The Priory Nursery

The Priory Nursery St John Ambulance Headquarters, Stanmore Road, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 3QA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 July 2015 3 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

 Staff provide interesting activities and make excellent use of resources, both inside and outdoors, to engage and motivate children in meaningful play and learning.  Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are very well supported. Staff work effectively with parents, professionals and external agencies to share information and agree consistent methods of support.  Staff gather detailed information from parents and make frequent observations of children. They use this well to assess what children can do and plan their next steps in learning. Parents are actively encouraged to support their children's learning and development. Overall, children make good progress based on their starting points.  Staff effectively help children to follow behaviour expectations. They provide clear and consistent messages in ways that children understand. As a result, children recognise how others feel and are willing to adapt their behaviour if required.

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This provision is good

 Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They all attend training in child protection and demonstrate that they know how to respond swiftly to any concerns.  The nursery works in close partnership with parents, children's centres, schools and other settings to share information and support the needs of all children and families.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, the youngest children are not fully engaged when stories are beyond their understanding.  Staff do not provide many opportunities for older children to link sounds and letters, in order to maximise their early reading skills.

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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

 provide more consistent opportunities for younger children to remain engaged in stories  offer more frequent opportunities for older children to link sounds and letters, in order to build on their early reading skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with the deputy manager, staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector observed activities in the main hall and outdoor area. The inspector and the deputy manager carried out a joint observation of a painting activity.  The inspector read the nursery's self-evaluation form.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's records, planning documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery, including policies and procedures to safeguard children's welfare. First-aid and safeguarding training certificates were viewed.

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who attend. This is good

Staff are well qualified and knowledgeable about the Early Years Foundation Stage and how children learn. Consequently, the quality of teaching is good and children develop many of the skills required for the next stage in their learning. While making foot prints with paint, staff provide children with plenty of time to think about how the paint feels on bare skin. They offer the language to describe this sensation to build on children's language skills. Children count and begin to solve simple number problems. They practise making marks and early writing using a variety of tools and media and are able to recognise their names. However, older children are somewhat slower to build on their early reading skills as opportunities to explore letters and sounds are not maximised. Staff use a number of effective strategies and tools to support children's communication and language. Children are usually grouped according to their stage of development for

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who attend. This is good

activities on the carpet. These story and singing sessions are mostly effective in encouraging listening, attention and turn taking. However, when all children are grouped together, some of the youngest children lose interest because they do not have the capacity to follow stories aimed at older children.

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good

Staff work hard to familiarise children with their new environment and people before they start. This helps children to settle in well and build secure attachments and relationships. Likewise, when children move on to school, the staff prepare them well and provide opportunities for them to see and get to know new places and faces. Children's good health is promoted consistently well through the daily routines. They learn about good hygiene practices, such as washing their hands and wiping their noses. They enjoy home- cooked meals and healthy snacks that are matched precisely to individual dietary needs. Children show growing independence as they serve food and clear away their plates. Children develop a real sense of responsibility and understanding of how to assess risk. For example, they help staff to check the garden is safe before going outdoors.

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provision is good

The nursery has introduced an effective self-evaluation process that takes account of the views of staff, children and parents. Staff have completed a quality assurance scheme and now use targeted action planning to maintain continuous improvements. The manager monitors all aspects of work, including the effectiveness of children's learning. She supports her staff through a well-established programme of induction, training and performance management. Staff value opportunities to develop their knowledge through training and demonstrate how this has a positive impact on their teaching skills. Staff are well deployed to keep children safe as they play and move around the nursery. They attend to accidents and implement emergency procedures swiftly and reflect on whether changes or improvements are needed to minimise the risk of future incidents.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY285495 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 856285 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 72 Name of provider St John Ambulance Date of previous inspection 3 February 2011 Telephone number 01438 357900

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Setting details

The Priory Nursery was registered in 2004. The nursery employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including one at level 6 and one with Qualified Teacher Status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday for 50 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.30am until 5.30pm. 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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