Rocking Horse Nursery

Rocking Horse Nursery Newbury Racecourse, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 7NZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 April 2016 16 May 2013

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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 use skilful questioning to develop children's thinking skills and ability to solve problems. They have a good knowledge of child development and use this to plan relevant experiences for each individual child.  Children make good progress in their learning and development. Staff help them to develop good physical skills, and communication and language abilities.  Staff promote children's personal, social and emotional development well. Children become confident and motivated learners.  Staff implement an effective key-person system to help children form secure attachments to the familiar adults who care for them. They promote children's self- esteem and emotional well-being effectively.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The manager does not monitor different groups of children closely, to build on the effective systems for assessment and close gaps in children's learning.  Staff do not promote children's mathematical skills fully, particularly for those children who prefer to learn outdoors. They do not help children to make consistently good progress in this area of 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

 develop further the monitoring of different groups of children, to assess progress more closely and close any gaps in learning  provide more opportunities for children to use numbers and develop their mathematical skills further, especially for children who prefer to learn outdoors.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed interactions between the staff and children.  The inspector and the deputy manager took part in a joint observation to assess the quality of teaching and learning.  The inspector looked at samples of relevant documentation.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and the deputy manager.  The inspector spoke to parents, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager and the deputy manager have implemented positive improvements since the last inspection. They use reflective self-evaluation to improve and meet the needs of children in each age group effectively. The manager and deputy support staff effectively through regular observations and meetings where they discuss the children's progress. They offer suggestions to improve teaching and seek support from external agencies if needed. The manager promotes the professional development of all staff through different types of training. For example, training has helped staff to further develop the ways in which they complete observations and plan the next steps in children's learning. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and the staff fully understand and follow the required procedures to keep children safe.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The highly qualified staff team completes regular, detailed and precise observations and assessments of individual children's development. Staff use these to skilfully plan interesting, challenging and exciting learning opportunities. Children have plenty of opportunities to explore and learn through experiences, such as a visit from the fire brigade. They enjoyed using the hoses to spray water, talking into a radio and sitting in the fire engine. The manager and staff work closely with parents to consistently promote children's development and regularly share their children's next steps in learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff provide a stimulating, welcoming and homely play environment, and a wide variety of resources for children. They encourage children's physical well-being effectively. Children enjoy regular access to outdoor spaces and walks in the local area. They learn to manage risks in their play, as part of keeping themselves safe. Staff listen to children and value their opinions. For example, children take part in group activities where they reflect on their day. Staff ask the children questions about what they learnt and what they liked, or did not like. Children are well behaved and play well together. The older children remind the younger children how to behave well.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident and independent. For example, they get themselves ready for garden play, help to tidy up, and even babies learn to feed themselves. Children are motivated and eager to learn, and fully engaged in their play. All children, including those for whom the provider receives funding, progress well. They are well prepared for moving to other rooms or their eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 110619 Local authority West Berkshire (Newbury) Inspection number 1028650 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 - 8 Total number of places 111 Number of children on roll 151 Name of provider Newbury Racecourse Plc Date of previous inspection 16 May 2013 Telephone number 01635 48969

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Setting details

Rocking Horse Nursery first opened in 1992. The nursery is situated at Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire. It is open five days a week, from 8am to 6pm, all year round. This is with the exception of bank holidays and the period between Christmas and New Year. The provider employs 23 staff. Of these, 21 staff hold early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The setting receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years, and is also in receipt of the early years pupil premium.

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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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