Heather Rabbit Nursery

Heather Rabbit Nursery Heather Row Cottage, Heather Row, Nately Scures, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 9JP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 July 2015 10 May 2011

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

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

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is outstanding

 The achievement of all children is outstanding. Regardless of starting points or any barriers to learning, each child receives the care and support they need to make excellent progress. Ongoing checks mean that everyone is challenged to move on in their learning when ready.  Children play extremely well together and show exemplary attitudes to learning. Their behaviour is excellent. Whether they are working with an adult or by themselves, they sustain their interest for long periods of time because they are motivated to learn.  The vibrant and exciting areas indoors and outside stimulate the children's interest and imagination. Excellent use is made of the various areas of the garden, the nearby woodlands and nearby common land to stimulate an interest in the environment.  Staff make excellent use of their accurate assessments of children's progress to set them work which enables children to do their best. They make frequent and detailed

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This provision is outstanding

observations of children's learning, and gather information from parents and carers to reinforce these assessments. There are close partnerships with parents, carers and other early years settings, which hold staff in high regard.  Leaders' awareness of the nursery's strengths and weaknesses is accurate, and they regularly check on the quality of teaching and learning. The rigorous procedures for checking staff performance are matched by extensive opportunities for training and, as a result, the staff are highly qualified and extremely knowledgeable.  Staff provide a warm and welcoming place for children to begin their learning journey. The well-organised indoor and outdoor spaces stimulate children's curiosity and imagination, leaving them eager to learn.

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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 the organisation of some whole group activities to reduce the time children sit waiting.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the indoor and outdoor areas.  The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held a meeting with the manager.  The inspector looked at children's records, evidence of the staff suitability and a range of other documentation, including policies and procedures to safeguard children's welfare.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector gathered the views of parents, children and the staff team.

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who attend. This is outstanding

Staff have an extensive knowledge of how young children learn and an excellent awareness of each child's individual needs. They use these well to provide interesting and challenging activities that provide the right level of difficulty for all ability groups. Staff promote children's awareness that print carries meaning extremely well. As a result, children love looking at books, listening to stories attentively and enjoy retelling them to an adult or to other children. Some clearly demonstrate their growing knowledge of letters and the sounds they make, and write a few simple words unaided. Children make excellent progress in developing their personal and social skills. This lays a firm foundation for their future learning. For example, they listen very attentively to staff and to each other, and follow instructions carefully. They make decisions about their work and play, and stick at activities until they are completed. They work together very well, share ideas

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outstanding

Children learn physical skills exceptionally well. They use the outdoor play areas, slopes and trees in the 'forest school', where it is safe for them to do so. Children learn to take small risks and work out how to keep themselves and others safe. For example, they learn to wait on the large outdoor equipment until others have completed their climb before starting themselves. Adults are particularly effective in encouraging less confident children to join in activities and develop their self-esteem. Praise is used widely to encourage the children to try harder and persevere with what they are doing. The daily routine provides security and stability for the children. Children's personal independence and self-care skills are actively encouraged by staff for the majority of the session; however, this is not as well promoted at snack time when children sit waiting for staff to serve their snack.

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provision is outstanding

The staff team has considerable knowledge and expertise, and share an energetic drive for continuous improvement. Staff work extremely well together, making the most of their strengths and experience. All staff are involved in the planning and monitoring of learning so their expectations are consistently high, and activities challenge all children to do their best. An extensive programme of whole-staff training, linked to actions in the improvement plan, ensures that skills are continually updated and improved. Children have widespread opportunities for voicing their opinions and these are used to inform self- evaluation. For example, they use digital cameras to record videos of what they love about their nursery to share with others. Overall, the careful reflection of what works well and what could be improved is key to the nursery's sustained outstanding development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 507849 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 826188 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 3 - 5 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 54 Name of provider Rosemary Ward Date of previous inspection 10 May 2011 Telephone number 01256 763227

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Setting details

Heather Rabbit Nursery opened in 1985. It is located in a quiet, rural location in Nately Scures, near Hook, Hampshire. It is open each weekday during term time only, offering morning and afternoon sessions and a lunch club. The nursery employs 12 full- and part- time staff, including a member of staff who is qualified to deliver outdoor Forest School skills. There is one member of staff with Early Years Professional Status, two with Qualified Teacher Status and seven with qualifications between level 2 and level 3.

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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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