The Column Nursery

The Column Nursery Bell Lane, SHREWSBURY, SY2 5EN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 October 2016 2 September 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 nursery is welcoming and homely. Staff nurture children to become confident and happy. Children are very content and look forward to coming to nursery. Parents talk fondly of their children's key person and the care and attention their children receive.  The garden has been developed exceptionally well since the last inspection. Staff training and support from outside professionals have had a positive impact. Outdoor teaching is now rich and varied and enhances children's play and exploration.  Staff are very experienced and have a wide range of skills. They provide good learning experiences for children. Teaching is well adapted to meet the needs of both the younger and older children.  The manager and provider have a clear vision for the nursery. They make their expectations clear, helping staff take responsibility for enhancing their own standards of practice. Staff work extremely well together as a team to use each other's strengths.

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This provision is good

 Monitoring of the progress made by individual and groups of children has been developed well by the manager. She is working hard to improve children's attainment in literacy and mathematics. She is also aware of those children who are vulnerable and at risk of not reaching their expected milestones.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always focus sufficiently on offering children different ways of learning when planning activities, in order to make sure all children are able to learn in the way that suits them best.  Staff do not always help older children to make links in their learning to help them recognise their own achievements.

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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

 take more account of the different ways in which children learn, when planning activities  support children to make links in their own learning and to recognise and understand their own personal achievements.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, 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 provider. He looked at relevant documentation, such as children's learning journals and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector had a tour of the nursery and checked the suitability of the premises.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are suitably trained in how to protect children from possible abuse or neglect. The designated person for child protection shares her advanced knowledge with staff. For example, she has recently updated all staff on how to support vulnerable families. She also helped them to identify any children who may be at risk of harm from extreme behaviours or views. The manager evaluates the quality of the nursery precisely. She listens to the views of parents, children and staff to improve the nursery. For example, the provider purchases new toys that children have an interest in. Staff practice is reviewed regularly by the manager. They are supported to improve their qualifications and complete regular training. The manager also challenges staff appropriately. For example, all staff are being supported to improve their teaching of mathematics and literacy to help improve children's progress in these areas.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff regularly observe children's achievements and plan activities that reflect their interests and next steps in learning. They also provide opportunities through planned activities for children to learn about celebrations, such as Bonfire Night. This helps to promote children's understanding of the world. The assessment of children's starting points is robust. Staff seek a wealth of information from parents about children's learning at home to help identify their initial level of development. There are daily opportunities for children to learn inside and out. Activities provided are interesting. Children especially enjoy cooking activities. They use scales to weigh ingredients accurately, identifying the numbers, and follow instructions given by staff as they mix the ingredients together. Children learn new vocabulary as staff introduce new words, such as creaming, as they combine butter and sugar together. Staff make the most of learning opportunities as they

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

arise. For example, they teach children which directions are left and right as they pass the mixing bowl.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are well behaved, polite and have good manners. They say excuse me as they enter the circle to sit with their friends, and please and thank you during mealtimes. Children's good hygiene is promoted effectively. They regularly wash their hands before mealtimes. Staff cater for children's individual dietary needs with vigilance and care. New children settle very well. Staff are sensitive to the individual needs of each child who starts at the nursery. Parents find this reassuring as children separate from them with ease.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are very independent. They put on their own coat to go outside and climb trees in the garden safely as they learn how to take manageable risks. Children are well prepared for school. They can count the spots on the ladybirds that they find in the garden and sit and listen to stories without distraction. All children make good progress. Careful monitoring means children receive support to reach their full potential in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY461713 Local authority Shropshire Inspection number 1066851 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 - 10 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Vanessa Doran

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 2 September 2013 Telephone number 01743 354779

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reference number

The Column Nursery was registered in 2013. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one with early years teacher status. The provider also has qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- 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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