URN EY219568 · Inspected 2026-01-12 · Published 2026-03-10 · Inspector: Hayley Kiely
Cherrystone Nursery Unique reference number (URN): EY219568 Address: 1 Dell Lane, Stoneleigh, Surrey, KT17 2NE Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 22/10/2002 Registers: EYR Registered person: Cherry Childcare Limited Inspection report: 12 January 2026 Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement 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. How we evaluate safeguarding When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes: 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. Expected standard Achievement Expected standard Overall, all children, including those with barriers to learning, make progress from their starting points, and gaps in their learning narrow and close. Children generally develop the skills they need for the next step in their learning journey, including their move on to school. For example, children extend their understanding of new words, such as learning the names of different animals, which helps to build on their vocabulary. Children engage confidently with others and in their learning. They eagerly explore their surroundings, knowing that support is there when they need it. Children typically join in with familiar songs and stories. They learn to move their bodies in different ways as they copy actions to songs and dance to music. Children enjoy opportunities to use their imaginative skills and make their own creations. For instance, they spend time drawing pictures with their friends. Children praise each other for what they have drawn, demonstrating their social skills and how they engage positively with others. Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard Leaders understand the importance of regular attendance and punctuality and have secure procedures in place to monitor this. Staff implement age-appropriate strategies to help children understand how they are expected to behave. This includes talking to older children about the setting's 'code of kindness', which helps them understand what positive behaviour looks like. Staff provide appropriate praise when children behave well, so they generally require very little help to show positive behaviour. Staff are prompt to step in when children struggle to regulate their feelings, such as when they want to play with the same toy as their friends. Children listen to staff and modify their behaviour appropriately. Children enjoy a range of learning opportunities, such as independent play, group time and one-to-one activities. Children learn to work collaboratively with their friends and with staff as they build a train track together. Children use different signs to indicate when their friend's train can go and when it has to stop. They show respect towards each other as they listen to their friend's instructions. However, at times, teaching is less effective during group activities. For example, children become easily distracted during story times and do not benefit from the intended learning. This does not fully support children's positive attitudes to learning. Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard Leaders focus on children feeling safe and developing secure bonds with staff. This enables children, including those with barriers to their learning, to settle well. Children quickly develop the curiosity to explore their surroundings. Staff meet children's care needs well, such as supporting their personal care and toileting needs. Staff support children's understanding of how to keep themselves healthy. For example, they provide children with daily access to fresh air in the newly refurbished garden, and they recognise when children need time to rest. Staff talk to children about foods that are good for them, supporting their understanding of healthy lifestyles. Staff teach children how to keep themselves safe. For instance, staff encourage children to think about what might happen if they do not tuck their chairs in. Children begin to learn that they could trip over the chair legs and hurt themselves. This helps them to identify and manage potential risks around them. Children learn to do things for themselves, such as serving their own food at mealtimes and tidying up after themselves. However, the organisation of mealtimes does not support children's emotional wellbeing consistently. Sometimes, children wait too long for their food to be served and get upset. On occasion, tasks are not delegated well to help staff enable the smooth running of this routine. Curriculum and teaching Expected standard Leaders and staff recognise the importance of building trusting relationships to help children settle and engage in their learning. This helps to reduce some barriers to learning from the outset. As a result, children learn to confidently communicate their wants and needs. Staff regularly monitor and assess children's progress so they can decide what they want children to learn next. Children generally benefit from teaching that provides them with the skills and knowledge they need to progress to the next stage of learning. For instance, staff support children's developing mathematical knowledge by singing counting songs and helping them to recognise numbers. Staff consider ways to build on children's vocabulary and understanding. This includes naming objects and using words to describe what they are doing. Children enjoy the variety of opportunities to develop their small and large physical skills, such as tracing magnetic letters. Overall, leaders have effective oversight of the quality of experiences that they provide for all children. This generally enables them to identify strengths and areas for development. However, at times, teaching is less consistent. For example, children do not always hear the correct pronunciation of words during singing sessions and are not supported to focus their attention during stories. This does not help children to fully benefit from the intended learning. Inclusion Expected standard Leaders have high expectations for all children to make progress. They provide staff with support to implement teaching effectively. