Provision
Sixth outstanding Ofsted for nursery group
Nursery group Caring Daycare now has two-thirds of its settings graded as outstanding by Ofsted, following the results of its latest inspections.
Caring Daycare's 'jungle room' at the new Camberley nursery
Six of the group’s nurseries are now ‘outstanding’, making it one of the nursery chain’s with the highest proportion of outstanding settings.
The group has also just opened its tenth nursery in Camberley, Surrey.
Caring Daycare’s three other nurseries have ‘good’ grades and the latest acquisition is awaiting its first inspection.
The latest nurseries to achieve outstanding grades are Caring Daycare Nursery in Haselmere and Major Minors in Godalming.
Managing director Peter Churchley told Nursery World, ‘We’ve been Investors in People for more than six years and early adopters of employing graduates. Some of our managers are EYPs and the others have foundation degrees. That high-quality led and informed approach acts as a catalyst for good practice for the rest of the team.’
Caring Daycare’s new nursery provides 91 places and means that the group now offers a combined total of 789 childcare places.
The building, acquired earlier this year, was previously a solicitor’s office in the centre of Camberley and has now re-opened after being converted and completely refurbished.
Mr Churchley said, ‘In Surrey it’s quite difficult to find new sites because of planning constraints and the high value of residential properties – not many sites come up for redevelopment.’
The group is continuing to expand following £6.5m in funding from Barclays last year (News, 25 August 2010.)
‘Most of our nurseries are freehold but we do have two or three leaseholds and we’re currently trying to buy one of these freeholds,’ Mr Churchley added.
‘We’re also in the process of buying a 52-place nursery in Surrey, which we expect to operate from the autumn.’
