Starting Point Nursery

Starting Point Childcare Centre South Cheshire College, Danebank Avenue, CREWE, CW2 8AB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 October 2015 12 January 2015

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 Leaders and staff give exceptionally high priority to children's safety and welfare, as well as the safety of activities and the premises.  Staff have an excellent knowledge and understanding about how children learn and develop. This, along with their inspirational teaching, results in all children making exceptional progress in their learning and development from their starting points.  The impressive range of accessible resources offers a highly stimulating and rich environment. Children show an eagerness to learn as they investigate, solve problems, explore and lead their own learning. Children are extremely well prepared for their eventual move to school by this exceptionally professional team.  The well-qualified staff constantly strive to improve their skills and knowledge and enhance their professional development. They use their learning to improve outcomes for children in their care.  Children thrive at this welcoming and supportive provision. Close attachments between

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This provision is outstanding

the children and the staff are obvious. Children's behaviour is exceptional.  Support for disabled children and those who have special educational needs is outstanding.  Exemplary and reflective evaluation, along with the strong focus on developing the skills and knowledge of staff, results in continuous improvements for children. The emphasis on the quality of teaching, interaction and activities provided has raised the overall standard of the provision remarkably well. Leaders demonstrate an excellent capacity to maintain this quality over time.

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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

 continue to enhance the excellent support given to children who speak English as an additional language.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and reviewed the quality of teaching.  The inspector viewed all areas of the premises and the toys and resources available.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, the planning documentation and a range of other documentation, including policies and procedures. She also discussed the nursery's self-evaluation document.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector checked the evidence of the suitability and qualifications of adults working with the children.  The inspector held discussions with the manager and staff at appropriate times during the inspection and spoke to a number of parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

A very strong management team leads the nursery. They demonstrate a passion and extremely strong drive to improve outcomes for children. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have an excellent understanding of their roles and responsibilities to protect the children in their care. The manager carries out regular observations of staff, closely monitoring their strengths and identifying areas to enhance their practice. Staff attend a variety of training courses meticulously matched to the learning needs of the children they care for. Parents are significantly valued as partners. They are fully involved in their children's learning in the nursery and are given excellent support to continue this at home. The manager has effective strategies in place to exchange information about children's learning with other providers where care is shared. Managers constantly review the quality of teaching and the activities provided. They have

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

identified the opportunity to further enhance the support they provide to children who speak English as an additional language, in order to maintain the excellent outcomes they already achieve.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Teaching is inspirational. Staff use information obtained from parents and their expert knowledge to identify children's starting points. They maintain exemplary records of children's progress. Staff are highly skilled at interacting with children, listening to what they say and repeating or extending their sentences. Staff stimulate discussion with meaningful questions. The forest area is a key feature of the nursery. Staff use this to provide children of all ages and abilities with interesting, exciting and challenging experiences. Children eagerly create dens and sculptures, as well as exploring nature. They tell their own stories about the characters they make, using a wide range of comparative language. They talk about the shape and size of trees and bushes, and have fun measuring themselves against the low branches. Babies are given time and space to explore and investigate a variety of different resources that keep them engaged for long

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

periods. Staff talk to children about the changing seasons as they play amongst the fallen leaves. Children are provided with solid foundations for their future learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children arrive enthusiastically, ready to play and learn. They show exceptional respect, consideration and thoughtfulness to their friends. Babies benefit from the very attentive care that staff provide. Each child gets expertly tailored care. Children demonstrate their excellent physical skills as they swing from low branches in the forest. They have an excellent knowledge of how to keep themselves safe, explaining to new friends which plants must not be touched. Children show maturity and confidence in being assertive in appropriate situations. For example, whilst waiting for their turn for second helpings, children say, 'it's my turn' when someone tries to take their place.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children thrive in this inspirational and all inclusive environment. All children, regardless of their age or ability, make rapid progress in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY413041 Local authority Cheshire East Inspection number 1003986 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 69 Number of children on roll 79 Name of provider South Cheshire College Date of previous inspection 12 January 2015 Telephone number 01270 654 655

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Setting details

Starting Point Childcare Centre was registered in 2010. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications between level 2 and level 6. The centre opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The centre provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year- old children. It supports disabled children, those with special educational needs and those 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

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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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