Summary
What we read, and from where
Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.
- Achievement verified
Expected standard
- Behaviour, attitudes and routines verified
Strong standard
- Children's welfare and wellbeing verified
Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching verified
Expected standard
- Inclusion verified
Expected standard
- Leadership and governance verified
Expected standard
- Framework verified
Report card
- Group verified
Into Play Limited
- Inspection datesingle source
3 Jun 2026
- Inspectors verified
Dominique Allotey
- Postcode verified
GL2 5HQ
- Name on report verified
Into-Play @ The Quays
- Safeguarding verified
Met
- URN verified
EY451292
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Grade profile
Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.
- AchievementExpected
- Behaviour, attitudes and routinesStrong
- Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong
- Curriculum and teachingExpected
- InclusionExpected
- Leadership and governanceExpected
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- Staff's interactions with children are extremely warm and nurturing. p.2
- Leaders and staff have high expectations for children's positive behaviour. p.2
- At times of transition in the routine, staff use a wide range of highly effective strategies to help prepare children for what is happening next. p.2
- Staff are excellent role models for children. p.2
- The atmosphere in the nursery is extremely calm and respectful. p.2
Concerns
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. p.5
- Leaders should support staff to strengthen teaching to ensure high-quality delivery of group activities for the youngest children so they are sharply tailored to children's needs and what they want children to learn. p.6
- Leaders should support staff to tailor the spaces used and delivery of stories, to ensure that all children have equal opportunities to fully immerse themselves in stories in an interactive way. p.6
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Leadership & governance20
“Leaders and staff have high expectations for children's positive behaviour.” p.2Teaching & assessment7
“Staff's interactions with children are extremely warm and nurturing.” p.2Parents & families7
“Staff get to know children and their families extremely well.” p.2
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 9
- Words of findings
- 1,769
- about usual (typical 1698)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 47, typical 43
- Average sentence
- 15 words
- Next steps
- 3
- typical 3
- Hedged sentences
- 5%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Into-Play @ The Quays
Unique reference number (URN): EY451292 Address: 24 Llanthony Road, GLOUCESTER, GL2 5HQ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 07/01/2013 Registers: EYR, CCR Registered person: Into Play Limited
p.1
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.
p.1
How we evaluate safeguarding
When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:
p.1
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.
p.1
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard
Leaders and staff have high expectations for children's positive behaviour. Staff demonstrate highly impactful teaching in regard to helping children understand how to regulate their emotions and express themselves. Children follow routines and instructions excellently. The atmosphere in the nursery is extremely calm and respectful. Children's behaviour is excellent. Staff help children to highly successfully learn to share, take turns and play collaboratively with others from an early age. Leaders monitor children's attendance well. Staff help parents and carers to understand the importance of regular attendance on their child's progress and welfare.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard
Routines are extremely well embedded. At times of transition in the routine, staff use a wide range of highly effective strategies to help prepare children for what is happening next. For example, they use visual timetables to show children what is happening now and next. Staff use timers to show children how much time they have left before there is a change. Pre- school children take independent responsibility for the environment and resources. They tidy up resources that they have finished playing with without needing a prompt from staff.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard
Staff are excellent role models for children. They treat children with care and respect. Staff build very deep attachments with their key children. The consistent boundaries set out for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, enable children to have a clear understanding of what is expected. Staff regularly praise children and celebrate what they have achieved on an individual level. Children display excellent manners. For example, they automatically say 'please' and 'thank you' in their interactions with others.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard
Care practices across the nursery are highly responsive and respectful and individualised to the needs of each child. There is a high emphasis on a continuity of care from home to the nursery. Staff work closely with parents and carers to ensure they adopt the same approaches. This gives children an added sense of safety and security. Staff's interactions with children are extremely warm and nurturing. Staff create well-thought-out spaces in all of the rooms for children to calm down, regulate their emotions, rest or relax. They adapt settling-in sessions to support individual children's needs and circumstances. Staff meticulously plan transitions to the next room for children who find this unsettling to make the transition as smooth as possible for them.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard
There is a very effective key-person system in place. Staff get to know children and their families extremely well. They consider 'best fit' key people. For example, leaders consider children's needs and preferences when allocating their key persons. Parents comment on how supportive staff are and how well they know their children as individuals. Leaders and staff have a deep understanding of barriers some children face. They use their knowledge to help prevent children from facing further disadvantage. Leaders work collaboratively with other professionals, such as social workers, to ensure children's welfare and wellbeing.
p.2
Expected standard
Children receive encouragement as much as possible to be independent. They have opportunities throughout the day to play outdoors in the fresh air in all weathers. In addition, children build an excellent awareness of healthy lifestyles. They develop healthy habits for the future, such as regularly exercising and positive dental hygiene.
p.3
Achievement Expected standard
All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face other barriers to their learning, typically achieve well in all areas of their development during their time at this nursery. Children gain age- and stage-appropriate skills and knowledge. For example, all children are toilet trained in time for starting school. Children are sociable and confident. They have positive friendships and communicate well with others. For example, children work together on shared tasks, sharing their thoughts and ideas and respecting one another's views.
p.3
Achievement Expected standard
Children are motivated to join in with activities. Typically, they can attend well in their play and show sustained attention. Children have a positive understanding of healthy lifestyles. For example, they know that they need to look after their teeth, exercise and eat healthy foods.
