Blue Skies Private Day Nursery

Blue Skies Private Day Nursery 184 Crewe Road, Alsager, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST7 2JA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 February 2017 4 October 2016

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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 owner/manager and deputy have worked extremely well to secure improvement since the last inspection, in order to ensure the safety of children. Self-evaluation is used precisely to identify any areas for further development.  The quality of teaching is good, with the exception of the baby room where the quality of interaction between staff and babies is exceptional.  Staff develop close relationships with parents. This helps staff to get to know each child and their family circumstances and helps them to meet their personal care needs well.  Promoting children's emotional well-being and offering children ample opportunities to increase their independence and self-help skills is given a high priority.  Staff confidently use the observation and assessment system in place. This helps staff to swiftly identify any children who need additional support to help close any gaps in their learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The recently introduced system for monitoring the quality of teaching is not yet fully effective. There is not enough focus on identifying with each individual member of staff what aspect of their teaching they can improve, in order to achieve excellence.  Staff in the pre-school room do not provide a rich enough range of activities to enthuse children's interest in writing or exploring weight, calculation and measure as far as possible.

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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

 place a greater focus on identifying for individual staff members where their teaching needs to improve, in order to achieve excellent outcomes for children throughout the nursery  provide a richer range of experiences to enthuse pre-school children's interest in writing and in exploring concepts, such as weight, calculation and measure.

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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 deputy.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery owner/manager and deputy. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection, looked at their written feedback and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Since the last inspection, the owner has taken on the role of the manager and works effectively to ensure safeguarding is given a good priority. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff are suitably trained in child protection issues and know the procedures to follow if they have any concerns about a child. Staff work closely with other agencies to promote the welfare of children. There are effective systems in place to ensure any new staff receive a thorough induction and are clear about their roles and responsibilities.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use the children's interests and a range of topics to plan exciting experiences to motivate them. For example, staff follow the children's interest in their favourite television characters to encourage them to play imaginatively and extend their ideas. Staff use a wide range of activities, such as exploring shaving foam, dough, sand and water to encourage children to talk about what are doing. Staff place a good focus on introducing new words to help children describe what they see, hear, touch and taste. For example, staff skilfully motivate children to explore and describe the real lemon they have introduced into the role play area. Staff caring for babies place an excellent focus on increasing the babies' confidence and physical skills, and place a very high priority on interacting positively with them to promote their rapid progress.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The assigned key-person system is used effectively to help children develop a close relationship with a named member of staff. Staff caring for babies know their routines and care needs very well and follow them according to parents' wishes. Staff work closely with parents whose children speak English as an additional language to learn key words to help them settle in. Staff adopt a positive approach to behaviour management and children are happy and confident. The outdoor area provides a challenging range of opportunities for children to increase their physical skills. Children learn how to keep safe as they learn about the role of the emergency services and the rules in place for their safety. Meals are freshly prepared on-site. Mealtimes are a social occasion. Children in pre-school are given the time and space to cut their own fruit and pour their own drinks. They know that fruit, milk and water are good for their bodies.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those receiving additional funding, make good progress from their starting points. Children enjoy counting and linking letters to the sounds they represent. They are keen to find their name card on arrival. Children show a fondness for stories and are confident talkers. They enjoy sharing their news with each other during group time. Children learn about their local community, any differences within the group and how to respect each other. Children develop the key skills required in preparation for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY343285 Local authority Cheshire East Inspection number 1083989 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 31 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Sheridan Woodcock

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 October 2016 Telephone number 01270 883893

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reference number

Blue Skies Private Day Nursery was registered in 2007. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold an appropriate early years qualification 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

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reference number

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reference number

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