Castle Stars Educational Day Nursery

Castle Stars Educational Day Nursery 109 Manor Drive North, New Malden, KT3 5PD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 May 2016 Not applicable

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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 manager does not ensure that required records and documentation are readily available for inspection.  Staff do not share information well enough with parents. Not all parents are aware of their children's key person, and staff do not gather information from parents about children's existing abilities to track their progress right from the start.  The manager does not ensure that staff always use information from children's assessments sufficiently, to plan and tailor activities to meet children's next steps in learning. Monitoring of staff practice is not consistently effective in identifying areas of teaching where some staff lack confidence.  The manager does not evaluate the provision accurately to identify breaches in requirements and areas for improvement.  Staff miss some opportunities to increase children's awareness of safety.

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It has the following strengths

 Children are happy and emotionally secure at the nursery. Staff celebrate children's languages and cultures, which helps children to begin to learn about the wider world.  Staff manage children's behaviour very well, for example, they promote good manners and kindness effectively.  Staff generally promote children's communication and language well. For example, they engage children regularly in conversations.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 implement effective systems to demonstrate the suitability of anyone working on the premises and ensure that all records are easily accessible and available at inspection 05/05/2016

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Due Date

 develop partnership working with parents, to ensure all parents are aware of their child's key person and to gather information about children's existing abilities, to identify children's level of achievement and track their progress right from the start 25/05/2016

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Due Date

 develop the assessment process to ensure all staff are aware of children's next steps, to inform planning of activities and help children to make progress in their learning. 25/05/2016

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 make effective use of ongoing evaluation to identify breaches of legal requirements and target areas for future improvement  improve the guidance and mentoring for staff to ensure that they are all able to recognise and develop opportunities to extend children's thinking  build on opportunities to increase children's awareness of safety.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the nursery and took part in a joint observation with the provider.  The inspector observed the quality of staff interactions with children.  The inspector held discussions with the provider and staff at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to on the day.  The inspector looked at various documents, including policies and procedures, risk assessments, staff training records, records of children and evidence of the suitability of staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. The manager ensures that staff are knowledgeable about child protection issues and the procedures to follow should they have any concerns about a child's welfare. The manager is keen to make improvements and includes the views of children and parents when reviewing the setting's practice. However, her knowledge of the legal requirements is not good enough to identify breaches in requirements and all areas of weakness. The manager was not able to provide all the requested records and documentation at inspection. The manager provides some support for staff and ensures they attend training, and seek research, to gain further knowledge and skills. However, her monitoring is not always effective in identifying inconsistencies in the quality of teaching.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The manager tracks children's progress to help identify and address any gaps in children's individual learning. However, weaknesses in the assessment process mean that not all staff have an accurate view of what children need to learn next. Children like to practise their early writing skills. For example, they enjoy making marks on the chalkboard and gain an awareness of how to use tools for a variety of purposes. Staff help children to develop their mathematical understanding. For example, children enjoy games such as skittles, and gain an understanding of number. However, children are not consistently encouraged to think for themselves. Staff do not always recognise when to intervene to extend children's learning and curiosity.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Partnerships with parents are not always successful. Staff do not ensure that all parents are aware of their children's key person. They do not gain sufficient knowledge about what each child can already do when they first start at the setting. Children enjoy healthy meals and snacks throughout the day. They are encouraged to help themselves to water and feed themselves well. However, staff miss opportunities to encourage children to think about safety and to carry out tasks for themselves. Children behave well. They learn to share and take turns, and are kind and considerate to their friends. Children are active outdoors each day. For example, they have opportunities to use a good range of equipment at the park and at the setting, which helps to develop their physical skills well.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Overall, children make steady progress in their learning from their starting points. They gain confidence in their abilities and happily engage in activities. Staff do not always use information from assessments to ensure children make the best possible progress. However, generally, children gain the key skills they need for their move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY475454 Local authority Kingston upon Thames Inspection number 978539 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 25 Number of children on roll 8 Name of provider Castle Stars Educational Day Nursery Limited Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 02073852726

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Setting details

Castle Stars Educational Day Nursery Limited registered in 2014. It operates from a converted shop in New Maldon in Surrey. The nursery operates weekdays from 7.30am until 6.30pm all year around, except for bank holidays and for two weeks over Christmas. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs seven members of staff who work with the children, including the manager. The manager, who is also the owner, holds Early Years Professional Status, two members of staff, including a volunteer, hold a relevant childcare qualification at level 3 and two hold a relevant childcare qualification at level 2.

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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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