Ashton House Nursery

Ashton House Nursery Church Road, Ashton Hayes, Chester, CH3 8AB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 May 2016 17 November 2011

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 Teaching is consistently of a very high standard. Staff know children exceptionally well and are highly responsive to their individual needs and interests. They use their expert knowledge to provide rich and varied experiences that enthuse and motivate all children to learn.  Staff are highly skilled and sensitive in helping all children to form strong, trusting relationships. Children's emotional well-being is nurtured superbly and they have an exceptionally strong sense of belonging within the nursery.  The learning environment is exceptional. Children are thoroughly engaged in purposeful play. The exciting outdoor areas inspire children to extend their learning and natural curiosity to explore. Children flourish as they develop their understanding of the world and thrive on the physical challenges offered.  Children's independence is expertly promoted. Enthusiastic staff play alongside children, offering skilful interaction as they follow children's leads. Consequently,

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This provision is outstanding

children are extremely happy and have high levels of self-confidence and self-esteem.  Staff create exemplary partnerships with parents. Communication with parents is given utmost priority to ensure that children benefit from highly consistent care and learning. Parents are extremely complimentary about how staff keep them fully involved in their children's learning.  Leaders and managers provide inspirational leadership. They have an exceptional drive and vision to sustain the highest standards of care and learning experiences for all children. Their enthusiasm and passion are equally shared by all of the highly dedicated and devoted staff team.

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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

 enrich even further the already excellent support provided to staff through the role of the early years learning mentor and monitor the impact this has on children's progress and development.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children at play in each of the playrooms, and also in the outdoor areas.  The inspector carried out a joint observation of practice with the manager and a deputy manager.  The inspector spoke to staff and managers about different aspects of their roles, including planning and safeguarding.  The inspector looked at a sample of documentation, including safeguarding and staff suitability, policies, children's records and assessments, planning and self-evaluation.  The inspector spoke to parents and carers to gather their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have excellent knowledge of safeguarding issues and know precisely what action to take should they have concerns about the welfare of a child. Highly effective self-evaluation takes into account the views of all and helps identify well- targeted improvements. Staff make excellent use of regular training to help build their expertise. The manager plans to continue to extend the exceptional support provided for staff through the new early years staff mentor role she has created. Children with additional needs benefit from the exemplary partnership working that the nursery has with other agencies. This promotes continuity and is highly effective in supporting children and their families. The manager and staff regularly analyse data to identify how different groups of children are progressing. They quickly identify any gaps in children's learning and swiftly provide additional support to help them reach their full potential.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The experienced staff team uses detailed observations to precisely tailor activities that build on children's prior knowledge and next steps in learning. Children's learning records are exemplary and demonstrate the pride staff have in the children's achievements. Babies investigate an abundance of exciting sensory objects as they explore their room. Toddlers enjoy exploring different textures and materials as they develop their creative skills while making beach pictures. Children are confident and articulate communicators. Staff engage the children in purposeful and fun conversations. They teach children sign language and have introduced an outdoor communication station to help inspire children to try communicating in alternative ways. Pre-school children develop their writing skills and eagerly make marks using materials they have made from charring sticks in the fire.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well. Staff are excellent role models and have high expectations. Children cooperate and willingly share their resources with others. There are frequent opportunities for children to learn about diversity. Children learn about the life of children in Africa, enjoy exchanging news with their penfriends in Australia and parents visit to share Greek traditions. Staff expertly support children to assess and manage risks. Pre-school children know the safety routines as they help to make their outdoor fire and toddlers climb under the careful supervision of staff. Children enjoy vigorous play and exercise and demonstrate excellent physical skills for their age. They learn about healthy eating as they grow and harvest their own fruit and vegetables. Children relish taking responsibility for looking after the nursery's pet pigs, chickens and snail.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Staff help children to become resourceful and resilient learners who make excellent progress in relation to their starting points. Children learn to take care of their own needs from a young age. Staff provide many opportunities for children to solve problems. For example, toddlers have tremendous fun as they try to guess the route the water will take through an array of pipes and tubes. Children develop extremely positive attitudes and are exceptionally well prepared for their future learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY365637 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 849679 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 - 11 Total number of places 219 Number of children on roll 390 Name of provider Ashton House Nursery Limited Date of previous inspection 17 November 2011 Telephone number 01829 751353

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Setting details

Ashton House Nursery was registered in 1988. The nursery employs 57 members of childcare staff. Of these, 46 staff hold appropriate childcare qualifications at Level 2 and above. Two members of staff hold early years professional status and seven hold qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery also provides holiday and before- and after-school care. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. It supports a number of children with special educational needs or disability and children who speak English as an additional language. The nursery holds an Investors in People award.

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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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