Ashcroft Nursery

Ashcroft Nursery Ashcroft Day Nursery, Rear of 214, Whitegate Drive, BLACKPOOL, FY3 9JL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 February 2017 19 August 2015

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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 management team has high expectations for staff and what children can achieve. They have focused plans in place to drive ongoing improvements.  Strong partnership working with other professionals ensures that children are provided with continuity in their care and learning.  Staff know all children well, including those who have special educational needs or disabilities. They use accurate assessments to identify the progress each child is making. This information is used to plan what they need to learn next.  Staff provide each child with a warm and friendly welcome. Children form a close bond and attachment to the staff and make friends easily. They arrive with excitement and are confident and self-assured.  All children are developing the skills for future learning and to prepare them so they are ready for their move on to school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The programme of training and professional development, including opportunities for staff to learn from each other, is not highly effective.  Staff do not maximise opportunities to share with parents highly focused and targeted information and ideas to help them to continue children's learning at home.

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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

 build on the strategies for staff professional development and provide ongoing opportunities for less-experienced staff to learn from others  maximise opportunities to share ongoing, highly focused and targeted information and ideas for parents and help them to continue children's learning at home.

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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 nursery manager.  The inspector held meetings with the nursery manager, area manager and provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a 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 arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a robust and confident understanding of child protection issues. Appropriate ratios are maintained and staff are deployed effectively to supervise children and keep them safe throughout the day. Staff effectively identify and minimise potential risks and hazards and deal with any accidents and incidents promptly. The management team regularly seeks the views of children and parents and uses this information to make improvements. Accurate progress tracking of the different groups of children ensures that early support can be provided by professionals when needed. Additional funding is used well. For example, the team has invested in new resources and play activities to promote children's communication and early mathematics skills. This has a significant impact on the good progress of all children, including those who have special educational needs or disabilities.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide children with plenty of space to move around and practise their physical skills. Young children explore the environment with confidence and choose what to play with. Older children use a range of tools which helps them to develop their early writing skills. They are keen to have a go and experiment with different resources. For example, children work out how to balance and position bricks to make their own models and designs. They show good imagination and creativity skills and they pretend to feed the animals they make. Staff follow children's ideas and skilfully change tasks as they occur. For example, they invite children to make a dentist's role play area and talk about their own experiences. Staff use a variety of effective methods to promote children's language and communication skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children's emotional and physical and well-being are supported well. They explore the environment with enthusiasm and are given plenty of opportunities to make choices throughout the day. Children are provided with fun and energetic activities to help them develop confidence in their own abilities. Staff are good role models and provide children with gentle reminders of expectations. Children behave well and show kindness to each other. They play cooperatively and understand what is expected of them. Children are provided with healthy and nutritious food and snacks and develop good self-care and independence skills. They learn to take care of their belongings and put on their own coats. They are supported to keep themselves safe and make healthy choices.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who have special educational needs or disability, are making sustained and steady progress, given their starting points. Dedicated staff work closely with parents and other professionals to provide targeted support to help any learning gaps close. Children are confident and inquisitive. They are keen to explore and investigate and show concentration and interest in the range of fun activities provided. Children are active and independent learners with an eager disposition towards playing and discovering. They are well prepared for their next stages in learning and for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY420173 Local authority Blackpool Inspection number 1083783 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 1 - 4 Total number of places 34 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Quality Childcare Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 August 2015 Telephone number 01253 695658

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reference number

Ashcroft Nursery was registered in 1976. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications to at least level 2, including one staff member with qualified teacher status and three members hold a qualification at level 3. 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. It supports a number of children 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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