The Ark Association Ltd (2)

The Ark Association Ltd (2) C/O Oakham C of E Primary School, Burley Road, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7GY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 October 2015 22 May 2012

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Staff interact well with children to effectively promote their speech development and understanding. Language is modelled well and children routinely repeat words as staff increase their vocabulary.  Warm relationships are in place between the staff and children. These help children feel emotionally secure and contribute to a calm environment for learning.  Children's good health is well promoted. They enjoy snacks of fruit and grow vegetables which they harvest and eat.  Children are well supported to initiate their own play. Resources are organised so children can choose these for themselves and follow their own interests.  Children enjoy outdoor activities. They play with sand and look for treasure in a pretend rock pool. This contributes to their learning experiences and promotes their physical development well.  Staff are well qualified, and supervision and appraisals identify any training needs.

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This provision is good

Ideas from further training are used effectively to enhance children's learning experiences.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always provide enough opportunities for children to learn about the environment and the place in which they live.  Parents are not routinely given opportunities to contribute to the setting's self- evaluation.

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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

 increase opportunities to help children to experience the community in which they live  enhance ways to involve parents in the setting's self-evaluation and drive for improvement.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector interacted with staff and children as appropriate.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as policies and procedures and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a good understanding of their responsibility to protect children. They are clear on how to report any concerns. Recruitment is effective in helping to ensure only suitable people work with children. The manager has a good understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She monitors the educational programme closely to ensure all children make good progress from their starting points. Staff keep parents well informed about their child's learning through an online recording system. Staff work with other professionals to ensure children's individual needs are well met. The setting's self-evaluation has identified areas for development. However, parents do not routinely contribute to this so they are not always well involved in plans for driving improvement.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Parents complete an initial assessment of their children, which staff build on to offer unique learning experiences. Staff plan a wide range of activities which covers all areas of learning and is based on children's interests. For example, children made biscuits using cutters based around Halloween figures. Children also wore costumes related to this theme, which helps to promote their imagination. Communication is well promoted and staff ask children lots of questions which prompt their recall of events. Children with identified speech difficulties and English as an additional language are well supported to make progress. For example, staff in the 'Fun Time' club work with small groups of children. Staff use songs, musical instruments and language exercises to help children's speech develop. However, staff do not always provide enough opportunities for children to build further on their developing awareness of their local environment.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children's emotional well-being is supported effectively as key persons know them well. They take a range of relevant information from parents about children's needs and this helps to support children through change. For example, when children start at the nursery a series of visits helps them to settle at their own pace. Children behave very well. Staff model good manners so children know what is expected of them. Praise for sharing and working together helps to increase children's self-esteem and confidence. Children are developing good independence skills to help them for the future, for example, they pour their own drinks at snack time. Children are encouraged to learn about keeping themselves safe as they take supervised risks, such as using a slide.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in their learning and development. Independence is encouraged through everyday routines and activities. Older children are developing good counting skills and an interest in books. This helps children to be well prepared for the next stage in their learning and the move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY439865 Local authority Rutland Inspection number 874674 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 1 - 11 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 60 Name of provider The Ark Association Date of previous inspection 22 May 2012 Telephone number 01572770121

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Setting details

The Ark Association Ltd (2) was re-registered in 2011. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 12 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. A before- and after-school and holiday club also operates from the premises. 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

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Setting details

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Setting details

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Setting details

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