Ashfield Nursery School

Ashfield Nursery School 7 Ashley Avenue, Cheriton, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 4PT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 February 2017 9 January 2015

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Management does not ensure that there are sufficient staff with paediatric first-aid qualifications on site at all times, to provide a quick response in the event of an accident or emergency.  Not all children have daily access to outdoor activities and play.  Management does not effectively evaluate its practice to help improve the nursery. For instance, it has not addressed all recommendations set at the last inspection. Staff still do not provide children with sufficient opportunities to develop their early reading and writing skills, particularly for those who prefer to learn outdoors.  Management does not successfully monitor gaps in the progress of specific groups of children to enable staff to help all children catch up with their peers and improve outcomes.  Children do not have a wide range of opportunities to learn about the similarities and differences between themselves and others to extend their understanding of the world.

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It has the following strengths

 Partnerships with parents are positive and relevant information is shared to provide a consistent approach for individual children's care and learning. Parents feel welcomed and are very complimentary about the nursery.  Staff are good role models, helping children to have a clear understanding of boundaries. Children behave well.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure there are sufficient paediatric first-aiders available at all times, taking the layout of the building and the number of children into account 27/04/2017

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Due Date

 ensure all children have access to outdoor play and activities on a daily basis 03/04/2017

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Due Date

 improve the support for children to develop their early reading and writing skills, particularly for those who prefer to learn outdoors. 03/04/2017

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 build on existing systems for tracking individual children to help monitor how specific groups of children progress, and identify and address any gaps in their learning at the earliest opportunity  provide further opportunities for children to extend their understanding of similarities and differences between themselves and others  improve the self-evaluation process to effectively identify and promptly address weaknesses in practice.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and the quality of teaching in all the rooms.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's development records, the self-evaluation form, and key policies and procedures.  The inspection was carried out following the risk assessment process.  The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. The inspector took account of parents' views through discussions.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and provider. She completed a joint observation with the provider.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. The provider and staff have a secure, up-to-date awareness of child protection and know how to report any concerns. There is one paediatric first-aid trained member of staff on site. However, due to the layout of the building this is not effective to enable a quick response to an emergency. Staff-to-child ratios are met and staff are appropriately deployed to supervise children and help keep them safe. The self- evaluation process has not identified or addressed all areas for improvement. However, management does regularly include the views of parents, children and staff. Staff have regular individual support meetings with the manager to discuss any concerns and practice issues. Some training to improve practice is available. Suitable recruitment processes help management ensure that the well-qualified staff are suitable.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The manager monitors children's individual development well to ensure they make progress. However, she does not effectively monitor specific groups of children, such as boys and girls, to assess how well they achieve in their learning. Staff use observation and planning well to develop a clear knowledge and understanding of children's learning needs. Pre-school children develop their independence skills. For example, they follow their own interests, make friends and decide on their own play and pour their own drinks. Children develop a good awareness of mathematics from an early age. For example, toddlers count objects in a picture and older children manipulate dough into shapes.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Staff do not provide children with regular access to outdoor activities to help support a healthy lifestyle and build on their physical skills. During indoor play, toddlers' small- muscle development is supported well, such as when they use tools with dough. Children have access to a wide range of stimulating toys and resources. Staff do not consistently support children to understand about people's similarities and differences, for example, sharing the different languages and cultures they experience. Children are emotionally well supported by staff. They enjoy attending and settle quickly. Staff know how to prepare healthy foods and follow hygienic practices.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Most children make sufficient progress from their starting points. However, not all children make good progress in their early reading and writing skills, particularly those who like to be outside. Babies and toddlers enjoying cuddling up to the staff and listening to stories. Children develop their communication skills as they use their imagination to play games with their friends. They develop turn-taking and social skills needed for their future learning and going to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 126978 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1084807 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Nola Mary Yarney

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 9 January 2015 Telephone number 01303 275759

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reference number

Ashfield Nursery registered in 1968 it is located in Cheriton, close to Folkestone, Kent. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm, throughout the year. The provider receives funding to provide free early education to children age two, three and four years. There are nine staff employed, eight of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications to level 2 or above. This includes one member of staff who has qualified teacher 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

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

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