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well. Leaders ensure that staff responsible for supporting children with delays in their development attend relevant training. Learning from this training is shared with the team to help them provide children with effective support. This includes sharing information about how children process their feelings and emotions, so staff can better understand why they show certain behaviours. Staff get to know children well. They promptly identify any delays in development and decide how they can best support them to close gaps in their knowledge and skills. Staff work in partnership with families and other professionals to implement effective support. Staff monitor children's progress and recognise when to adapt support so that children continue to make progress. Leaders give careful consideration to additional funding and involve parents and carers in decisions. For instance, some funding is used to provide additional staff so that children can benefit from more targeted support. This helps children with SEND to make consistent progress in their development and learning. Leadership and governance Expected standard Leaders failed to notify Ofsted of a significant event within the required timeframe. They recognise that this was an oversight on their behalf and have taken steps to ensure that they make required notifications in a timely manner. Overall, leaders have effective oversight of staff's practice and help them understand their roles and responsibilities. Recent changes in leadership have resulted in a period of adjustment for families, staff and children. Leaders have focused on building a secure team to promote wellbeing and the best outcomes for children. Staff enjoy working at the setting and are supported well by leaders. Leaders are focused on identifying training needs for staff in order to further support them in their practice and enhance the quality of experiences that all children receive. Leaders give staff time to complete mandatory and additional training, and they encourage staff to share what they have learned from recent training. For instance, staff share strategies to support children, including those with barriers to their learning and special educational needs and/or disabilities, to regulate their feelings and behaviour. This helps staff to provide appropriate support for all children. Leaders have well-established partnerships with parents and carers. They praise leaders and staff for the care and teaching they provide for children. Leaders engage with other professionals involved in children's care, which helps them to work together to meet children's needs. What it's like to be a child at this setting Children are happy and eagerly enjoy exploring their surroundings. They develop secure bonds with staff and confidently share their thoughts and ideas. For example, children indicate which song they would like to sing during group times. Staff promptly identify when children need emotional support and offer them comfort and reassurance. Children respond positively to staff, helping them to settle quickly and actively engage in their learning. Inspector: Hayley Kiely About this setting Unique reference number (URN): EY219568 Staff follow children's interests and support their learning. For example, children practise balance and coordination as they walk across 'stepping-stones'. Staff recognise when to offer help, matching support to children's age and stage of development. All children, including those with barriers to learning, are typically prepared well for their next stage of development. They make appropriate progress from their starting points and gain the skills they need to move on to school. For example, children learn to become independent and complete tasks for themselves. They serve their own food and clear their plates away once they have finished eating. Children show kindness to their friends with gentle encouragement from staff, such as learning to share the toys with each other. This helps them learn how they are expected to behave. Leaders and staff work closely with parents and carers. They share relevant information, such as the importance of punctuality and regular attendance. Leaders listen to parents' queries and concerns, and they work together to improve children's outcomes. For example, staff provide parents with ideas to manage upcoming changes in children's lives, such as new siblings and moving home. Staff also implement these strategies in the setting so that children receive consistent support. Next steps Leaders should strengthen the organisation of mealtimes to meet children's needs consistently well at key times. Leaders should support staff to strengthen practice further so that children consistently benefit from opportunities to extend their learning. About this inspection The inspector spoke with leaders, staff, children and parents during the 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. Address: 1 Dell Lane Stoneleigh Surrey KT17 2NE Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registration date: 22/10/2002 Registered person: Cherry Childcare Limited Register(s): EYR Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:30 - 18:15 Local authority: Surrey Facts and figures used on inspection This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection. This data is from 12 January 2026 Children numbers Age range of children at the time of inspection 0 to 4 Total number of places 94 Our grades explained Exceptional Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it. Strong standard The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them. 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. Needs attention The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements. Urgent improvement The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) inspects services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people. 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. 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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