The Nursery at St Peter's Church

The Nursery at St Peter's Church St Peter's Church, Buckland Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 0SL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20 February 2017 18 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 and staff evaluate the provision well. They make effective use of feedback obtained from parents and children to help with improvement plans. Staff are clear about their strengths and continuously plan to improve outcomes for children.  Effective support is given to children who have special educational needs. Staff work very closely with other professionals and other settings that children attend to agree on the support children need to make good progress in their learning and development.  Children have a good understanding of being healthy. For example, they know why and when they wash their hands and they talk about hidden germs. Children enjoy daily fresh air and exercise, such as dancing. They help themselves to drinks and recognise that they are thirsty after running.  Children are happy and confident. They have warm bonds with staff and are settled, secure and ready to learn. Babies and children make good progress and are well

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This provision is good

prepared for the next stage in their learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not routinely support all parents to continue with children's learning at home to help extend their development even further.  There are missed opportunities for children to learn about people's similarities and differences, to increase their awareness of the world around them.

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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

 develop arrangements to share information with parents about planning for their children, to help them continue learning at home  improve opportunities for children to learn about other people's similarities and differences, to increase their awareness of the world around them.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities indoors and outdoors.  The inspector had discussions with staff and children.  The inspector took into account the views of parents.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's records and safeguarding procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. All staff have a good knowledge of their role in safeguarding children and participate in child protection training. Staff successfully build on their skills and knowledge, for instance, from individual support meetings with the manager and training. Staff share information with each other and help improve children's outcomes. For example, staff give children space and time to be independent learners before interacting and extending the learning experiences. They work closely with other settings, such as sharing ideas for good practice. Staff monitor children's progress well. They identify where individuals and specific groups of children have development gaps and plan effectively to help them catch up. For example, after observing boys' lack of interest in the writing area they introduced new resources, such as dinosaurs, that increased children's engagement and motivation to practise their early writing skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know children well. They know their likes, strengths and where further support is required. Staff successfully use this information to plan activities that help children make good progress. Children make choices about what they play with, and staff encourage them to think through and take charge of their learning. For example, children safely use poles to make a shelter and staff are on hand to answer questions and make suggestions while letting children investigate and plan together how to complete the challenging task. Children develop their physical skills, for instance, they enjoy playing in the garden and planting seeds. This also encourages them to think carefully about what is needed to encourage plant growth and what the end product will be.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children learn how to behave, helping them to form good relationships and social skills. They play well together, and learn to share and take turns. Children are keen for others to join their play. For example, when using musical instruments the toddlers find more for other children so that they can join in. Staff teach children to manage their own safety, such as giving clear explanations about why they should not run indoors to build on children's understanding.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, achieve well. They develop good communication skills. For example, babies and children who are less confident in speaking successfully use signing and picture cards to share their thoughts. Older children engage staff in conversations and answer questions as they play, using new words with confidence. They develop a good awareness of letters and the sounds they make in preparation for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY242745 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1061680 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 120 Number of children on roll 119 Name of registered person Select Learning (Maidstone) Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 18 November 2013 Telephone number 01622 687878

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reference number

The Nursery at St Peter's Church registered in 2002. It operates from six play rooms in a renovated church in Maidstone, Kent. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7pm, all year round with the exception of public holidays. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 26 members of staff who work with children, 20 of whom hold recognised early years qualifications to level 2 or above. The manager has an early years degree and has achieved early years professional status.

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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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