Bright Comets Day Nursery

Bright Comets Day Nursery 4 Parkhouse Court, Comet Square, HATFIELD, Hertfordshire, AL10 9RQ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17 February 2015 3 April 2012

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Outstanding 1 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is good

 Staff are skilled at promoting language to extend each child's vocabulary, including those who speak English as an additional language. Their use of sign language supports children to develop strong communication skills from an early age.  The nursery benefits from two highly competent and enthusiastic managers. They have a comprehensive knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and implement it well.  Staff have a secure knowledge of safeguarding, including child protection and whistle- blowing procedures. They consistently protect children's safety and welfare.  Staff consistently support children's emotional well-being. They place an emphasis on spending one-to-one time with their key children to ensure that they develop strong attachments with them. Therefore, children feel secure and happy at the nursery.  Staff complete observations and precise assessments of children's learning and

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This provision is good

development. They identify next steps that are challenging and support children to make good progress towards the early learning goals, given their starting points.  Staff work closely with other professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. As a result, these children's individual needs are well met.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasions, staff working with younger children do not always plan interesting and appropriate creative activities that maximise children's enjoyment and learning.  Staff have yet to establish highly successful and strong partnerships with all parents that involve two-way communication about children's precise care needs at all times.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 strengthen the knowledge and understanding of staff who work with younger children, including how children of this age learn, to enable them to plan further adult-led creative experiences that will consistently stimulate children's learning and enjoyment  enhance communication with all parents and ensure that partnerships are fully effective in order to consistently promote children's individual care needs.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children taking part in a range of activities. She spoke with the staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the acting manager and held a meeting with her and the nursery manager, who is currently on maternity leave.  The inspector saw evidence of Disclosure and Barring Service checks and evidence of suitability, qualifications and training of staff.  The inspector looked at a range of policies, procedures, risk assessments and the nursery's self-evaluation form.  The inspector spoke to parents and has taken account of their views.

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who attend. This is good

The quality of teaching is generally very good. Staff ask children probing questions that extend their critical thinking skills and give parents plenty of time to solve problems independently. However, on occasions, staff working with younger children do not fully consider how children of this age learn. For example, they sometimes plan adult-led creative activities that are unnecessary and do not always promote children's learning or enjoyment. Staff support older children very well to extend their mathematical knowledge. For example, they plan interesting activities to enable them to recognise numerals and learn about quantity. Staff encourage children to practise making marks from an early age, using their fingers in a range of resources, such as shaving foam. As children get older, staff support them to learn to form letters and write their own name. Consequently, staff support children to develop the skills that they require for future learning in school.

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good

Children enjoy plenty of opportunities to play and exercise outside in the fresh air. They have access to a range of equipment, such as, climbing frames, tyres and bikes, to develop their physical skills. Children learn to take risks in their play while climbing on the large equipment, knowing that an adult is close by to support them, if required. Older children benefit from being able to choose whether they play indoors or outdoors. This promotes their individual learning needs and contributes to their good health. Staff foster children's independence well. Staff encourage children to serve their own food at mealtimes, which helps to develop their understanding about portion control. Staff enthusiastically praise children and this gives them a sense of achievement. As a result, children have high self-esteem and motivation.

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provision is good

Partnerships with parents are generally very good. Staff work closely with them to ensure that children's individual learning needs are well met. However, at times, staff do not maximise this partnership. They do not ensure that they consistently gain precise details of the children's care needs, in order to promote these to the optimum. The managers closely monitor the quality of the educational programmes and care practices. They demonstrate a strong commitment and ambition to continuously improve to ensure high standards are met. Through self-evaluation, they identify that staff need to enhance their understanding of the importance for strong partnerships with parents. They are planning training in this area to enable staff to empathise with them and fully promote children's individual needs. The managers have high expectations of themselves and all the staff. They ensure that staff regularly complete training based on the needs of the nursery and

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provision is good

their own professional development. For example, senior staff complete leadership training to enhance their leadership skills and enable them to support other staff to provide good quality teaching. Therefore, staff training has a positive impact on children's learning and care.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY436935 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1005833

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Type of provision

Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 120 Number of children on roll 86 Name of provider Bright Comets Day Nursery Ltd Date of previous inspection 3 April 2012 Telephone number 01727268510

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Type of provision

Bright Comets Day Nursery Limited was registered in 2011. The nursery employs 24 members of childcare staff. Of these, 14 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one who holds a degree in Education Studies and Early Years. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 50 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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Type of provision

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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Type of provision

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

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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.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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