URN EY430816 · Inspected 2026-03-23 · Published 2026-05-18 · Inspector: Nicky Hill
Maple Vue Nursery Unique reference number (URN): EY430816 Address: Maple Vue Children's Centre, Belle Vue Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU12 4RZ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 15/06/2011 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: Children's Links Inspection report: 23 March 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 Children are making typical progress across all areas of learning. Babies are settled and show interest in the activities staff provide for them. Toddlers' communication and language skills are developing well. They develop good physical skills outdoors and enjoy exploring a range of sensory activities. Babies and toddlers build their confidence and self-esteem through positive interactions with staff and their friends. They follow instructions and begin to understand simple rules. Older children are supported to become ready for school. They learn to manage their own personal care needs and are interested in learning about the letters in their names. They are confident and able to ask for help when needed. Children experiencing barriers to their learning continue to make progress, despite any challenges they face. They benefit from a more consistent and collaborative approach to monitoring their development, with support from external agencies. Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard Staff are positive role models and work with parents and carers to ensure that children attend regularly. Staff promote respectful relationships with others and encourage children to play cooperatively. For instance, babies enjoy taking turns fitting a toy hammer into its slot on a toy. They turn this into a game, and they clap each other when the hammer fits. This positive reaction encourages them to have another go and the staff clap too. Staff show genuine delight in children's achievements. Staff help older children begin to understand and manage their emotions. For example, they plan activities where children can express whether they are feeling happy, sad or angry. They also plan in time to ask children why they might be a feeling a certain way, so that they can provide support if needed. Staff help children with special educational needs and/or disabilities to understand what is happening now and next. The use of picture timelines and picture communication cards is effective in helping children to build resilience. Staff work in partnership with parents to implement behaviour management strategies for children who struggle to self-regulate. Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard Children across the nursery demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. Babies benefit from gentle, warm interactions. Staff are considerate and respectful towards children. For example, when nappy changing, staff get down to children's level, talk to them about what they need to do and gain their permission. Staff follow safe procedures for feeding and sleep routines, and ensure they meet children's needs. Children enjoy playing outside every day in the fresh air. They run, jump, climb and balance, which helps them build coordination and strength. Children benefit from healthy meals and snacks that are interesting and varied, although the menu from the caterer is not always communicated to staff, to help them support children who are a little unsure about what they are eating. Mealtimes are a calm occasion, with staff supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities more effectively and following appropriate hygiene routines. Staff help children to be more independent in managing their own personal hygiene. For instance, they have introduced 'snuffle stations' in each room, to encourage children to wipe their own noses. However, these are not yet being implemented consistently to fully support all children in becoming more independent. Staff help children learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, they remind children not to swing on the gate because they could trap their fingers. Leaders have implemented more robust risk assessments to ensure children are cared for in a safe environment. Curriculum and teaching Expected standard Leaders have worked hard to bring about meaningful improvements to the curriculum. Staff demonstrate that they understand the nursery's new ethos of making 'L.I.N.K.S', focusing on 'learning', 'inclusion', 'nurturing', 'kindness' and 'striving for success'. This can be seen as they develop close bonds with the children, teach them about sharing and turn-taking, and consider children's next steps more closely. Staff communicate their key children's next steps to their colleagues and work towards key skills, to help children prepare for the next room they will move on to, or for school. Mathematical concepts are embedded within play. Staff support children's communication and language skills effectively through day-to-day interactions and activities. For example, when a play dough mixture has gone wrong, staff use the opportunity to encourage the children to talk about what it feels like. They use descriptive language, such as 'crumbly' and compare the mixture to biscuit crumbs. The outdoor environment is generally well planned and enables children who prefer to learn and play outside to benefit from activities covering all areas of learning. There are plenty of activities, both indoors and outside to engage and interest children. However, at times, staff do not react promptly when parts belonging to games and toys have been moved, which limits the quality of learning for the next child. On the day of the inspection, trays of sand and rice for children to explore were not well resourced, which limited what children could do. Inclusion Expected standard Newly employed staff, trained to coordinate the approach for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and others with barriers to their learning, are a real benefit to this nursery. They have initiated a review of all the children's needs, met with families and liaised with external agencies to provide a collaborative way forward. Clear targets are set in partnership with parents and key persons, and these are reviewed regularly. This means that children who need extra support with their learning are given much better opportunities to make the progress of which they are capable. