Apricot Day Nursery

Apricot Day Nursery Lescun Close, Pangbourne Road, Upper Basildon, Reading, Berkshire, RG8 8LN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31 August 2016 21 January 2016

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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 manager and staff consistently reflect on the nursery. They take into account the view of parents and children to identify strengths and target improvements.  The manager and staff monitor and track children's progress closely to identify any gaps in their learning. They know children well and provide a wide range of activities that reflect their interests and individual learning needs. All children make good progress from their initial starting points.  Children behave well. They learn about diversity, for example, through activities that reflect different cultures. Children quickly learn to respect others.  Staff establish effective partnerships with other settings children attend. They work closely together with all professionals involved in children's care and learning, to help meet children's individual needs.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff are not always successful in ensuring all parents have opportunities to share information about their children's achievements at home, to help them plan for future learning.  Staff do not make the most of all opportunities to encourage children to think and do things for themselves.

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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

 provide further opportunities for parents to share information on their children's achievements at home, to further support and enhance their learning  make the most of all opportunities to encourage children to think and respond for themselves.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the nursery.  The inspector observed the quality of staff interactions with children and completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held discussions with the director of operations and childcare, the area manager and staff at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to on the day.  The inspector looked at various documents, including policies and procedures, risk assessments, staff training records, records for children and evidence of the suitability of staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a secure understanding of child protection procedures and a good knowledge of their policies to help protect children. Since the last inspection, the provider has strengthened self-evaluation procedures to provide an accurate picture of what staff do well and to identify further improvements in their practice. For example, the manager closely monitors staff teaching and practice to ensure they provide children with challenging activities that support learning well. She tracks children's achievements and provides effective support and coaching for staff, for example, through one-to-one meetings. Staff have further opportunities for training. This has a positive impact on the learning experiences they provide.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The manager and staff accurately assess children's progress. They use this information to plan activities and experiences that build on children's next steps in learning. Staff support children's developing language and communication skills well. For example, they use repetition to help support the growing vocabulary of young children. Older children thoroughly enjoy activities such as looking through binoculars, and they excitedly tell staff about the animals they can see in the field. Staff encourage children to improve their physical skills. For example, children ride around on cars, enjoy construction, and climb up and over apparatus. Staff ensure that older children have numerous ways to develop their writing skills. Younger children make marks and explore a range of materials and textures.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff have made many effective changes to the environment. Improvements to the outdoor area have increased the range of experiences that staff provide for children. Children have strong relationships with staff and form friendships with their peers. For example, at the inspection, children showed kindness towards their friends, sharing their toys and resources. Staff use the key-person system well to help babies form strong attachments with familiar adults. Children are able to make choices and develop their independence skills effectively. For example, they take responsibility for small tasks, such as helping to set the table and serving their own food.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children gain the skills they need for school. For example, they know how to listen, concentrate and take turns. Older children learn how to form letters and understand the sounds that letters represent. Younger children explore with a range of materials and textures. Children are active learners. For example, they thoroughly enjoyed sitting in a fire engine made of cardboard boxes, rushing to their emergencies.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY317616 Local authority West Berkshire (Newbury) Inspection number 1037359 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Apricot Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 21 January 2016 Telephone number 01491 671 044

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reference number

Apricot Day Nursery registered in 2006. It is situated in Upper Basildon on the outskirts of Pangbourne, Berkshire. The nursery opens each weekday from 8am to 6pm for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years. The nursery employs nine staff, of whom seven hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3 or level 4.

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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

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