The Gateway Nursery

The Gateway Nursery The Gateway Centre, Longworth Lane, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR1 4GA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 February 2016 Not applicable

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Observation and assessment of children's learning is not robust. Staff do not gather accurate information and use it to build on children's interests and precisely plan for their next steps in learning. Consequently, children do not make the best possible progress.  Teaching is not consistent across the setting. Some staff have a limited understanding of the learning and development requirements and how to implement them.  The arrangements for monitoring the delivery of the educational programmes are ineffective. This results in weak teaching that is not matched to children's individual needs.

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It has the following strengths

 The quality of teaching is good in the pre-school room. The qualified teacher and staff working with this age group help children to make good progress in their development.  Children are happy and settled in this warm and welcoming nursery. Effective settling-in procedures help to ensure children develop secure attachments with staff.  Partnerships with parents are good. Staff make time to talk to parents each day about their children's care routines and general activities. Parents speak highly of the nursery.  Healthy lifestyles are promoted in the nursery. Children enjoy a range of nutritious snacks and meals. They are encouraged to talk about healthy food. Children enjoy a range of indoor and outdoor activities to enhance their physical development.  The new manager has clearly identified what needs to improve and is committed to making all of the required changes to the nursery.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 improve observation and assessment procedures so that staff are fully aware of children's level of achievement and interests and use this information to plan appropriate and challenging activities 02/07/2016

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Due Date

 support staff to improve their knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements so that children receive high-quality learning experiences and make the best possible progress. 02/07/2016

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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 completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school and children's progress records.  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 requires improvement

The new manager fully understands the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She recognises that improvements are needed to meet the learning and development requirements. There is a sufficient number of suitably qualified staff. However, the staff team bring variable levels of skills and experience to the nursery. Consequently, not all children benefit from high-quality experiences and effective teaching. The manager is already introducing changes to the nursery. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager and staff have a sound understanding of how to keep children safe. Partnerships with outside agencies contribute to identifying and meeting some children's particular needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The range and quality of learning experiences and opportunities is not consistently good. Babies and younger children are not suitably occupied and interested. Planning does not focus well enough on what individual children need to learn next. Staff generally provide activities for children in all areas of learning. For example, some younger children enjoy stacking boxes and others explore the sensory experience of using shaving foam. However, staff are not effective enough in encouraging children's curiosity and helping them to extend their learning as they play. Staff place a generally good emphasis on developing children's language and literacy skills. Children enjoy looking at picture books and join in with action songs. Pre-school staff are very successful in igniting children's interests and inspiring children to extend their learning. For example, children enjoy developing their scissor control as they cut cooked spaghetti into different lengths. The

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

teacher introduces mathematical language, such as, shorter, longer and the same. Pre- school children listen well, sustain their thinking and confidently express their thoughts.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children are developing some independence skills. Younger children grasp finger foods and hold their bottle or beaker. Older children learn to use cutlery. Care arrangements are generally good. Staff follow babies feeding, sleeping and care routines. However, some routines are not adapted well enough for younger children's individual needs. Children's transitions within the nursery are not well supported. Information is not shared with regard to specific next steps when children move up to the next room. Staff are caring and kind. They are consistent with their behavioural expectations. Children develop positive relationships with other children and staff. They learn to share and take turns. Children are developing an understanding of fairness and respect for others. Children have access to an appropriate range of resources, both indoors and outside.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Babies and younger children are not well prepared for their next steps in learning. Staff do not consistently maximise opportunities to develop children's learning and development in preparation for their move within the nursery. Pre-school children are making good progress and are well prepared for the move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY487150 Local authority Herefordshire Inspection number 1010507 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 11 Total number of places 115 Number of children on roll 211 Name of provider Gateway (Education And Childcare ) Trust Limited Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01432 851024

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Setting details

The Gateway Nursery was registered in 2015. The nursery employs 31 members of childcare staff. Of these, 23 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, 7.30am until 6pm, 51 weeks of the year, excluding bank holidays. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery supports disabled children and those with special educational needs.

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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

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