The Ark Day Nursery

The Ark Day Nursery 4 St. Patrick's Street, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 2PL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 February 2017 11 September 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

 Staff have developed links with the local schools, nurseries and authority advisors, including those who support children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. These effective partnerships help staff to evaluate and build upon their practice to ensure children continue to make good progress from their starting points.  Staff provide children with a range of exciting exploratory experiences that encourages a multi-sensory approach to learning, increasing children's engagement and focused attention. Children enjoy investigating shaving foam, sand, water, spaghetti, and custard. During such activities, staff use a broad range of techniques to effectively support children's communication and language skills.  Staff keep parents well informed about their child's next steps in learning. These are displayed on the walls, regularly discussed with parents and shared at the termly parent meetings. This helps to encourage parents to support their child's learning at

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This provision is good

home.  Staff build positive relationships with children by giving them their full attention and providing warm and consistent care. Those who work with the two-year-old children are particularly aware of their fluctuating emotional and physical needs. They support and plan for their individual needs well. This helps children to form secure emotional attachments within the nursery.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not consistently offer children high levels of challenge so that they move towards the next steps in their learning as quickly 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

 give children the challenge they need to consistently reach the next steps in their learning as rapidly as possible.

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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 discussed with staff how they assess children's learning and plan for children's progress.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery's manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery's manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day and from information included in the nursery's own parent survey.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Since the last inspection, the provider has appropriately notified Ofsted of injuries requiring hospital visits and held full investigations into the circumstances of the accidents. The leaders and managers found that the accidents were unavoidable, however, they have reviewed all associated policies and procedures to ensure staff remain vigilant. Staff have a secure understanding of their role in the prevention or early identification of abuse and neglect. Staff have regular individual support meetings where they can discuss their future training requirements. The management team analyses and reflects on the progress of individual and specific groups of children, and compares them across the nursery. This helps the team to ensure that the planning meets each child's needs and covers all aspects of their learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use a wide range of effective teaching strategies in their interactions with the children. For example, during a woodwork activity, children are taught how to use tools and try out new skills safely. Each child is praised for their attempts at hammering nails into a piece of wood, thereby developing their self-confidence. During such activities, staff ask the children questions to extend their thinking and vocabulary. Staff have completed training on promoting children's literacy development. They encourage older children to identify the initial sounds in words and skilfully and enthusiastically model how to sound the letters correctly. Staff prepare children well for the next stage in their learning, such as school. However, staff do not regularly offer children high levels of challenge so that they move towards the next steps in their learning as swiftly as possible.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staffing arrangements ensure that children are adequately supervised. The manager completes annual and daily risk assessments which are regularly reviewed in order to protect children from harm. Staff provide children with nutritious and balanced meals and snacks. Children regularly use the nursery's large, indoor soft-play facilities with steps and a slide shoot. Furthermore, they use a range of climbing and balancing equipment outdoors. Children behave well. They learn to share and take turns, and are rewarded for their good behaviour with stickers and high fives.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress. Babies sit on the floor and investigate the cornflour and water mixture with their hands and spoons. Toddlers are engrossed as they practise their scissor skills and cut out shapes to stick on their Valentine's Day card. Children in the pre- school room thoroughly enjoy the daily literacy sessions. They are confident at naming and sounding some of the letters of the alphabet, and older children are beginning to read short words. Children are confident and happy, and talk freely and enthusiastically to staff and visitors about what they are doing.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY377952 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 1065211 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 64 Number of children on roll 98 Name of registered person Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 11 September 2013 Telephone number 01785 254501

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reference number

The Ark Day Nursery was registered in 2008. It is one of 11 settings managed by a non- profit incorporated voluntary association. The nursery employs 23 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds qualified teacher status and another holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 6. A further eight staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and seven hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. It 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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