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those with other barriers to their learning benefit from inclusive practice and adaptations to activities. Staff are sensitive to their needs. For example, they know that some children struggle with transitions or to join in with group activities. Children are gently encouraged to participate in their own time. The use of picture timelines and picture communication cards helps children to understand and prepare for what is happening next. Leaders monitor the use of additional funding, and this is used appropriately to benefit children. Leaders are not fully effective however, in working with key persons to gain their views on how funding could be further enhanced. Leadership and governance Expected standard The provider has improved the oversight and governance of this nursery to bring about positive changes. The new leadership team are enthusiastic and working closely with the local authority and other agencies to be able to sustain the improvements being made. Staff have undergone a wealth of training since the last inspection. Training has been focused on the most pertinent improvements, such as the curriculum and assessments, mealtimes and supporting children's behaviour. Staff holding a new responsibility for supporting the most vulnerable children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are a credit to the nursery and act in the best interests of the children in their care. Staff comment on their positive wellbeing and that they feel well supported. However, communication between leaders and staff could be further improved still, so that they are fully involved in all organisational matters involving the children in their care. Parents have noticed the improvements made at the nursery. They feel there is better structure to the day and that their children get much more focused attention from staff. Parents of children with SEND comment on good communication and how they are included in the review of their children's targets. This helps to support children's progress at home. Compulsory Childcare Register requirements This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. How we check if a provider meets the requirements of the Compulsory Childcare Register When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes: Met Not met Voluntary Childcare Register requirements This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register. How we check if a provider meets the requirements of the Voluntary Childcare Register When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes: Met Not met What it's like to be a child at this setting There have been significant improvements made since the last inspection, resulting in improved outcomes for children. The new leadership team have a very positive attitude towards providing better standards of care and education. They are striving to embed the improvements already made. Staff have reviewed every child's starting points, especially those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those with other barriers to their learning. Children's next steps for learning are now clearly displayed, which supports everyone to understand each child's needs. Children are happy and enjoy their time at nursery. Babies show that they feel comfortable and secure by initiating games with visitors. Toddlers enjoy singing songs and sharing stories with props with staff. Pre-schoolers make the most of playing outside as they build obstacle courses, roll balls down ramps and draw on the ground with chalk. They are making steady progress and are developing knowledge and skills ready for school, such putting on their own coats and shoes, building concentration levels and developing social skills. All children receive lots of praise, which builds their self-esteem. Baby room staff have a good focus on building positive relationships and helping babies to develop a sense of security. Toddler room staff help children start to consider the needs of others and pre- school staff talk to children about their emotions and help them to become more independent. The management team and staff welcome families warmly and have improved communication with parents. Staff provide plenty of updates about children's care and learning both verbally and through the nursery app. Children's safety and health needs are met through the implementation of improved policies and practice and the promotion of regular attendance. Risk assessments are more robust, and mealtimes are managed effectively. Inspector: Nicky Hill About this setting Unique reference number (URN): EY430816 Address: Maple Vue Children's Centre Belle Vue Road Aldershot Hampshire GU12 4RZ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registration date: 15/06/2011 Registered person: Children's Links Register(s): EYR, CCR, VCR Next steps Leaders should further improve communication with staff so that they are fully involved in all organisational matters involving the children in their care. Leaders should encourage staff to review the organisation of the environment on a regular basis to ensure children's play areas are tidy, welcoming and well resourced, so that quality learning experiences are consistently maintained. Leaders should support staff to be more consistent in teaching children how to independently manage their personal needs. 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. The inspector spoke with leaders, staff, the special educational needs coordinator, parents and children during the inspection. Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 08:00 - 18:00 Local authority: Hampshire Facts and figures used on inspection This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection. This data is from 23 March 2026 Children numbers Age range of children at the time of inspection 1 to 4 Total number of places 58 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. 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