Thorplands Nursery

Thorplands Nursery THORPLANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL, Farm Field Court, Northampton, NN3 8AQ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 November 2016 20 November 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 manager is an experienced and passionate practitioner who holds the best interests of children at the heart of everything she does. She leads a well-qualified staff team who shares her vision and seeks to provide the highest possible quality of care and education.  Staff have a secure understanding of their role in supporting children's learning. They provide a range of learning experiences to motivate and engage children's interest.  There is a well established key-person system in place, which helps children to form strong attachments with staff and positive relationships with each other.  Partnerships with parents are well established. There are good two-way systems for sharing information about children's needs and achievements. Staff encourage parents to extend children's learning at home. For example, children enjoy selecting books to take home and share with their family.  Staff support children who speak English as an additional language and those who have

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This provision is good

special educational needs or disabilities well. They work effectively with other professionals, for example, they gain specific information to help them support individual children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The monitoring of staff performance is not sharply focused on raising the quality of teaching to the highest level.

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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

 sharpen the focus on performance management so that staff have more opportunities to build on their practice, in order to raise the quality of teaching to outstanding.

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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 nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the management team.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, discussed self-evaluation and viewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager provides strong, well-informed leadership. She works well with the staff team to evaluate and develop the quality of provision. Since the last inspection, the setting has transformed the outdoor space providing a number of new, stimulating play areas for children to use and enjoy. Staff receive support and guidance from the management team as they participate in meetings, supervision and appraisals. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Managers and staff are fully aware of the procedures that protect children from abuse or neglect. Comprehensive risk assessments effectively ensure that the environment is safe and suitable, and any accidents are dealt with appropriately.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff observe, assess progress and plan appropriate activities for children based on the next steps in their learning. Detailed information is gathered to assess the progress that different groups of children are making. Children learn through active play and exploration as they build with crates in the garden, and transport leaves and sand. Staff provide consistently good teaching and interaction as they widen children's experiences. For example, babies explore cause and effect toys and snuggle up to listen to stories. Toddlers play with coloured sand and discover what attaches to magnets. Older children learn to recognise sounds and write familiar letters, demonstrating their emerging literacy skills. Staff sensitively respond to the babbles that babies make and consistently promote all children's developing language and communication skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are warm and caring, and build positive relationships with children. Settling-in arrangements and transitions to the next rooms are well planned and facilitated according to the individual needs of the child. Children behave well and show kindness, concern and respect to others. They gain an understanding of healthy lifestyles. For example, staff teach children to complete tasks, such as washing their hands. Children eat nutritious food and serve their own lunch. This contributes towards their growing independence. They have plenty of opportunities for fresh air and to develop their physical skills in the well- equipped garden. Children learn about their own and other people's backgrounds, through planned activities, visual displays and a range of resources.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those in receipt of funding and children who have special educational needs or disabilities, make good progress. They learn how to make friendships and show an awareness of their own needs and those of others. Children develop the key skills needed to be ready for the next stage in their learning, such as moving on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY466427 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 1066990 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 76 Number of children on roll 92 Name of registered person The Education Fellowship Trust

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 20 November 2013 Telephone number 01604 741 131

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reference number

Thorplands Nursery was registered in 2013. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff, of whom most hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, 3 or 6. The manager holds early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery supports children who speak English as an additional language and those who have special educational needs or disabilities.

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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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