Blue Skies Private Day Nursery

Blue Skies Private Day Nursery 184 Crewe Road, Alsager, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST7 2JA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 February 2016 25 April 2013

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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:

 The quality of teaching is inconsistent. Some staff have not received the mentoring, support and coaching they need to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. They do not always do enough to help children learn.  A lack of secure knowledge among some staff means they are not able to use what they know about individual children's achievements to plan the most appropriate activities for them. The activities planned to support younger children's learning are not always linked to the correct learning priorities for each individual child.

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It has the following strengths

 The recently promoted manager has a strong vision for the future and a good understanding of what the nursery needs to do to improve.  The nursery is well resourced. Children play with a good range of interesting and stimulating resources that supports their play and learning appropriately. Older children particularly enjoy spending time in the well-equipped outdoor area.  Staff have worked hard since the last inspection to help children learn more about the similarities and differences of others. They make sure that children take part in a range of activities that helps to develop their understanding of the wider world.  Staff offer parents support to continue their child's learning at home. They invite parents into the nursery for organised events, such as the Mother's Day tea party. They make good use of these opportunities to give parents ideas for activities they can do at home.

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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

 establish a programme of professional development, supervision and support for staff to improve the quality of teaching and increase their skills and confidence 31/08/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that planned activities are challenging and focus more accurately on individual children's needs, interests and the correct priorities for their learning. 31/08/2016

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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 the nursery's self-evaluation 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 requires improvement

Effective policies and procedures support daily practice in helping to keep children safe and protected from harm. These are reviewed regularly and shared with parents. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a good understanding of child protection and the procedures to follow should they have concerns over the safety of a child. Self-evaluation is used to identify areas of practice that need development. The manager is new to her role but has a clear drive for improvement. She knows which areas of the provision need improving and how this can be achieved. She actively seeks out help and support from other professionals. However, some staff have not yet received the mentoring, supervision and support they need to maintain and improve their teaching skills, and achieve consistently good outcomes for children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The quality of teaching varies throughout the nursery but is not consistently good enough to ensure that all children make good progress in their learning. Staff working with the younger children monitor their progress to some extent and provide them with a selection of activities. However, a lack of understanding means that staff do not base their planning on what it is that each individual child needs to learn next. Instead, they place too much emphasis on getting each child to achieve the typical development for their age, regardless of whether earlier milestones have been reached. For example, activities focus on teaching two-year-old children the names of shapes, when they have not yet fully developed the speaking skills they need to do this. However, staff in the pre-school room know the individual children well and use effective teaching strategies to prepare them appropriately for school. Pre-school children take part in well-planned activities that help

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

them build on their literacy and mathematical skills. They enjoy being creative and join in enthusiastically when they recall and act out favourite stories and rhymes.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children are happy and feel secure. Staff clearly enjoy their company and demonstrate a real affection for the children. Children are provided with healthy snacks and home-cooked meals that they really enjoy. Staff help younger children to learn about keeping themselves safe as they use knives to cut up their fruit at snack times. Pre-school children are encouraged to notice the changes that occur to their bodies when they engage in physical activities. Children have good manners and behave well. However, a lack of consistently good teaching for younger children means that they do not always make good progress in developing their personal and social skills. For example, not all children have the confidence to speak to all of the adults caring for them.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Younger children are not supported well enough to make the good progress from their starting points that they should. However, teaching in the pre-school room is good overall, and children there are supported to catch up and gain the skills they need to be ready for school. Children throughout the nursery are happy and generally enjoy their time there.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY343285 Local authority Cheshire East Inspection number 1028241 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 31 Number of children on roll 36 Name of provider Sheridan Woodcock Date of previous inspection 25 April 2013 Telephone number 01270 883893

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Setting details

Blue Skies Private Day Nursery was registered in 2007. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm.

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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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