Rothamsted Little Stars Nursery

Rothamsted Little Stars Nursery Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 January 2017 25 July 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

 Effective settling-in procedures support children to feel secure as they begin at the nursery. Children and their family swiftly form warm bonds with their key person. Babies snuggle up to their key person as they become tired and settle peacefully to sleep.  Partnerships with parents are good. The ongoing sharing of information successfully involves parents in every aspect of their children's care and learning. Staff provide them with a wealth of ideas to support their children's learning at home. For example, they invite them to attend workshops and encourage them to borrow home learning packs.  Children enjoy a good range of interesting activities that stimulates their curiosity. For example, young children experiment mixing sand and water together. They work out that when they add more sand to the water it becomes thicker and takes longer to slide off their hands.  The leadership and management of the nursery is strong. The well-qualified manager

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This provision is good

and dedicated team of staff continuously evaluate and reflect on their practice to develop the nursery further. An active parent partnership group is one way that staff seek the views of parents.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not make the best use of older children's interests in child-initiated creative activities to extend their early writing skills.  On occasions, staff do not give children the best possible support to develop their independence in their self-help skills.

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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 opportunities for older children to extend their early writing skills  offer children more opportunities to practise their self-help skills as they gain independence.

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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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager, regional manager and quality assurance manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of identifying any children who may be at risk of harm. They know the action to take if they have concerns about a child's welfare. Recruitment procedures are robust. Rigorous checks are conducted to ensure that staff are suitable to care for children. The manager regularly monitors staff practice through frequent supervision meetings. Staff are very well supported to attend relevant courses and gain additional knowledge and skills to further promote effective outcomes for children. The manager's attention to monitoring the educational programmes ensures that any gaps in children's learning are quickly addressed. Good links with local schools that children move on to make a strong contribution to meeting children's continuing needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

All children are motivated and inquisitive learners; they engage in challenging activities with enthusiasm in this welcoming and vibrant nursery. For example, young children persevere at completing complex puzzles and sing a song containing letters of the alphabet. They squeal with excitement as they learn the names of parts of their body, such as cheek and ankle. Babies learn how to operate electronic toys. They work out that they need to push different buttons to activate the colourful lights and create sounds. Children positively respond to staff's use of questioning to help challenge their thinking. Staff consistently respond to babies' babbles, helping them to learn the pattern of conversation. They introduce new words to younger children and listen attentively to older children, who use complex sentences. Staff skilfully identify opportunities to extend older children's vivid imaginations. Children thoroughly enjoy pretending to drive a bus as they

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

pick up passengers and take them to their chosen destination.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff take the time to get to know children well. Effective arrangements are in place to help children experience a smooth move to the next room and on to school when the time comes. Children behave well. Young children happily share toys and activities together and older children know to line up sensibly before going outdoors. Mealtimes are a social experience for all children. For example, babies sit around the table together and begin to interact with each other. Staff make the most of the extensive outdoor spaces where children enjoy fresh air and develop good physical skills. They enjoy jumping in and out of tyres and building bridges from large planks of wood which they balance along.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress in relation to their starting points. They demonstrate a good awareness of how to keep themselves safe. Older children express a keen interest in books. They make up stories from the pictures on the pages and share these with their friends. Children count the number of fingers on their hands and are beginning to use addition and subtraction to solve mathematical problems. These are just some of the skills that help to prepare children for their future learning at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 123610 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1048185 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 - 4 Total number of places 43 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 25 July 2013 Telephone number 01582 343712

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reference number

Rothamsted Little Stars Nursery was registered in 2000 and is managed by Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited. It employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, 12 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one with early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am 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

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

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