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
Expected standard
- Children's welfare and wellbeing verified
Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching verified
Expected standard
- Inclusion verified
Expected standard
- Leadership and governance verified
Expected standard
- Framework verified
Report card
- Group verified
Dorset Council
- Inspection datesingle source
22 Jul 2026
- Inspectors verified
Emily Hudson
- Postcode verified
SP7 8PZ
- Name on report verified
Shaftesbury Children Centre Nursery
- Safeguarding verified
Met
- URN verified
2535359
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 routinesExpected
- Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected
- 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 place a strong focus on babies' personal, social and emotional development, ensuring they feel secure, happy and well supported. p.3
- In this setting, children build warm and trusting relationships with all staff, including key people. p.2
- Leaders and staff set high expectations for children's behaviour and attitudes to learning. p.2
- Children are happy and enjoy their time at this setting. p.5
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
- This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register. p.5
- Leaders should strengthen staff practice so that children are consistently supported to access the environment around them and engage in learning opportunities, particularly during transition periods. p.6
- Leaders should enhance the support for staff so that they understand how to make better use of their interactions to extend children's enjoyment and learning. p.6
- Leaders should strengthen the curriculum for babies so that it builds on the skills they already have and focuses precisely on what they need to learn next. 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 & governance27
“Leaders and staff set high expectations for children's behaviour and attitudes to learning.” p.2
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 9
- Words of findings
- 1,617
- about usual (typical 1698)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 42, typical 43
- Average sentence
- 19 words
- Next steps
- 5
- typical 3
- Hedged sentences
- 5%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Shaftesbury Children Centre Nursery
Unique reference number (URN): 2535359 Address: Wincombe Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8PZ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 19/06/2019 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: Dorset Council
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
Achievement Expected standard
Children make progress across all areas of development, giving them the skills and knowledge they need to be well prepared for their next stage of learning, including school. All children, including those who face barriers to learning, achieve well from their starting points and receive appropriate support to help them reach age-related developmental goals.
p.2
Achievement Expected standard
Children develop a wide range of skills and show confidence in exploring and leading their own play. They immerse themselves in the activities available and extend their knowledge through meaningful conversations with both peers and adults. For instance, children explore the water table and use this as an opportunity to use fine motor skills, while engaging in conversations about upcoming events. Children persevere at tasks and show positive attitudes to attempting new skills. Babies are supported to engage with physical resources such as bikes, in an age- and stage-appropriate way.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
In this setting, children build warm and trusting relationships with all staff, including key people. Key people know their children well. Therefore, they are able to ensure that the environment supports children's development and wellbeing. Leaders and staff set high expectations for children's behaviour and attitudes to learning. They take an inclusive approach to behaviour, ensuring that all children's individual needs are considered and accommodated for. Staff ensure that children take part in all aspects of the nursery day. Routines are clear and most children follow these without needing additional support from adults. Staff praise children when appropriate, to reinforce positive behaviour.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Children are supported to get along with each other, engage in play and to resolve any conflicts. Staff support children to understand a range of feelings and the importance of treating others with kindness and respect. This is evident during group times as staff support children to focus on understanding emotions. Staff have the knowledge to explicitly teach emotional regulation and support children using sensory resources when they need it.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
The setting's approach to attendance is clear, and parents and carers show they understand their responsibilities. Leaders show they can identify patterns of poor attendance and engage with professionals and parents to ensure that attendance is a priority. Parents share that they have positive relationships with staff and can freely share any concerns they may have.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Leaders establish policies and procedures that supports children's welfare, mental health and wellbeing. The key-person system is effective, with an emphasis on staff knowing the children well. Leaders and staff have created a welcoming space where children enjoy play, learning and outdoor activities. Staff are attentive to the children's needs and support all children, particularly the younger ones with a nurturing approach, ensuring approaches from home are considered.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
There are clear routines in place to support children to manage their own hygiene needs. For instance, children in the pre-school room independently access the sinks to wash their hands without prompts.
