Elan Nursery

Elan Nursery Unit 1, Chanctonfold, Horsham Road, STEYNING, West Sussex, BN44 3AA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 July 2015 2 February 2011

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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

 Older children develop good literacy skills because staff teach them to link letters and sounds as they write their names on their work. Staff encourage children's love of reading by sharing enthusiasm for the things that interest them.  Staff work very well in partnership with parents. Staff share what they know about children and make decisions with parents about how to help their children progress. Children benefit from the shared understanding, which helps them do well.  Staff effectively teach older children to manage their own risks and develop a positive physical well-being. They talk to them about how to make their games safe. Children played a balancing game in the garden and all walked in the same direction so that they did not bump into one another.  Managers demonstrate a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their nursery. They are extremely reflective and put ambitious action plans in place to

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Sometimes children do not always benefit from high quality teaching because occasionally less experienced staff work without direct supervision from more experienced staff.  The youngest children are not consistently able to lead their play because staff do not always recognise the importance of what they want to do. This means that sometimes staff miss opportunities to enhance children's learning.

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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

 enable more experienced staff to support and mentor less experienced staff so that children benefit from teaching which is of a consistently high quality  improve staff's understanding of how to support younger children's chosen play, so that they can pursue their ideas and enhance their learning experiences.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in all nursery playrooms and in the garden.  The inspector spoke to staff about how they safeguard children.  The inspector carried out two joint observations of practice with the nursery manager.  The inspector spoke to parents and considered their views.  The inspector sampled a range of documents including nursery policies, children's learning journals, staff qualifications and suitability records.

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who attend. This is good

Children freely access a wide range of resources, which excite and motivate them to learn. Staff are good role models and support children's friendships well. They teach them how to share and take turns so children are confident and happy. Children learn how to communicate effectively because staff teach them to ask questions and listen attentively. Children shared a reference book about sea creatures and staff skilfully challenged and extended their knowledge as they discussed the pictures together. Children learn how to care for plants and animals, and so they are sensitive and thoughtful about the needs of other living things. Children develop their imaginations with staff. They dress-up and make-up games together. Staff effectively observe and assess children. They use what they know so that children enjoy the planned activities and make good progress. Children transfer to school smoothly because staff liaise effectively with teachers. Staff prepare

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who attend. This is good

comprehensive transfer documents for their key children and meet with teachers so that they understand what each child needs to help them settle.

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good

Key persons help ensure their key children feel secure and their parents have confidence in them. Staff provide information booklets for families to share at home when children are moving groups. This thoughtful approach means that parents and their children are relaxed and work in partnership when they meet their new key person. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour and so the atmosphere in the nursery is calm and purposeful. Staff teach children to wash their hands after going to the toilet and before having anything to eat. This means that children show good levels of independence and learn about good hygiene practices. Staff provide physical challenge for children with interesting equipment that develops their skills and contributes to a healthy lifestyle.

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provision is good

Managers provide support for the staff's professional development. An Early Years Teacher works alongside staff as a mentor, coaching them to improve their skills. However, staff do not always support their less experienced colleagues. Managers rigorously monitor children's progress. They meet regularly together and with other professionals to plan support for individuals and for groups of children. These plans enable them to meet children's needs well. Managers identify areas for whole nursery improvement and recently delivered training to enable staff to support mathematical play. Consequently, children understood how to balance a rocking boat with their friends because staff knew how to help them. The managers' robust recruitment ensures the suitability of staff. Staff know the safeguarding procedures, which means that they protect the children in their care.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY413549 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 832092 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 78 Number of children on roll 187 Name of provider Elan Nurseries Limited Date of previous inspection 2 February 2011 Telephone number 01903810100

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Setting details

Elan Nursery registered in 2010. It operates from a purpose built building, situated in Steyning, West Sussex. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery also provides before- and after-school care during term time only. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years old. The nursery employs 27 members of staff; of these, 19 members of staff hold early years qualifications and the deputy manager is a qualified Early Years Teacher.

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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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