Ashington Minors

Ashington Minors Back Sycamore Street, ASHINGTON, Northumberland, NE63 0AH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 May 2016 19 May 2015

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Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Staff do not plan and organise activities to make the most of all learning opportunities and to build on children's interests. As a result, some children, particularly the youngest, do not fully engage and learning opportunities are missed.  Managers have yet to embed systems which fully monitor and evaluate the impact of teaching on children's learning. In particular, the range and suitability of activities are not checked well enough to ensure both individual and groups of children make good or better progress across all areas of the curriculum.  Systems for staff supervision, whilst improved, need time to embed in order to have an even greater impact on improving the quality of teaching.

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It has the following strengths

 The management team have worked hard to improve practice since their last inspection. They have transformed the nursery’s outdoor space and are developing systems to support and promote more effective teaching.  Children's confidence, self-care skills and their personal development are progressing well.  Staff liaise effectively with parents and external partners, ensuring all children get the support they need. Staff share children's learning and progress regularly with parents and support them to extend their child's learning at home. Parents speak highly of the setting, particularly the caring nature of its staff.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 improve the planning and organisation of activities to ensure all children are engaged and teaching supports children's learning. 24/06/2016

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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

 improve the use of available data as part of the self-evaluation process, ensuring this is used effectively to both inform ongoing planning, and to re-focus attention on monitoring the impact of what the setting provides on children's learning and development  embed systems for supervision to ensure that staff receive the individualised support and training they need to reflect on and improve the quality of their teaching practice further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in all playrooms as well as the outside play space.  The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held a meeting with the manager.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's records, planning documentation, evidence of the suitability of staff working in the provision and a range of other documentation, including policies, procedures, self-evaluation and improvement planning documents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Children are continually supervised because staff deployment is addressed well in playrooms and the outdoor area. Staff are aware of their responsibilities to protect children from harm. They ensure risk assessments are sufficient and that the nursery is safe for children. Senior leaders are dedicated and committed. Time and stability are now needed to consolidate their work and ensure a renewed focus on what children are learning, in order to further improve the quality and impact of their work. Priorities identified in the nursery’s improvement plan are accurate. However, the use of available data, particularly about the progress of target groups across the curriculum, is not used to inform on-going planning and to monitor impact. Arrangements for checking staff performance have been improved. However, observations of teaching are not used effectively as part of the appraisal process. Consequently training

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

plans are not yet sufficiently focused on the individual needs of staff.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Older children begin to problem solve, for example, as they work out how to complete increasingly difficult jigsaw puzzles. Younger children enjoy using their senses to explore the 'muddy puddle,' delighting in the texture and taste of the chocolate and water mix. Staff nurture babies’ early attempts at communication by copying the sounds they make and repeating back single words. Staff observe children as they play and use this information to assess what children need to do next to progress. However, this information is not used as well as it could be when planning activities. As a result, there is a lack of focus on what children will learn from these experiences and activities. This slows the pace of learning as teaching is not sufficiently focused on the individual needs of children. In particular, activities do not always support the needs and interests of the youngest, non mobile children.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children develop close relationships with staff and understand the routine for the day. This helps them to feel safe and secure. Where children speak English as an additional language, words in their home language are displayed on the wall. This helps both them and their parents feel welcomed and included. All staff are calm and caring, and give children clear and consistent messages about what is appropriate behaviour. Children learn to share toys, enjoy social mealtimes and play with other children. The nursery has worked hard to improve this area of practice since the last inspection. The outside area has suitable and safe equipment to provide challenge for children and motivate them to develop their physical skills.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children are making steady progress in their learning and development, and in readiness for school. This includes children with additional needs and those who speak English as an additional language. Any gaps in individual progress are identified and planned for by each child's key person. However, staff lack knowledge about how to effectively engage and promote all children's learning to ensure outcomes for children are consistently good.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY346062 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 1031735 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 - 17 Total number of places 66 Number of children on roll 128 Name of provider Ashington Minors Ltd Date of previous inspection 19 May 2015 Telephone number 01670 858887

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Setting details

Ashington Minors Nursery was registered in 2007. It is situated in Ashington, Northumberland and is owned and managed by two private individuals. Staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 5, 4 or 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year and is closed on bank holidays. Sessions are between 7am until 6.30pm. There is also a wrap-around service and an out-of-school provision. The nursery provides funded early education for two- and three-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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