p.3
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Staff teach children about making healthy choices with food and exercise. This is promoted during shared lunches where children are encouraged to engage in conversation, a 'mini- athletics' programme, and a focus on movement throughout play time. Staff support children to understand when they need to rest through the day and give ample opportunities for this to take place. Leaders ensure that food offered at the setting provides a variety of nutrients, considering any children who may have allergies or dietary requirements.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Leaders have a clear and accurate understanding of their curriculum, including of some areas that require development. However, a stronger focus on the specific areas of the early years foundation stage for babies would strengthen children's foundational skills. The curriculum is deliberately designed so that leaders and staff know exactly what they want children to learn and the sequence of skills is carefully considered. This ensures children secure foundational knowledge before progressing to more advanced learning. Leaders ensure that all children can access the curriculum equally, including children who attend part time, who attend more than one setting, disadvantaged pupils, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children previously known to or currently known to social care. This inclusive approach is evident in daily circle times, where learning from earlier in the week is revisited to strengthen understanding and retention.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Leaders ensure that the curriculum is taught well and that routine assessment takes place. Staff are supported by leaders to deliver this effectively. Staff place a strong focus on babies' personal, social and emotional development, ensuring they feel secure, happy and well supported. This is evident both in the curriculum and staff's nurturing approaches. Leaders should ensure that staff deployment supports a continuous focus on learning and development, ensuring that all staff are engaging in meaningful interactions during play time. Parents feel confident that their children are well cared for, and their early milestones are recognised and celebrated, promoting children's personal wellbeing and development. Physical development is also prioritised in the setting, with regular opportunities for babies and children to move and use their bodies throughout the day, this is further enhanced by additional commissioned services such as mini athletics.
p.3
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders can identify children's needs quickly and take a gradual approach to supporting children's development. Staff recognise the importance of observation and assessment in identifying children's needs. Leaders and staff are confident in identifying children's needs early, and specialist agencies are consulted to support children's development and the wellbeing of children and their families. Leaders have a secure understanding of children's progress and use funding to make a positive impact on children's outcomes and experiences. Leaders have the knowledge and skills to make a positive difference for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children with SEND and those who speak English as an additional language are provided with additional support, such as wobble cushions and visuals, to ensure they can access all activities on offer. Leaders recognise when some children would benefit from further opportunities to embed skills before
p.3
Inclusion Expected standard
transitioning into the next room, ensuring that the room best fits the children's needs.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders and staff work closely with parents and carers to ensure a collaborative approach. Leaders and staff are proactive in providing support and signposting families to agencies and professionals. Leaders' collaborative working with the Best Start Family Hub supports families to access the support they need in a timely manner.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders have good oversight of this setting, including its strengths and areas for improvement. They hold high ambitions for children and make purposeful changes to enhance the support children receive. There is clear evidence of relevant and appropriate professional learning, with a culture that encourages staff to be proactive in their own professional development. All staff are expected to share knowledge gained from training to strengthen the team's knowledge about relevant topics that will help support the children and parents and carers. Regular supervision meetings are used to provide a space where staff can explain any concerns they have, discuss key children with a focus on safeguarding and development and to explore individual training needs.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders engage with professionals, parents and carers in a way which supports children's wellbeing and care. There is a focus on collaborative working, considering children's routines at home to support them to settle well into the setting. Leaders emphasise the importance of partnership working when children transition to other settings. They ensure that children have opportunities to become familiar with the adults in the new setting and any important information is shared. This approach aims to give children a positive start at their new setting. Leaders' oversight of this setting means that staff, children and their families are adequately supported.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
There is an emphasis on partnership working with parents to support children to develop well at this setting. Parents explain that they are confident in who to speak to if they have a concern and they feel that the setting supports the whole family.
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
Voluntary Childcare Register requirements
This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register.
p.5
Register
When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children are happy and enjoy their time at this setting. The children are keen to involve themselves in the range of activities that staff plan for them including sensory play which was available in all rooms. Each activity has been adapted to meet the needs of the children attending, considering ages and stages of development. There is a broad and varied curriculum that considers individual needs as well as long-term goals and themes. Some staff would benefit from additional support to engage babies in meaningful learning opportunities. All children, including those who face barriers to learning or with special
p.5
About this setting
Unique reference number (URN): 2535359 educational needs and/or disabilities, make progress during their time and are well prepared for school.
p.6
About this setting
Children behave well and listen to instructions from adults. Children are kind to one another, and this is reinforced through interactions between adults and children. Children enjoy the surroundings and have warm relationships with members of staff. Children engage well in play and develop relationships with their peers. Staff know the children well and support them effectively to develop well.
p.6
About this setting
Leaders maintain a good oversight of safeguarding and ensure there is a culture of 'it could happen here'. Staff are confident in their responsibilities of identifying and reporting concerns and the actions that should follow these.
p.6
Next steps
Leaders should strengthen staff practice so that children are consistently supported to access the environment around them and engage in learning opportunities, particularly during transition periods. Leaders should enhance the support for staff so that they understand how to make better use of their interactions to extend children's enjoyment and learning. Leaders should strengthen the curriculum for babies so that it builds on the skills they already have and focuses precisely on what they need to learn next.
p.6
About this inspection
The inspector spoke with leaders, the special educational needs coordinator and staff 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 provisions 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.6
Address:
Wincombe Lane Shaftesbury Dorset SP7 8PZ
p.7
Address:
Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises
p.7
Address:
Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday : 08:00 - 18:00,Friday : 08:00 - 16:00
p.7
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.8
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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Urgent improvement
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Urgent improvement
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