St James' Cottage

St James' Cottage St. James First School, Gaunts Common, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 4JN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 April 2016 20 October 2010

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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 provide a safe and welcoming environment, where children build good relationships with adults and one another. They learn to take turns and respect others.  Children use a wide range of play equipment and resources, which they select independently, and extend their own play and learning.  Children make good progress. Management and staff monitor children's development effectively. Staff know children well as individuals and quickly identify and address gaps in their learning.  Staff work well with other professionals to help them support children's language development. They plan specific activities to help children who are learning to talk.  Management's self-evaluation includes the views of staff, parents, children and other professionals. For example, they have clear plans to develop the outdoor area to extend children's understanding of the natural world.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Some group activities for the older children are not fully effective on building on all children's knowledge. Activities are sometimes lengthy and some children lose interest as they are not fully involved.  Parents can access information about their children's learning online. However, staff do not provide other ways to discuss children's progress for parents who prefer a different approach.

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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

 improve the organisation of group activities, with particular regard to the older children, to extend each child's learning further  strengthen partnerships with parents and extend opportunities for them to be more involved in discussing their children's learning and progress.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's activities inside and outside.  The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the Early Years Professional member of staff, and interviewed them together with the provider.  The inspector looked at a sample of documents, which included policies and procedures, risk assessments and children's progress records.  The inspector took account of parents' views, which were obtained in person.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Staff work well as a team to meet children's welfare and learning needs. They are well supported by management and regularly update their knowledge about aspects of child development. For example, attending training has increased staff's understanding of how to support younger children's learning. Safeguarding is effective. Management and staff have a good knowledge of child protection issues and the procedures to follow if they have concerns. They monitor accident records and make necessary adjustments to help keep children safe. There are clear recruitment procedures to check staff suitability to work with children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use their good knowledge of how children learn to plan a broad range of activities according to children's interests and topical themes. Children are keen to take part and enjoy learning through play and exploration. For example, children enthusiastically explored and investigated various materials, such as paints, cornflour, soil, water and sand. They used their imaginations well, acting out real-life situations and learnt about symmetry as they made patterns on paper butterflies. Staff teach children about the wider world and changes in nature. For instance, children show interest as they see tadpoles grow into frogs. Children develop an understanding of how to use written words through meaningful activities, such as labelling belongings.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are happy and settled. Staff find out detailed information from parents when they first start attending to help them make children feel secure. Children develop a strong sense of belonging. For example, they like to see photographs of themselves and friends displayed, and regularly talk about their families. Staff regularly praise children, which helps boost their self-esteem and confidence. Staff promote healthy lifestyles well. For example, children learn good routines for caring for their bodies and enjoy fresh air and exercise every day. They use challenging apparatus, which helps them to take calculated risks and develop good physical skills.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress and develop useful skills that help prepare them well for starting school. For example, children develop confidence in making choices and relating to adults and children. They show increasing independence, such as managing their own clothes and toilet routines. Children show an interest in numbers and how to relate them to everyday situations, such as counting the number of children in a group. They learn to recognise their written names and are aware of letters and the sounds they make.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 144326 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 836679 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 96 Name of provider St James Cottage Nursery Date of previous inspection 20 October 2010 Telephone number 01258 840 679

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Setting details

St James' Cottage registered in 1999 and is run by a voluntary parent management committee. It operates from a purpose-built facility situated in the grounds of St James' First School, Gaunts Common, near Wimborne. The nursery opens from 8am to 6pm each weekday during term time. The holiday club runs for seven weeks of the year during school holidays. The nursery receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. Nine members of staff work directly with the children, eight of whom have early years qualifications, including one with Early Years Professional Status.

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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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