The Meadows Nursery School

The Meadows Nursery School 5-6 Fletcher Close, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2BW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 October 2016 19 April 2013

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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 leadership and management of the nursery are strong. Managers have a good understanding of the strengths of the provision and have accurately identified the areas where improvement is needed.  Children are settled, happy and confident. They behave well and respond very positively to the warm, caring interaction of the staff.  Children enjoy the broad range of activities and experiences available. They make good use of the interesting resources to explore, investigate and engage in physical games. Children are motivated in their learning and make good progress.  Staff are sensitive to children's care needs and build their self-esteem. There are good arrangements to reflect each child's home background and to teach children about the lives of others. For example, children take part in activities that reflect a range of special cultural days and festivals, and learn words in different languages.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff have a clear knowledge of the interests and abilities of each child but monitoring of the rates of progress across the nursery is not as precise as possible. This does not support the managers to easily identify the areas of teaching where more focus is needed or check if any groups of children need additional support.  Some staff are more effective than others at giving children the encouragement and time to think through their ideas and find answers and solutions to problems.

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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

 develop further the arrangements for assessment, to obtain a more precise picture of children's progress and to detect any gaps as promptly as possible  increase the support for staff to recognise when to offer children more time to consider their thoughts and contribute their ideas during activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed all areas of the nursery and observed activities indoors and outdoors.  The inspector observed the interaction of staff and children during activities and mealtimes, and conducted two joint observations with the manager.  The inspector spoke with the area coordinator, manager and staff during the inspection and took into account the views of parents.  The inspector checked a sample of documentation, including some written policies, details of staff suitability checks and children's progress records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Staff work very effectively as a team. There are good arrangements to support their professional development, including regular training, staff meetings and one-to-one supervision meetings. Managers make good use of the skills and knowledge of each staff member to provide an efficient service with a strong focus on continual improvement. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and deputy take lead responsibility for child protection and know the procedures to follow. All staff attend training to help them recognise the signs that may indicate concerns about a child's welfare and know who to report their concerns to. Staff work well with parents and with other professionals, including health specialists, to meet children's individual needs. There are also good arrangements to work with staff at local schools as children prepare to move on.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children enjoy taking part in a broad range of activities that support all areas of their learning. Overall, staff are skilled at inspiring children to learn. Children eagerly gather for adult-led activities, confident that there will be something interesting to explore. All children enjoy the many creative opportunities available to them. For example, while young children explore the feel of dried oats, older children discover the feel of ice and see what happens when it comes into contact with different materials. Older children confidently use musical instruments and use their imaginations well, for example, as they use the well-equipped role play areas indoors and outdoors. All children develop a good vocabulary and become confident speakers as they move up through the nursery.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are attentive to children's emotional well-being and sensitively ensure that they are happy and settled. Those working with children under two years of age are particularly effective in taking time to understand each child's personality and anxieties. All children develop confidence and good social skills. A recent focus on training and supporting staff in ways to positively encourage good behaviour has been very successful; in addition to praising children for their efforts and achievements, staff recognise those who are sharing and being kind. There are plenty of resources and activities to support children's physical development, in group rooms and in the garden. Children learn to move with control and coordination. They begin to take some risks as they test out their capabilities.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children enjoy their time at the nursery and progress well. They make friends, develop good self-esteem and join in activities with enthusiasm. Through the day, children explore, listen, concentrate, relax and laugh. They develop the skills and emotional confidence they need for their future learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 511228 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 1061614 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 1 - 8 Total number of places 45 Number of children on roll 101 Name of registered person Places For Children Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 April 2013 Telephone number 01323 440144

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reference number

The Meadows Nursery School in Hailsham registered in 2001. It is part of a chain of six private nurseries operating in East Sussex, Surrey and Kent. The nursery opens from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. There are nine members of staff, including the nursery manager. Of these, seven hold qualifications from level 3 to level 5. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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