Northover House Day Nursery

Northover House Day Nursery 3 Northover House, Northover, Ilchester, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 8NG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 December 2016 15 May 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

 Children make good progress. They are motivated to learn. Staff plan activities they know will interest children; adapting them to meet each child's individual needs well.  Staff make meal times a very social occasion for children. They use this time to engage the children in learning. For example, they encourage children to count the cups and engage in relaxed conversations.  All children are settled and they make strong bonds with their key person, other staff and children. They are emotionally secure and develop good levels of confidence.  Good parent partnership enables staff to have a good understanding of children's development at home. Staff provide parents with clear information about their children's progress at the nursery.  Staff and children have a strong presence in the local community. For example, they raise money through fundraising to support charities.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The provider has not implemented planned improvements to the outside area to benefit all children, especially for those who learn better outdoors.  Staff miss opportunities to encourage children to manage more tasks for themselves and further extend their independence.

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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

 implement plans to provide more opportunities for children who prefer to learn outside to explore and investigate and extend their learning  encourage children to take more responsibility to carry out tasks for themselves.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and the quality of teaching indoors and outdoors.  The inspector spoke with staff, parents, carers and children present at the inspection and took account of the nursery's self-evaluation.  The inspector held a meeting with the owner/manager and carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector checked safeguarding information and the safety of the premises.  The inspector sampled documentation including policies and procedures, children's development records and planning.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The experienced manager works directly with the staff and children on a daily basis. This provides staff with a consistently good role model. Staff feel confident to discuss any issues with the management team. Regular staff appraisals and management meetings provide staff with good opportunities to reflect on and improve their practice. The management team makes good use of self-evaluation, and includes the views of staff and parents to help it review and continuously improve the provision. For example, it identified the need to improve information to new parents. It has implemented a new starter handbook for all new children that attend the setting. Staff have regular opportunities for professional development to benefit children. For example, recent training has enabled staff to encourage children to manage minor conflicts independently.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff encourage children to develop their communication and vocabulary. For example, during story time older children recall writing letters to Santa. Staff take time to listen and provide opportunities for others to remember and describe their experiences. Staff encourage children to understand how their words and actions affect others. For example, staff intervene to resolve a conflict between two children, then step back to allow the children to talk and resolve their issues. Staff use every opportunity to promote mathematics. For example, children pointed to the roof and said, 'Look, a chimney.' Staff extended this and asked the children 'How many chimneys can you see?' which encouraged them to count. Babies are secure and happy. Staff respond positively to their early communication, using gestures and facial expressions to help them feel confident. Staff provide age-appropriate activities, such as finger painting, to successfully promote

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Overall, staff encourage children's independence well. They support children effectively in managing their behaviour. Staff organise the nursery well, and enable children of all ages to choose from a wide range of resources at their height. Children are clear about staff's expectations and boundaries. For example, during story time a child is asked to select a book to read. Other children know that they will have a turn to choose next time. Staff encourage children to be physically active every day. For example, in the soft-play area they take turns to climb up and learn to jump and land safely.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in preparation for school. For example, they enjoy drawing and practising their early writing from a young age, using a variety of different mark- making resources. Children are confident and dress themselves ready for outdoor play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY307860 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 1068761 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Northover House Day Nursery Partnership

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 May 2014 Telephone number 01935 840244

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reference number

Northover House Day Nursery registered in 2005. It operates from the ground floor of a large house in the town of Ilchester, Somerset. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early years education to children aged two, three and four years old. The nursery is open from 7.45am to 5.45pm on Monday to Friday, all year round. The owner/manager has an early years degree and holds early years professional status. The deputy manager has an early years degree. All other staff hold qualifications from level 2 to 4.

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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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