Toad Hall Nursery Hitchin

Toad Hall Nursery 23-25 Bury Mead Road, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 1RT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 August 2015 28 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 Outstanding 1

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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

 Practitioners promote children's speaking and listening skills particularly well. They use the knowledge gained at training sessions very effectively to enhance these experiences for children.  Practitioners gather plenty of very useful information about children's interests at home and in the nursery. They use this extremely successfully to support children's learning through play. The group rooms are full of activities and experiences that promote children's desire to explore and experiment.  Practitioners effectively monitor children's progress from their individual starting points. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language, are making good progress towards the early learning goals.  Behaviour is excellent throughout the nursery. Practitioners are highly effective role models. They manage potentially challenging situations well. Children are quickly

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This provision is good

learning to express themselves in a positive way and to seek the support of practitioners to help them resolve any difficulties.  Robust recruitment procedures and a thorough induction programme contributes significantly to ensuring practitioners have the appropriate skills, potential and willingness to develop these even further.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 There are some occasions where a small number of practitioners do not make the most of the opportunities to sustain children's learning or consistently expect the most from them.  Practitioners do not always offer children as many opportunities to explore all aspects of learning in the outdoor areas.

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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 use of all opportunities for children to sustain their learning and ensure that all staff have the highest expectations about what children can achieve, so that children's learning is accelerated  extend opportunities for children who prefer to learn outdoors.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in each group room and the garden. She conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector, practitioners and children had wide-ranging discussions at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector looked at documentation relating to the management of the setting, including safeguarding, children's progress and self-evaluation.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to at the inspection.  The inspector checked the evidence of the suitability and qualifications of practitioners working with children and the suitability of the committee members.

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who attend. This is good

The quality of teaching is good. Practitioners are skilled at including mathematics in a variety of situations. Children quickly develop skills that enable them to count, to group objects and to describe the size and shape of things they see. The most skilful practitioners promote children's early learning very effectively. Occasionally, practitioners interrupt children with questions when they are busy and engaged or offer them too much help. This limits children's chances to finish what they are doing for themselves. Children are good decision makers. They choose from a wide variety of experiences offered indoors, selecting the things that particularly spark their curiosity. The opportunities to fully explore all aspects of learning outdoors are sometimes less extensive. Children are well prepared for school. They have a positive attitude to learning and demonstrate good concentration skills. Children enjoy listening to stories and are eager participants.

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who attend. This is good

Practitioners make good use of their observations to plan for children's learning.

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outstanding

Key-person working is highly effective. Relationships are very strong and this supports children in feeling confident and secure at nursery. Each key person has an exceptional understanding of children's individual needs, routines and stage of development. Children are rapidly acquiring independence skills appropriate to their age and stage. Children enjoy the opportunities for playing outdoors, gardening and caring for the nursery pets. Practitioners continue to enhance the outdoor areas and to provide children with plenty of fresh air and exercise. The carefully planned menus and rigorous monitoring of children's dietary needs contributes significantly to children developing a positive attitude towards food. Meals are social times where practitioners talk to children about food, health, hygiene and family life. The nursery has a number of very successful initiatives in place to promote children's health. The high-quality display materials offer a wealth of information

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outstanding

about learning, childcare practice and local events.

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provision is good

Practitioners are well qualified and continuously put their training to good use. They understand the Early Years Foundation Stage. Practitioners have clearly defined roles and understand their responsibility to safeguard children. They take prompt action where there are concerns and use the appropriate local authority services for guidance and advice. Managers monitor the quality of the provision and use the regular programme of supervision effectively. This is having a very positive impact on enhancing the quality of teaching, especially for the youngest children. Successful evaluation of practice and target setting is helping practitioners to secure improvements. They regularly seek the views of parents and children. Parents speak very positively about the team of practitioners. They particularly value the support they receive in helping their children to settle in and the ongoing information about learning. Partnerships with other professionals are good.

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provision is good

Practitioners work closely with the local children's centre and health professionals.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY239470 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 870064 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 107 Number of children on roll 189 Name of provider Careroom Limited Date of previous inspection 28 February 2011 Telephone number 01462 450354

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Setting details

Toad Hall Nursery was registered in 2002. The nursery employs 39 members of childcare staff. Of these, 31 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one with Early Years Professional status and three with Qualified Teacher Status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language.

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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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