The Right Track Children's Nursery

The Right Track National Express, Hertford East Railway Station, Mill Road, HERTFORD, SG14 1SB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30/11/2012 01/06/2011

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: 3 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children 2 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 2

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This provision is good

 Children are happy, independent learners. They confidently choose what they want to do and activities are firmly based upon their individual needs and interests.  Teaching is based upon a secure knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Every member of staff has a good awareness of how young children learn and makes the most of opportunities to promote children's learning through, play, discussions and group activities.  Staff follow good hygiene routines when changing nappies and preparing tables for meal times. Children are developing good self-care skills as they are supported with potty training and washing their hands before eating.  Safeguarding procedures are robust and effectively ensure all children play in a safe and secure environment.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The process of self-evaluation is not sufficiently robust to demonstrate how targets are prioritised and planned for to drive further improvement.

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Information about this inspection

Inspections of registered early years provision are scheduled:  at least once in every inspection cycle. The current cycle ends on 31 July 2016  more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged as inadequate  brought forward in the inspection cycle where Ofsted has received information that suggests the provision may not be meeting the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage; or where assessment of the provision identifies a need for early inspection  prioritised for inspection where we have received information that the provision is not meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and which suggests children may not be safe  at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Information about this inspection

The provision is also registered on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. This report includes a judgment about compliance with the requirements of that register.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the playrooms and the outdoor area.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector held a meeting with the manager and deputy manager of the provision.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at planning, evidence of suitability of staff working in the setting, policies and a range of other documentation.

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Information about the setting

The Right Track Nursery was registered in 2010 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. It is operates from a converted railway station building close to the centre of Hertford, Hertfordshire and is privately owned. The nursery serves the local area and is accessible to all children. There is a fully enclosed area available for outdoor play.

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Information about the setting

The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery opens Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. Children attend for a variety of sessions. There are currently 48 children attending who are within the Early Years age group. The nursery provides funded early education for three- to five-year-old children. It supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language and children with special needs and/or disabilities.

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 establish an approach to driving further improvement which identifies areas for improvement within a targeted action plan.

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who attend

The educational programmes have depth and breadth across the areas of learning. Staff provide interesting and challenging experiences that meet the needs of children. The staff have a very good knowledge and understanding of how to promote the learning and development of young children. The setting is well organised and staff ensure that children are able to access a broad range of toys and equipment; as a result children are active and independent learners.

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who attend

The staff effectively promote children's skills in literacy. Books are readily available to all the children and the younger children handle books and printed material with interest. A group of older children sit with an adult; the children have paper and a selection of coloured pens. The adult talks to the children and encourages them to draw members of their family. Children ask the adult to help them write a name of a member of their family. The adult responds by asking what sound the name starts with, the children know the first sound and make the sound. The adult writes the name talking about the letters and their sounds. The children carefully write on top of the adult's writing. The children learn to associate meaning with the marks they make and make some links between letters and sounds. The children behave extremely well and they hold the pen correctly and demonstrate good hand control.

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who attend

A group of children engage in an adult-led activity in the outdoor area. The adult explains to the children that when the music stops they need to stand on a square, circle or triangle. The children have fun dancing to the music and when the music stops respond to the adult's instruction by attempting to stand on the correct shape. The children are beginning to identify two-dimensional mathematical shapes and to use the correct mathematical terms for the shapes. The adult is careful to encourage and praise the children. This supports the development of self-confidence and encourages the children to persevere when faced with a challenge. The children concentrate on the task for a sustained period of time; they are having fun dancing to music while making good progress with their mathematical knowledge and understanding.

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who attend

Staff complete observations and assessments to monitor and assess children's progress and use these effectively to plan suitably challenging activities.Staff constantly observe and listen to children, questioning them during activities in order to extend their learning and enhance understanding. The children are making good progress in their learning and the vast majority of children are working comfortably within the typical range of development expected for their age. Where children's starting points are below those of their peers individual education plans show that they are making very good progress.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Arrangements to help children settle into the nursery and build secure emotional attachments with their carers are very effective. Successful implementation of the key person system ensures children feel safe and secure in the setting. Children play very well together and behave well, demonstrating an understanding of the clear boundaries and expectations within the setting. Relationships are strong at all levels and children are learning to respect and tolerate each other's differences. For example, children with special educational needs are very much included and involved in all activities. The provision has a warm and friendly atmosphere.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children are provided with a healthy, nutritious diet that includes fruit and vegetables. The nursery employs a cook who prepares the snacks and meals and ensures that children's dietary needs are met. Children are encouraged to learn the importance of basic personal hygiene and ensure their hands are clean before eating and after using the toilet. The staff effectively support the children with potty training. The children are rewarded with stickers to mark their successful use of the potty. The children are helped to develop self- help skills and a healthy lifestyle.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

