Smartys Little Stars Nursery

Smartys Little Stars Nursery Tilling Drive, STONE, Staffordshire, ST15 0AA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 August 2016 Not applicable

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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

 The committed and dedicated provider, management team and staff work hard to provide a caring, safe, stimulating and attractive environment. Children are happy and confident and share close relationships with staff.  Staff build strong relationships with parents, who are actively engaged in their children's learning from the beginning. Information is regularly shared and parents are kept well informed about their children's progress.  Teaching is good. The staff are well qualified and have a good understanding of how children learn. Children are regularly observed, in order to identify their next steps in learning.  Children benefit from a range of outdoor activities. They play an active part in looking after the setting's allotment, where they harvest fresh fruit and vegetables for their snacks.  Children are very well behaved. Staff are good role models and praise children for their efforts, which helps to raise their self-esteem.

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This provision is good

 There is strong partnership working with other settings. There are highly effective links with local pre-schools that help to support transition arrangements.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Assessment, although accurate, is not always used well enough to plan highly challenging activities to promote children's learning further.  The professional development of staff does not yet focus strongly enough on raising the quality of staff practice to an outstanding level.

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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

 enhance the use of assessment information to plan highly challenging activities that will enable children to further extend their learning  develop the current programme of continuous professional development to ensure that staff are provided with further opportunities to enhance their teaching and extend their knowledge and skills to an outstanding level.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector was given a tour of the nursery.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and early years teacher. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the nursery's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector read parents' written comments and spoke to a small number, taking account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. There are robust vetting procedures in place to help ensure all staff are suitable to work with children. All staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of how to keep children safe and free from harm. They understand the correct steps to take should they become concerned about the professional conduct of a colleague. New systems to monitor and track children's progress are being embedded to provide more accurate information and enhance their learning further. Self-evaluation includes the views of staff, parents and children, who work together to continually improve the setting. Parents provide very positive comments about the learning and care their children receive.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children enjoy learning through exciting and stimulating activities. Babies have fun exploring the wide range of sensory materials. They request a nursery rhyme through gestures and all staff spontaneously sing the rhyme. Babies play with dolls, pretending to feed them with bottles. Staff join in their play, introducing new vocabulary to help develop the babies' communication and language skills. Young children enjoy playing in a beach- themed area. They squeal with delight as they catch fish in fishing nets and paddle in the pool. Staff extend children's learning as they request fish by name or colour. Children explore the damp sand as staff talk to them and demonstrate how to use sand moulds and spades. Older children enjoy playing in the sand tray and using different tools with play dough. Staff support children to develop secure relationships. They engage with children as they play with construction bricks and vehicles, making it fun and providing a relaxed

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The setting is clean and well maintained. Staff are vigilant in their care practice. They hold appropriate first-aid qualifications and know how to respond to medical emergencies and accidents. Accidents and injuries are recorded effectively and are monitored closely by the management team. Flexible settling-in arrangements allow time to build strong relationships between the child, parents and key person. As a result, there is good continuity of care and routines. Children enjoy freshly cooked and well-balanced meals. The cook is passionate about ensuring all dietary requirements are met. Good hygiene routines are in place throughout the setting.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress from their starting points. Babies and younger children freely explore their environment and confidently try new activities. Older children are absorbed during story time, listening with anticipation to use their prop. They show good levels of concentration and interact well with enthusiastic staff. Children enjoy being the special helper and are supported in developing their independence by completing small tasks. As a result, the key skills required in preparation for school are promoted well for all children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY478854 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 986383 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 3 Total number of places 37 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person Smarty's Day Nursery (Stone) Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01785 817974

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reference number

Smartys Little Stars Nursery was registered in 2014. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, one at level 4 and one holds early years professional status. The nursery also receives support from a member of staff who holds early years teacher status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-year-old children.

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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

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reference number

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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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