The Maltings Day Nursery

Natural materials, books and a large outdoor space give The Maltings Day Nursery in Ely a practical, creative character. Children have room to explore natural materials, while books and conversation run through the learning day. This is a setting where making things and expressing ideas both matter.

Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding at its 27 May 2022 inspection, highlighting teaching that followed children's interests and supported their communication. That judgement is dated; the current offer includes age-related rooms, individual routines for babies and progress records that parents can discuss with staff.

On Ship Lane, close to Ely's riverside area, the nursery accepts children from three months to five years and has 48 places in total. That is whole-nursery capacity, rather than the size of an individual room or the number attending together.

Rooms and Ages

Spacious rooms are organised into baby and toddler rooms for children up to two, the 2-3 yr room and the pre-school room for ages three to five. The age bands give children different bases as they develop, while movement into the older area is flexible: readiness and confidence matter alongside a birthday.

For babies, sensory play includes water, paint and natural objects to explore, alongside shared books and close adult contact. Toddlers encounter shape sorting, songs and mark making, connecting early mathematical ideas, language and creativity with things they can handle and do. Preschool experiences include construction, role play, early writing and number work, giving older children ways to practise skills used at school.

Activities are planned around observations of each child's development. This makes the next step individual: the emphasis is on extending what a child is learning, rather than treating everyone in an age band as ready for the same task.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage sets the common requirements for children's learning and care, including communication, physical development and social and emotional development; here, play, conversation, movement and creative activities put those requirements into everyday practice. It is the shared framework for early years provision, rather than an extra programme unique to The Maltings.

Art, dance, music and simple scientific exploration sit alongside freely chosen play and activities organised by adults. Books are introduced early, so reading is part of nursery life before children reach the preschool stage. Further detail about these experiences is on the development and learning page.

In May 2022, staff used children's experiences at home to shape activities, responding to what interested them beyond nursery. Storytelling also had a clear place in the day: familiar tales and simple resources held children's attention. The practical value is continuity between home and nursery, with children's own experiences giving them something to talk about.

Outdoor and Community Life

A large outdoor area is used by children at different points in the day. Natural materials support physical exploration, and outdoor experiences include learning about manageable risk. Local walks and visits add another setting for discovery, alongside the nursery's indoor activities.

In May 2022, older children drew their ideas before making objects from wood, with adults supervising the use of hammers and saws. Outdoor pretend play also occupied children's attention. These examples show the substance behind the creative emphasis: children were planning, handling materials and turning ideas into something tangible.

Relationships and Communication

Babies' feeding, sleep and nappy changes follow their individual routines, with staff working from parents' instructions. Milk bottles are prepared as families direct. For a parent balancing nursery with care at home, this makes everyday routines part of the conversation from the start.

The group-wide Achievement Folder records a preschool child's development and helps staff plan subsequent activities. Parents can discuss these records with the team, and formal parents' evenings take place twice a year. The combination gives families both access to ongoing information and a scheduled opportunity for a fuller discussion.

In May 2022, adults allowed children time to complete an activity and used songs to signal a change. When younger children struggled to share, staff responded calmly. These were concrete ways of helping children manage transitions and difficult feelings, rather than relying solely on verbal instructions.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its May 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with staff understanding how to raise welfare concerns and practising emergency procedures. That is a dated assessment of safeguarding practice, rather than a claim about present effectiveness.

Staff at Ely attend training and team meetings to refresh their practice. Day-to-day care also includes working with families on toilet training and encouraging handwashing, linking growing independence with practical habits.

The nursery cook prepares meals, with lunch, high tea and snacks offered through a group-wide three-week seasonal menu rotation. The nursery publishes a strict Nut Free Policy and accommodates special dietary requirements where possible.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across 52 weeks, closing for bank and public holidays, so its calendar supports childcare throughout the year rather than following school terms.

The Register Interest form places an enquiry on the waiting list and does not guarantee a place. It collects the intended start date and requested weekdays, after which the manager discusses the family's requirements. This gives parents a clear first step while keeping an enquiry separate from an agreed booking.

Getting There

The address is Ship Lane, Ely, CB7 4BB, a short distance from the city's riverside area. Families can contact the nursery on 01353 661442 or at tmdn@wigwamnurseries.co.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

In May 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for three- and four-year-olds. Current prices should be obtained in a written quotation from the nursery, so the financial decision rests on terms for the child's proposed attendance.

• Moving between rooms. The move from the youngest area is flexible around a child's readiness. During a visit, ask how staff recognise that readiness and introduce the new room.
• Funding and the total bill. Funded early education formed part of the offer in May 2022. Ask which entitlements now apply to your proposed attendance and how meals, consumables and any additional hours are treated in the written quotation.
• Dietary needs. A strict Nut Free Policy sits alongside catering for special diets where possible. Allergy-affected families should confirm current arrangements for their child's needs before agreeing attendance.

The Maltings suits families seeking year-round childcare with creative play, outdoor exploration and routines adapted to young children. Its flexible room transitions and opportunities to discuss development give parents practical ways to stay involved.

The strongest quality assessment is the Outstanding judgement from May 2022. The appeal today lies in the concrete offer: natural materials, books from an early age, individual baby routines and preschool activities that build towards starting school. Those details give families a useful basis for deciding whether the nursery matches their child.