Grasmere Nursery and Tadpoles Baby and Toddler Unit

Grasmere Nursery and Tadpoles Baby and Toddler Unit Icknield Way, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU3 2BT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 April 2016 14 August 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 have supportive supervision sessions. There is a well-targeted programme of professional development to enable staff to build on their knowledge and skills. Staff enhance their qualifications and are eager undertake formal training.  The senior leader and headteacher lead a team of committed and motivated staff. Staff take ownership for promoting different areas of learning. They use their individual strengths to enhance the quality of teaching.  Staff sustain children's attention through a wide range of adult-led and child-initiated opportunities. Children are confident to test out their skills and growing abilities.  Children enjoy outdoor play. They learn about healthy eating and about how things grow in the orchard. Children feed and care for the unit's pet ducks and collect apples from the trees to use in cooking activities.  Staff teach children to be considerate towards one another. They plan meaningful and

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This provision is good

suitable ways for young children to learn about the differences and similarities between themselves and others.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not encourage parents to share their ongoing observations of children's achievements and development at home to increase the accuracy of assessments and planning for future learning.

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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

 explore ways for parents to contribute more to the ongoing assessments of their children's progress.

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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 headteacher and senior leader.  The inspector held a meeting with the headteacher and senior leader. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the unit's action plan and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the unit.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Staff have a good understanding about the signs and symptoms that might cause them concern about children's welfare. There is a clear structure for reporting any concerns to senior staff who, in turn, know how to pass these on to the relevant professionals. The governors put into place robust recruitment and induction processes for new members of staff. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are vigilant in supervising children as they play, sleep and eat. Parents are welcomed into the unit. Staff know families well and guide them towards external services for extra support if needed. Children enjoy feeding the nursery's pet ducks, and following their transfer to Grasmere, picnicking with their families in the orchard at the weekend. The headteacher and senior leader draw up effective action plans to target areas for development in consultation with staff, parents and teachers.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use dolls and puppets to bring song and story times to life for children. They teach children basic sign language, use photographs and clear, concise language when talking to them. Staff know how to support children who speak English as an additional language or experience a delay in their development of speech. The effective methods that they use help children to make good progress in their communication and language skills. Young children enjoy exploring natural materials. They shake bags of sea shells and delight in the sounds that they make. Children enjoy feeling the texture of sand between their fingers. In the outdoor area, children play in mud puddles and use magnifying glasses to study the mini-beasts they find. Staff make good use of skills gained in training to enhance the teaching of mathematics and literacy, targeting the essential skills that children need for starting school.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children form close relationships with their key person. Staff manage children's moves between rooms and on to the nursery school well. Parents provide young children's comfort items to help them to settle at the unit. Staff use these and rock or cradle young babies as they fall soundly asleep. Mealtimes are a sociable occasion where children sit together with staff to eat. Children experience good levels of challenge, especially when they play outdoors. Staff encourage children to be fit and active and to test out their physical skills. Children display high levels of self-esteem, independence and confidence when they are at the unit.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children's development is good. All children, including disabled children and those with special educational needs, meet typical expectations for their age and many exceed expectations. Progress in communication and language is particularly strong and children who speak English as an additional language communicate successfully. Children develop key skills in readiness for moving on in their education and, eventually, for starting school. They approach activities with enthusiasm and interest as they explore the exciting learning environment. Children behave well and make friends within the group as they play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY241136 Local authority Luton Inspection number 1042031 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 3 Total number of places 37 Number of children on roll 68 Name of provider Luton Borough Council Date of previous inspection 14 August 2012 Telephone number 01582 597093

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Setting details

Grasmere Nursery and Tadpoles Baby and Toddler Unit is part of Grasmere Nursery School and Children's Centre. The unit was registered in 2002. The unit employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The unit is open each weekday, all year round, with the exception of bank holidays, two weeks in summer, two weeks at Christmas and one week at Easter. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The unit provides funded early education for two-year-old children. The unit supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language, 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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