their standing and walking skills as they move around the wooden furniture in the baby room. Older children become increasingly adventurous as they climb the boat and large wooden structures in the extensive grounds. Children develop healthy eating habits as they learn to serve themselves from the balanced, nutritious meals the staff provide.

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Address:

Pasture Road Embsay Skipton North Yorkshire BD23 6RQ

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Address:

Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Address:

Registered person: Caroline Midgley and Simon Midgley Partnership

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Address:

Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:30 - 06:00

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Next steps

Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain their work to ensure continued improvement and high standards. They should focus on creating a transformational impact on the outcomes and experiences of those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with children, leaders, practitioners and some parents during the inspection.

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About this inspection

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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Facts and figures used on inspection

This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.

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Exceptional

Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.

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Strong standard

The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.

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Expected standard

The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.

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Needs attention

The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.

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Urgent improvement

The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care. services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

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Urgent improvement

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 .

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Urgent improvement

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 .

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Urgent improvement

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

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Urgent improvement

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

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