The setting provides a stimulating, well-resourced and welcoming environment to support children's all round development and emotional well-being. The children have use of an enclosed outdoor play area; this gives them the opportunity to enjoy fresh air and promote their physical development. Children enjoy the activities available and relate well to the staff, who support and encourage them. The staff spend time talking to and playing with children, consequently they enjoy very strong and caring relationships. This positive adult interaction helps to develop children's confidence and self-esteem. The nursery is effectively preparing children for school.

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provision

The manager and her deputy foster a strong team approach and involve staff in decision making and support them in their professional development. As a result the staff team is motivated and enabled to offer good quality provision for all children. All staff show a clear understanding of the learning and development requirements and strive to deliver an enjoyable learning experience for the children. Effective systems are in place for recruitment, induction and performance management, ensuring that staff with appropriate skills and experience are in place. The setting has recently introduced regular supervision meetings for all staff, this together with the appraisal system enables the manager to monitor the performance of practitioners and to draw upon their strengths and interests. Where under performance occurs this is addressed appropriately.

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provision

The nursery enjoys good relationships with parents. The active involvement of parents is encouraged through newsletters and questionnaires so they can convey their views and preferences. Parents are kept fully informed about their child's learning and development through a daily book and verbal feedback. Parents spoken to at the time of the inspection, hold the provision in high regard and describe the environment as stimulating and secure and find the staff friendly and helpful. The nursery also enjoys strong relationships with the local children's centre, the community nurse and the local authority's area special educational needs adviser. The close partnership working with other professionals ensures that children's needs are identified and that they are supported to make good progress.

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provision

The provision has appropriate policies and procedures in place to meet the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Since the previous inspection more rigorous systems have been put in place to assess risk and to ensure that the premises are safe and secure. Staff have a good knowledge about safeguarding children and understand their role in protecting them. Staff create an environment that is safe and welcoming, where children feel secure and happy.

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provision

The manager, her deputy and staff are committed to providing a caring and stimulating environment for the children. The nursery evaluates its provision through a planned self- evaluation process to which all staff contribute. Parents' views provided through questionnaires and a suggestion book feed into the self-evaluation process. The nursery has acted upon the actions and recommendations from the previous inspection and has moved its practice forward. The manager and her deputy are ambitious to further improve the provision but have not yet clearly specified an improvement plan detailing actions to drive forward further improvement.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are Met

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Grade Judgement Description

Grade 1 Outstanding Outstanding provision is highly effective in meeting the needs of all children exceptionally well. This ensures that children are very well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Grade 2 Good Good provision is effective in delivering provision that meets the needs of all children well. This ensures children are ready for the next stage of their learning. Grade 3 Satisfactory Satisfactory provision is performing less well than expectations in one or more of the key areas. It requires improvement in order to be good. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement. The provision is failing to give children an acceptable standard of early years education and/or is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be inspected again within 12 months of the date of this inspection.

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Grade Judgement Description

Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider does not meet the requirements for registration.

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Inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted 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.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY407680 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 875339

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Type of provision

Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 19 Number of children on roll 48 Name of provider Alexandra Marina Byrne Date of previous inspection 01/06/2011 Telephone number 01992 500455

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Type of provision

set out in the guidance ‘raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

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Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

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Type of provision

Full-time provision is that which operates for more than three hours. These are usually known as nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the higher fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Sessional provision operates for more than two hours but does not exceed three hours in any one day. These are usually known as pre-schools, kindergartens or nursery schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the lower fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Childminders care for one or more children where individual children attend for a period of more than two hours in any one day. They operate from domestic premises that are usually their own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Type of provision

Out of school provision may be sessional or full-time provision and is delivered before or after school and/or in the summer holidays. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. Where children receive their Early Years Foundation Stage in school these providers do not have to deliver the learning and development requirements in full but should complement the experiences children receive in school. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children,

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Type of provision

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Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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