Apple Tree Day Nursery

Apple Tree Day Nursery Spring Lane, Larkhall, Bath, Bath & NE Somerset, BA1 6NY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 November 2016 18 February 2014

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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 provider and staff show commitment to ensuring good quality outcomes for children. Self-evaluation is effective in prioritising where improvements have the most impact for children, and staff monitor developments well. For example, changes to the outdoor learning environment have led to more children, particularly boys, using role play to develop their thoughts and ideas.  Staff use their skills well to develop children's learning. They use their good observations to make effective assessments of children's progress, which they use well to plan for their ongoing learning. Children of all ages and abilities make good progress in relation to their starting points.  Children who have special educational needs receive good support. Staff have strong relationships with parents, and with other professionals, to support individual children. Parents are fully involved in their children's learning.  Children are confident and have good self-esteem. They demonstrate through their

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This provision is good

behaviour that they feel emotionally secure. For example, younger children quickly bond with their key persons, who support them very well as they settle in.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Opportunities for older children to learn about using technology for different purposes are not well developed.  Staff do not consistently use opportunities to develop children's knowledge of number, especially the younger children.

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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 more challenge for older children as they learn about technology  make better use of opportunities to further develop children's understanding of number.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff and children engaged in learning activities indoors and outdoors.  The inspector had discussions with the provider, staff, parents and children.  The inspector sampled required documentation and records, including safeguarding procedures, and assessed staff's knowledge of these.  The inspector reviewed the effectiveness of monitoring children's progress and planning for ongoing learning.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The provider gives staff good professional support and encourages their development well. Staff implement new skills and knowledge effectively. For example, they developed 'now and next' boards to help all children learn about daily routines, which stemmed from training to support those who have special educational needs. The provider monitors children's progress well to identify and address any gaps in their learning quickly. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a good understanding of local safeguarding procedures and how to follow these to help protect children from harm. Staff supervise children well. They record all accidents to children and inform parents. The provider uses accident reports effectively to review risk assessments to ensure children remain safe.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff plan effectively to provide challenging activities that encourage children's learning well. For example, responding to children's interest in animals, staff organised activities that encouraged them to identify their habitats, discuss their diets and compare their different footprints. Staff extended this further with a story about an insect, which encouraged children to choose to have a 'bug hunt'. Staff provide equally good learning experiences indoors and outdoors. For example, they provide a variety of portable equipment for mark making and writing, and cosy spaces for children to read or spend time quietly with friends. Staff plan good activities to encourage children to exercise and develop physical coordination. For example, younger children enjoy action rhymes and energetically move their bodies in time to these. Older children use crates and logs to create obstacle courses that they negotiate confidently as they climb and balance.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children learn to respect differences and diversity well. Children who speak English as an additional language receive very good support. For example, staff encourage children as they enjoy teaching each other words and phrases from their home languages, such as learning the names of numbers and colours. Children behave well. They learn about a healthy diet, such as when they help to prepare meals and snacks. For example, they regularly make bread and help to prepare vegetables for home-made soup.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children develop the skills they need to move on to the next stage in their learning, including going to school. In the setting, children move to the next room when they are confident and ready. Children are very independent and are supported well as they learn to manage their personal needs. They serve themselves at mealtimes and decide what and how much to eat. To prepare children for school, staff work closely with parents to help them develop skills such as early writing.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY304453 Local authority Bath & NE Somerset Inspection number 1077308 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 - 5 Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Apple Tree Day Nursery (Bath) Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 18 February 2014 Telephone number 01225 318744

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reference number

Apple Tree Day Nursery registered in 2002. It is privately owned and is based in Larkhall, Bath. It is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, all year round. The setting receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are seven members of staff working with the children, including the provider. The provider has an early years qualification at level 4 and four members of staff have qualifications at level 3.

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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

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 .

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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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