Castle Nurseries at Willow Avenue

Willow Avenue Community Nursery Greenway, Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9TU

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 August 2015 11 May 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

 Children are happy and enjoy their time at the nursery. Staff skilfully observe and assess children's development and identify the next steps in their learning. This means that children's interests and their next steps are followed to effectively plan for future activities.  The quality of teaching is good. Staff know children well and how they learn, so they provide interesting and stimulating activities. This results in children making good progress in relation to their starting points.  Children establish a close bond and secure attachment with their key person. As a result, they feel safe and secure and their confidence and emotional well-being are promoted.  Staff understand their role and responsibilities and are knowledgeable about the procedures to follow if they are worried about any child in their care. Therefore, children are protected from harm.  Partnerships with parents and other agencies are good. The settling-in procedures meet

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This provision is good

the needs of children attending and the sharing of information successfully involves everyone in children's learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The monitoring of children's learning and development does not always show a clear path of the progress made.  Staff do not always provide children with opportunities to see or use their home language or to fully celebrate the cultural diversity of all children attending the nursery.

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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

 review the monitoring systems used to assess children's development to ensure that all records clearly show the progress children are making  provide more opportunities for children to use their home language and value the diverse cultural backgrounds of children attending the nursery.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector completed a tour of the premises.  The inspector observed children playing in their designated playrooms and outdoor play areas.  The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff and children throughout the inspection.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents who were spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, planning documentation and systems for monitoring children's progress.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children, and the policies and procedures for the setting.

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who attend. This is good

Staff have a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. They plan a wide range of exciting learning opportunities for children which meet their interests. Children are inquisitive and enthusiastic in what they do. Their communication skills are effectively supported by staff who introduce new vocabulary and words into their play. However, children who speak English as an additional language do not have as many opportunities to use their home language or see their cultural diversity displayed throughout the nursery. Children enjoy a range of group activities. This helps them to learn to sit and listen carefully and to play cooperatively, which is good preparation for their future learning. All parents spoken to on the day of the inspection are extremely pleased with the service the nursery provides. They praise the staff and appreciate that their children are happy, safe and making really good progress.

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good

Children play in a warm and welcoming environment where their behaviour and independence are effectively supported. They thrive on the positive praise they receive and gain the self-help and social skills they require for school. Settling-in periods are agreed to meet children's needs and family requirements. Therefore, children are relaxed and happy. All children share strong relationships with their key person. Therefore, their emotional security is successfully maintained. Children enjoy the social occasion created at lunchtime where they sit together to eat a healthy meal. All children's dietary requirements are fully supported and they manage their hygiene routines well. The outdoor play areas provide an excellent opportunity for children to practise their physical skills and to explore the natural areas. Staff-to-child ratios are maintained and staff deploy themselves to ensure children's safety by supervising them at all times. Staff help children

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good

to learn to keep themselves safe through effective instruction and discussions during activities.

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provision is good

The management and staff team demonstrate a good understanding of the safeguarding and welfare requirements. They implement their policies and procedures to support the efficient operation of the nursery, including accident recording. Supervision is in place to support staff's ongoing professional development and continued good practice. Staff are well qualified. They use their training and effective self-evaluation of the nursery to make improvements. This has a positive impact on children's learning. The observation and assessment of children's progress are maintained. However, assessments are not monitored effectively to ensure that all accurately show a true reflection of progress. There are good partnerships in place with parents, other settings and multi-agency professionals. Partnerships support children well because information from home and targeted work is regularly shared. Staff work closely with the local schools to ensure that

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provision is good

the move on to school follows a smooth transition process.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY224369 Local authority Newcastle Inspection number 869849 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 56 Number of children on roll 86 Name of provider Newcastle City Council Date of previous inspection 11 May 2011 Telephone number 0191 2744563

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Setting details

Willow Avenue Community Nursery was registered in 2002. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language. In total, 19 staff work at the nursery who hold relevant qualifications at level 3 and above.

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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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