Rivacre Academy

Rivacre Academy Forest Road, Ellesmere Port, Merseyside, CH66 1JZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19 May 2016 26 January 2009

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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 evaluate children's progress, using this information to plan a broad range of challenging experiences and to ensure any gaps in learning are narrowing. They plan activities based on children's interests and the next stage in their learning. All children make good progress from their initial starting points.  Children benefit from time spent in the extensive, well equipped indoor and outdoor environments. They have plenty of space to explore as they enjoy and learn about the benefits of daily fresh air and exercise.  Children are happy and settled in this welcoming and inclusive environment. They clearly enjoy spending time with the staff and are keen to draw them into their play.  Children who have special educational needs or disability are very well supported. Staff have developed excellent partnerships with professionals and families to ensure that the needs of children are promptly met.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always provide parents with enough detailed information to help them continue to support their children's learning at home.  The impact of training is not consistently fully evaluated to determine whether all staff are improving their practice.

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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

 give parents enough information to help them support their children's continued learning at home  regularly review and evaluate the impact of training to determine whether all staff are improving their practice.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities both indoors and outdoors.  The inspector held meetings with the manager and the two providers. She carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector talked with children and staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records and the planning documentation. She also viewed other documentation, such as accident records and risk assessments.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children and discussed the nursery's self-evaluation information.  The inspector took account of the views of staff, parents and children spoken to on the day.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager is enthusiastic and an excellent role model. She leads a knowledgeable staff team who provides good quality teaching for children. Together, they share a commitment to giving each child the best possible start in life. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff have a good understanding of what would constitute a safeguarding concern and know how to make a referral to the appropriate agencies. The manager checks children's progress to ensure all groups of children are making at least expected progress. She secures additional support, when necessary, to close any gaps in children's learning. Staff are encouraged to undertake further qualifications and training that may help their teaching. The views of parents, staff and children are taken into account in planning for the future development of the nursery. All children are developing the skills they need for their future learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff gather information from parents to support their assessment of children's learning when they join the nursery. They make regular observations and assess children's progress accurately. They organise exciting activities that match children's interests and consolidate and extend their learning. Staff use their good teaching skills well. They playfully interact with children and show them how to be inquisitive. They broaden children's understanding of the world around them. For example, children are fully focused as they dig for worms in the garden and learn about different insects and their habitats. Children's literacy and mathematical skills are promoted well. They confidently repeat the sounds that letters make. Younger children are encouraged to count. Older children demonstrate their developing mathematical skills as they solve simple addition and subtraction problems. Children are encouraged to write for a purpose. For example, they

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

make lists of items they need as they enjoy role play in the pretend garage. Babies are given time and space to explore and investigate a variety of different resources that keeps them engaged for long periods. Children who speak English as an additional language are developing good communication and language skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The friendly and welcoming staff help their key children to form strong, appropriate bonds with them. They teach children to be polite and respectful towards one another. Children behave well and are kind to each other. They learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, as they toast marshmallows during a Forest School activity outdoors, they learn about the dangers associated with fire.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in their learning and development. They are developing a love of books. They concentrate well during story time and participate in parts of the story that they know well. Children are settled, happy and relaxed. They display high levels of confidence and self-esteem. They develop good self-care skills and an eagerness for learning, preparing them well for future education, including school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY293321 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 861468 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 - 4 Total number of places 100 Number of children on roll 147 Name of registered person The Cheshire Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 26 January 2009 Telephone number 0151 356 1616

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reference number

Rivacre Academy was registered in 2004. The nursery employs 22 members of childcare staff. All hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery supports children who have special educational needs or disability and supports children who speak English as an additional language.

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reference number

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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reference number

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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reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

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reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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