p.3
Achievement Expected standard
In the main, children show a secure understanding of mathematics. Younger children count using their fingers, while older children learn to add things together to make a bigger number. Children show pride in their achievements.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Staff have a secure understanding of how children learn. They know each child and what they know, can do and are interested in. Staff use this information to plan an appropriate curriculum that they typically teach well. There is clear intent for what staff want all children to learn in time for the next age-phase room transition and eventual move on to school. Generally, staff plan activities and experiences tailored to children's interests and next steps. This well-planned curriculum helps all children to progress in all areas of their development. During some group learning for the youngest children, teaching is not consistently highly impactful or purposeful enough. Staff do not always stay focused enough on what it is they want children to learn. This impacts on children's learning opportunities at these times.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Staff incorporate regular musical play and singing into play and activities. This enables children to hear a wide range of vocabulary, including mathematical language, and enhances their creativity. Children have an interest in books. Staff promote stories well, using regular story sessions as a tool for enhancing children's language and literacy skills. However, the delivery of some story sessions means all children do not have full and equal opportunity to engage deeply and participate fully with the stories. For instance, at times, some children listen to stories sat at tables and some children have limited view of the book. Subsequently, these children interact less with the story. Staff encourage children to participate in regular physical activity throughout the day. Children engage in sensory play and use a range of tools. This helps children to develop their motor skills and explore with their senses.
p.3
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders and staff instil a positive culture of inclusion. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who face barriers to their learning have the same opportunities as their peers. Leaders and staff identify gaps in children's learning. They take swift action to put in place tailored support and make adaptions for these children. Rigorous monitoring of children with SEND's progress is evident. This continually informs the support and adaptions needed to support the needs of individual children. This is particularly helping the older children with SEND or those who face barriers to their learning to help close gaps and prepare them well for the upcoming transition to school.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Typically, leaders and staff consider children's needs well. They support staff to access training and professional development opportunities that develop their skills and knowledge. Generally, this helps staff to best meet children's needs at that time. Leaders and staff work closely with parents and carers to ensure collaborative approaches and a continuity from home to the nursery. They carefully monitor the impact of funding on disadvantaged children to ensure it is having a positive impact on their progress. Staff promote cultural diversity and celebrate children's unique backgrounds. For example, they plan activities linked to cultural festivals and use key words with children in their home languages.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
There is an effective and proactive leadership team in place that has made a number of changes and improvements since the last inspection. Leaders demonstrate a commitment to continually improving and providing quality care and education. Leaders carefully monitor staff practice. They accurately identify what works well and what needs to be improved. The sharp attention to detail regarding the professional development of staff has enhanced the consistency in the teaching and support children receive across the setting.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders have developed more effective partnerships with parents and carers. They work closely with families and professionals involved with children who are particularly disadvantaged, such as early help workers. Leaders use additional funding very well to ensure all children can achieve their best outcomes.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
It was identified during the inspection that there had been a previous breach in requirements in relation to food and drink that the provider had not notified Ofsted of. Despite this, the provider has since reflected upon this and has taken appropriate steps to address previous weaknesses. All leaders and staff are now clear and consistently implement the policies in place for managing children's dietary needs.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Staff morale is high. Staff value the support they receive from leaders and external partners, such as the local authority. They comment on how the professional development opportunities they receive and increased supervision sessions are positively influencing their practice. Leaders regularly network with others to share good practice and maintain an oversight of the communities they serve.
p.4
Compulsory Childcare Register requirements
This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.
p.5
Register
When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children attend regularly and thoroughly enjoy coming to this warm and welcoming nursery. They arrive happy, keen to meet staff and their friends and to get involved in the play and activities on offer to them. The flexible and personalised settling-in processes help children to feel safe and secure from the outset. Staff are kind and engaging with children. This supports children's emotional wellbeing effectively and helps them to enjoy their learning.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face barriers to their learning, benefit from a varied and broad curriculum based on children's interests and stages of development. They all make positive progress in all areas of their development during their time at the nursery. Babies delight in singing sessions. They bounce with excitement as staff sing familiar songs to them with great enthusiasm. Toddlers play musical instruments, experimenting with the different sounds instruments make. Older children are fascinated to learn facts about animals as they immerse themselves in activities where they watch wildlife clips and discuss lions.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children develop well with their communication and language skills. There are plenty of opportunities for children to develop their physical skills and social skills. Children display respectful behaviour. Effective teaching from staff enables children to play well with one
p.5
Address:
24 Llanthony Road another, make friends easily and socialise well. By the time children get towards the end of their pre-school year, they are well prepared for school. Children across the setting develop independence at an age-appropriate level through daily routines and activities. This supports them to manage their own personal care. For example, young children drink from open cups and wash their own faces. Toddlers sweep up the sand around the sand tray. Pre-school children serve their own lunches and brush their own teeth.
p.6
Address:
Regular and open communication with parents and carers ensures children benefit from a continuity of care. Parents comment that they are well informed about their child's time at nursery. They are complimentary about the leaders and staff and the quality care and education they provide.
p.6
Next steps
Leaders should support staff to strengthen teaching to ensure high-quality delivery of group activities for the youngest children so they are sharply tailored to children's needs and what they want children to learn. Leaders should support staff to tailor the spaces used and delivery of stories, to ensure that all children have equal opportunities to fully immerse themselves in stories in an interactive way.
p.6
About this inspection
The inspector spoke with leaders, staff, children, parents and carers and the special educational needs coordinators during the inspection.
p.6
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. GLOUCESTER GL2 5HQ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises
p.6
About this inspection
Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:30 - 18:00
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Facts and figures used on inspection
This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.
p.7
Exceptional
Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.
p.7
Strong standard
The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.
p.7
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.
p.8
Needs attention
The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.
p.8
Urgent improvement
The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care.
p.8
Urgent improvement
services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.
p.8
Urgent improvement
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p.8
Urgent improvement
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p.8
Urgent improvement
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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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