Blue Grass Purple Cow Nursery

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD Telephone: 0300 123 1231 Fax: 0300 123 3159 Minicom: 0161 618 8524 Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk Web: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Blue Grass Purple Cow Nursery The Old Church Buxton Old Road Higher Disley Cheshire SK12 2BU Our Reference EY314653

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Monitoring for provision judged as inadequate

An Ofsted inspector, Jan Linsdell, monitored your provision on 14/08/2014 following your inspection where the provision was judged to be inadequate.

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Outcome of monitoring

As a result of our inspection on 22/05/2014, we sent you a notice to improve. If you were set actions at the inspection, or as a result of our subsequent monitoring or investigations, these are included at the end of this letter.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the monitoring visit the inspector discussed with the deputy the steps you have taken to address the actions raised in the notice to improve. She toured all areas of the nursery and observed children engaged in activities, both indoors and outside. She carried a joint observation with the deputy in the toddler room and talked to the staff in this room about the educational programme they provide for children. The inspector talked to the deputy about staff deployment and the procedures for monitoring practice. She looked at the daily attendance register and also reviewed the risk assessment relating to the security of the front entrance.

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Outcome of monitoring

The deputy informed the inspector that you have had recent contact from the local authority about training opportunities available for the staff. The deputy shared with the inspector your plan of action, which outlines the steps you have taken to tackle the areas of weakness. She also guided the inspector to the various evidence on display in the staff room, which shows how your team have been working together to reflect on practice and identify further improvements. This shows a commitment to raising quality in the nursery.

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Outcome of monitoring

The deputy explained how you are working to improve the consistency of the teaching within the staff team. For example, you have changed how staff plan activities for the children, so that there is now more focus on planning for children's interests and next steps in learning. The deputy monitors the quality of planning each week to check that activities meet children's needs. You have recently introduced peer observations to help support and coach the staff. Furthermore, you have designated a member of staff who is qualified to level 6, to lead and develop practice. This is helping to build staff confidence in their teaching skills.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the visit, the inspector found that children were engaged in purposeful play, such as baking, singing and exploring in the garden. Sufficient numbers of staff were on duty and deployed appropriately to support the children. The deputy explained that you have introduced a new system to ensure that appropriate numbers of staff are always available to care for the children. You have appointed three new members of staff to help boost staffing levels and if necessary, additional staff from your other nursery can be called upon to cover staff absences. This helps to ensure that required ratios are met at all times, which contributes to promoting children's safety and welfare.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have made a number of improvements in the toddler room. For example, you have increased the range and quality of equipment on offer, so that children have more natural resources to explore. The environment now provides a continuous provision of resources that promote the seven areas of learning. Staff explained how these changes have benefitted the children's learning; for instance, helping to improve their language skills because they now have more choices in their play. The joint observation conducted with the deputy highlighted that there is still room to further improve the lunchtime routine, in order to create a calmer and more organised experience for the toddlers.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have taken some appropriate measures to improve children's safety on the premises, which also means that the requirements of the Childcare Register are met. For example, you now have only one central register for children and staff, which the deputy checks periodically during the day. This was accurately maintained, with the hours of attendance for children and staff clearly identified. You have fitted a lockable bolt to the gate at the front entrance, in order to prevent unauthorised persons gaining access to the pre-school room. Your fire drill record shows prompt evacuation times when using this route. However, when tested, the bolt was not easily opened. The deputy agreed to discuss this further with you, so that you can explore an alternative, safer locking system.

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Outcome of monitoring

Having considered all the evidence, the inspector is of the opinion that the setting has taken prompt and effective action to address the points for improvement.

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Next steps

The next step will be a full inspection. I hope that you have found the visit helpful in promoting improvement in your setting. If you have any further queries please contact us on the number at the top of this letter.

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Next steps

Nick Hudson National Director, Early Education

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that teaching is consistent throughout the nursery, in order that children's learning is extended and challenged through high quality interactions and well-planned purposeful activities 27/06/2014 14/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

review thoroughly the organisation of the educational programme and learning environment for the toddlers to ensure that children have access to sufficient resources to sustain their interests and that staff are providing them with challenging learning and play experiences, to support their progress 27/06/2014 14/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

deploy staff effectively at all times to meet the ratio requirements and to ensure children's well-being and safety are not compromised 23/05/2014 14/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that reasonable steps are taken to assure the safety of children in the case of fire or any other emergency, through accurately recording children's hours of attendance each day 22/05/2014 14/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

review the risk assessment to ensure that children's safety is not compromised by ensuring the front door cannot be opened by members of the public from the outside. 23/05/2014 14/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that no one can enter the premises without the knowledge of the person in charge (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 23/05/2014 14/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that no one can enter the premises without the knowledge of the person in charge (voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 23/05/2014 14/08/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that a daily record of the children looked after on the premises and their 22/05/2014 14/08/2014 hours of attendance is accurately maintained (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) ensure that a daily record of the children looked after on the premises and their hours of attendance is accurately maintained (voluntary part of the Childcare Register). 22/05/2014 14/08/2014

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