The Elmfield Nursery

The Elmfield Nursery 1 Westfield Grove, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE3 4YA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 June 2015 20 January 2010

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 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

 The extremely well-qualified staff team provide a broad range of experiences that support the children to develop a positive sense of themselves and others. As a result, children are emotionally prepared for their next steps in learning.  Partnerships with parents are extremely strong. Effective communication channels ensure there is always a two-way flow of information, knowledge and expertise between parents and staff.  The management and staff ensure that children's safety and well-being are paramount. Policies and procedures are effectively implemented and shared with all those concerned with the nursery. In addition, children are taught to identify and manage risk for themselves so that they learn how to keep themselves and others safe.  Staff obtain very good information from parents about their children's skills and capabilities, when children first start. A variety of subsequent observations help staff to

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This provision is good

assess children's learning. These provide a full and accurate picture of children's progress in their learning and development.  Staff are very good role models, both in teaching and involving children in learning about how to behave well and adopt good manners.  The managers include staff, parents and children in the self-evaluation process. They use all feedback to help identify priorities for improvement so that all aspects of the nursery provision and practice are in a continuous improvement cycle.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff do not always provide full and meaningful answers to children's questions and prompt children too readily by providing their own ideas.  There are occasions when staff do not make best use of the outdoor learning environment for some groups of children.

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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

 enhance children's ability to think for themselves and extend their knowledge and understanding by adopting different teaching techniques, for example, by providing more explanations to satisfy children's curiosity and explore meanings, and by asking different styles of questions so that children can predict and develop even further, their own ideas  maximise all opportunities to ensure all groups of children use the outdoors during the morning and the afternoon, regardless of other factors occurring in the nursery.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed all areas of the nursery, both inside and outdoors.  The inspector observed interactions between staff and children, talked with children and discussed aspects of policy and practice with managers and staff.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with a member of staff with Early Years Professional status.  The inspector checked the evidence of the qualifications and suitability of all staff that work in the nursery.  The inspector viewed a wide range of documents including children's files and assessment records, relevant policies and procedures, and the nursery's self-evaluation form.  The inspector spoke to a selection of parents and carers on the day, taking their views into account.

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who attend. This is good

Staff ensure that there are a good range of adult-focused and child-initiated activities available. Babies enjoy a wealth of sensory activities, such as, sand, cereal and spaghetti play. Staff working with two-year-olds make singing, rhymes and stories exciting and stimulating. Children enjoy shaking their home-made instruments to the songs or using puppets to become animatedly involved in the story line. Children are actively listened to throughout the whole of the nursery. Staff use as many ways of listening to children as they can, such as always giving children time and choice. Children choose what to play with both inside and outside, by using personally made toy catalogues. This results in children who are motivated and eager to learn. Staff interact effectively with children, observing carefully and suitably challenging them to make good progress in their learning and development. However, on occasions the enthusiastic staff miss some opportunities to

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who attend. This is good

help children extend their learning, by providing more meaningful explanations. For example, when some children ask questions staff move on too quickly or offer their own suggestions too readily.

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good

Children are extremely happy and confident in the nursery, which is warm, friendly and inviting. Staff provide many opportunities for children to become independent and self- sufficient. For example, pre-school children in the Owls room are proficient at serving themselves at lunchtime. Children demonstrate very good manners and social skills as they help each other and learn to clear away after themselves. Children love using the well-resourced and stimulating outdoor environment. Staff set times to ensure that all children, regardless of their age or ability enjoy the outdoors in all weather conditions. Children play safely and securely in designated areas that offer a wide variety of learning opportunities. However, due to other factors occurring on the day, some groups did not get the full benefit of playing outside. This is a drawback to those children who learn best by being outdoors.

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provision is good

The leaders and managers ensure that all the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage are well met. There are very clear accountability and management arrangements in place, which contribute to the good quality and high standards. Staff deployment is very good, which ensures the safety and well-being of all children. Senior staff complete regular checks to ensure the environment and staff practice remain at a high level of quality. Staff recruitment and performance is rigorously observed through effective induction, supervision and appraisal meetings. The programme of continuous development is regularly reviewed and staff value highly the opportunities to develop their skills even further. As a result, staff are always well motivated and enthusiastic. This has a positive impact on the good progress children make in their learning and development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 319169 Local authority Newcastle Inspection number 868560 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 75 Number of children on roll 154 Name of provider Jesmond Nurseries Ltd Date of previous inspection 20 January 2010 Telephone number 0191 284 6060

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Setting details

The Elmfield Nursery was registered in 1996. The nursery employs 32 members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 6, including two staff who hold Early Years Professional status or Early Years Teacher Status. Four staff hold a relevant qualification at level 5; nine hold a childcare qualification at level 4 and 13 staff hold a relevant qualification at level 3. The nursery opens for 51 weeks of the year from Monday to Friday. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Setting details

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

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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Setting details

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Setting details

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

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