Abacus Children's Nurseries Ltd

Abacus Children's Nurseries Ltd Balcarres, Southfleet Avenue, Longfield, Kent, DA3 7JG

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 August 2016 12 November 2012

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Leaders have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. They follow secure recruitment and vetting processes. For example, they conduct interviews, obtain references and complete the relevant suitability checks.  Children make good progress from their starting points. Staff use the information from their assessments well to help identify and support children's next stage in learning.  Staff help children to learn about healthy lifestyles. For instance, they talk to them about what they like to eat and healthy food choices. Children have daily opportunities to be physically active.  Children learn about the natural world around them, such as when exploring in the mud kitchen, sensory area and while using the digging boxes. This encourages them to explore and investigate during activities.  Staff provide regular opportunities to involve parents in their children's learning. For example, they provide termly meetings, daily discussions and home learning bags. This

p.1

This provision is good

helps parents to continue their children's learning at home.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not make the most of opportunities to help children learn to do things for themselves and support their independence further.  Staff do not always give children enough time to think and provide their own answers to the questions they ask them.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 provide children with more opportunities to try to do things for themselves to fully support their independence  build on opportunities to consistently encourage children to think about and form their responses.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector held a meeting with the nominated person.  The inspector observed the quality of staff's teaching and the impact this has on children's learning and development.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nominated person.  The inspector viewed a range of documentation including staff suitability checks and qualifications.  The inspector spoke to parents and children during the inspection.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Leaders monitor children's development from their starting points well. For example, they use an online system to track children's progress, including specific groups of children. Leaders supervise staff well. They offer regular meetings, observe their practice and provide training. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a good understanding of the signs that would cause them concern about a child's welfare and are aware of the reporting processes to follow. They know what to do if there are any changes that affect their suitability to care for children. Leaders evaluate the effectiveness of their nursery provision well. They identify areas of weakness and set targets for improvement. This helps to improve the quality of the nursery and provide better outcomes for children.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know the children well and how to support their learning and development. They help children to develop their literacy skills. For example, children identify animals on a table covering and staff sound out the initial letters to their names. Staff follow children's lead in play; for example, when they discover a feather floating in the air they try and catch it together. This helps to keep children motivated and interested in their learning. Staff encourage children's expressive arts and design skills effectively. For instance, they ask them to decide what colour do red and green make when they mix them together. Staff build children's mathematical development well, such as by encouraging counting and sorting.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff support children's emotional well-being effectively. For example, they cater for babies' individual sleep routines well and provide them with extra reassurance when needed. Children learn to keep themselves safe. For instance, staff ask children why they need to be careful when they are using scissors and they practise regular emergency procedures with them. Staff support children to know that their views are of value and importance and they give them choices in which activities and resources to use. Children behave well. Staff provide children with clear guidance to help them manage their own actions. They encourage children to take turns and share.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children make progress that is appropriate for their age and are prepared well with the skills they need, such as for their move to school. For example, they confidently talk about starting school in September and meeting their new teacher. Children build their physical skills. For example, they use scissors to cut out fairy shapes and then decorate these with glitter and feathers. Children form good relationships with each other. For example, they praise their friends for the good picture they have made. Children use their imagination during discussions, such as by talking about their fairy houses in the garden.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY309106 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1058832 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 33 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Abacus Children's Nurseries Ltd

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 November 2012 Telephone number 01474 702190

p.4

reference number

Abacus Children's Nursery Limited is located in Longfield, Kent. It registered in 2005 and is one of two settings run by the company. The nursery offers care from Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6pm, throughout the year. There are 10 members of staff, nine of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 4, level 5 and level 6. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

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 .

p.5

reference number

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

p.5

reference number

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

p.5