Noahs Ark Day Nursery

Noahs Ark Day Nursery Shephall View, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 1RR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 April 2016 5 March 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 provide a good variety of interesting and stimulating activities, both indoors and outside to promote children's good progress in all areas of learning.  Children's communication and language development are good. Staff fully encourage children to express themselves through activities that promote their speech and language.  There are warm and caring relationships between children and all staff. Children demonstrate that they are well settled and secure.  Staff establish very positive relationships with parents. An effective two-way flow of communication supports children's welfare, learning and development.  The manager and her committed team show a strong focus and passionate drive to provide high-quality care and education for the children. Self-evaluation processes actively contribute to sustaining the very effective provision.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, the monitoring of some assessments does not fully reflect the range of groups of children attending the setting.  There are fewer opportunities to promote everyday activities where children can explore a range of cultures and religions to extend their very good understanding of the wider world.

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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

 enhance the already good monitoring of children's assessment to precisely track the progress of a range of different groups, in order to ensure that interventions can be targeted even more effectively  explore further ways of supporting children's growing understanding of family, the community and the wider world.

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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 and deputy managers. 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 number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures and are aware of their responsibilities in this respect. Secure arrangements are in place for the recruitment of staff and all are vetted to ensure they are safe to care for children. Staff are supported to attend relevant courses and gain additional qualifications to further promote effective outcomes for children. The manager monitors educational programmes effectively for individual children. However, she is only just starting to fully consider the varying learning styles of groups of children and how these may have an impact on planning and securing precise intervention.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children flourish in this warm, welcoming nursery and make good progress in all areas of their learning. They eagerly explore and play, displaying their emerging independence and self-confidence. Staff regularly observe children and effectively use these observations to plan individual next steps in their learning. They skilfully extend children's learning as they introduce simple mathematical concepts of shape and size. For example, during a craft activity, staff encourage children to talk about colour, texture and size. This is one of the many ways staff support children to enhance their early mathematical skills. While outdoors, staff support children to safely take risks and explore through play, with their learning extended through playful teaching.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children share warm relationships with the approachable and friendly staff who know them well. A well-established key-person system is in place to support children's emotional needs. Staff provide excellent role models and interact well with them. Consequently, behaviour is good and there is an extremely calm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere at the nursery. Staff develop and extend children's understanding of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Children benefit from regular fresh air and exercise during outdoor play and are offered a range of nutritious and healthy snacks. Children and staff sit together and are very sociable. Staff use these opportunities to encourage talk about the morning and to plan future activities. Consequently, children's interests are further extended and they learn to listen to each other and form opinions. As a result, staff effectively support children's emotional readiness for their future move to school.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress and are working comfortably within the range of development typical for their age. Staff promote children's independence and self-care skills effectively. For example, children independently choose their own activities from the good choice available and attend to their own self-care needs. These skills mean that they are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY269854 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 856090 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 74 Number of children on roll 107 Name of provider Noahs Ark Nursery Limited Date of previous inspection 5 March 2012 Telephone number 01438 749090

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Setting details

Noahs Ark Day Nursery was registered in 2003. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, 19 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including the manager who holds Early Years Professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. The nursery supports disabled children and those with special educational needs, and children who speak English as an additional language. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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