North Star Nursery Ltd

North Star Nursery Ltd Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1UH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19 September 2016 20 August 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 capable and enthusiastic manager uses her good knowledge as an early years professional to mentor the staff team and help maintain high standards of learning and care throughout the nursery.  Children are happy, confident and very self-assured. They form strong bonds with the staff, who are warm and attentive. Children learn to do things for themselves and they behave well.  Staff accurately assess children's development and note current interests. They provide a wide range of stimulating and enjoyable outings and activities, tailored to each child's needs. Staff teach effectively so children are eager to learn and make good progress.  Parents play an active role in their children's learning. They routinely share information with staff so there is consistency in their children's care and development. Parents value the useful guidance that the nursery provides, for example, on how to support

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Sometimes, staff do not give children enough time to question, think through and experiment before providing answers themselves or moving on to the next activity.  Senior staff do not always make sure that children's special member of staff is with them when they first start at nursery or change rooms, to help them settle as quickly as possible.

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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

 give children time to closely observe, explore and develop their ideas and to think creatively as they discuss what they are doing and what they want to achieve  strengthen the key-person system to provide even greater continuity of care, especially when children first start at the nursery or change rooms, to help them settle in as quickly as possible.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with staff and children, and observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager, and sat in on staff supervision meetings and a management team meeting.  The inspector sampled documentation, including the nursery's self-evaluation record, evidence of staff suitability checks, children's records, and policies and procedures.  The inspector spoke with some parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The management team places a strong emphasis on self-reflection and accurately judges the quality of provision. It considers the views of parents, children and staff to help plan developments in the nursery. Regular meetings and guidance help staff to understand their roles and improve their skills. A new monitoring system is used well to help identify where individuals and groups of children need extra help. Safeguarding is effective. Staff routinely discuss safeguarding issues and implement effective policies and procedures to help keep children safe. Staff have a good awareness of how to identify and report concerns, including 'whistle blowing', should they have concerns within the nursery. Staff maintain effective partnerships with parents and other professionals.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff support children's communication and language skills very well. They respond warmly to babies' babbles and gestures, and toddlers join in with familiar rhymes. Children benefit from regular activities to develop their listening and speaking skills. Babies are fascinated by the feel and sounds of a wide range of interesting objects and patterns. Toddlers enjoy learning about the world around them, for example, as they roll balls and vehicles down guttering. Older children delight in making models of a favourite story character. They look closely at the picture to make sure they have added all the details. This gives them plenty to talk about as they learn new words, such as 'spikey' and 'warts'.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff value children's opinions, for example, when three-year-olds vote on which story to read. Children follow instructions and wait patiently for their turn in group activities. They develop good physical skills in the exciting garden. Staff encourage them to manage risks and challenge their abilities. For example, children balance carefully around the log circle and run speedily down the slope. Children learn a great deal about staying healthy. They enjoy nutritious meals, grow and harvest fruits and vegetables, and manage their personal care competently, for example, cleaning their own teeth.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children gain useful skills that prepare them well for starting school. They develop good early writing and reading skills. For example, they explore making marks in many ways, and older children hear sounds in words and begin to link them to letters. Children are confident, express their ideas clearly and are proud of their achievements. They are curious, imaginative and learn to solve problems. Children count and sort as they play, for example, collecting feathers and leaves to 'cook' in the mud kitchen. They explore volume, weight and measurement, for example, as they fill a wormery with sand and mud.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 109123 Local authority Swindon Inspection number 1061185 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 - 8 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 86 Name of registered person North Star Nursery

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 20 August 2013 Telephone number 01793 411994

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reference number

North Star Nursery and Holiday Club registered in 1999. It is run by a voluntary management committee. It primarily serves the employees of the Research Councils and is situated on their campus in Swindon. The nursery opens on weekdays throughout the year, except for one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 8am until 5.45pm for the children who attend the nursery and from 8.30am to 5.30pm for the children who attend the holiday club. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The holiday club cares for children of primary school age. The nursery employs 28 staff who work directly with the children. Of these, 27 hold relevant qualifications at level 2 or above. These include 20 staff at level 3, one at level 4, one at level 5, a qualified teacher, and the manager, who holds early years professional status.

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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. 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

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

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