The Ark Day Care Nursery

The Ark Day Care Nursery Lea View House, Springfield, London, E5 9DX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17 March 2017 17 February 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

 Staff in the baby room are particularly strong in supporting the personal development of very young children. Care routines are very responsive to children's individual needs. The effective keyperson system supports children's emotional well-being. Children form secure attachments which help them to settle quickly.  The setting is well led and the management team has a clear overview of its strengths and priorities for development. For example, they are currently working on plans to improve and extend opportunities for children's learning outdoors.  Staff support children to make good progress. Children develop good communication, language and personal skills that help to prepare them well for the next stage in their learning.  Partnerships with parents are effective. Staff make good use of daily conversations to keep parents informed about their children's care and achievements at the nursery.

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This provision is good

Parents say they complement their child's learning at home.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally activities are not focused precisely enough on what children need to learn next in order for them to make rapid progress.  Monitoring of children's progress, in order to get a clearer overview of progress relating to specific groups of children, is not yet fully embedded.

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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

 make even better use of information about what children need to learn next so that activities challenge them to make rapid progress  enhance the processes for monitoring children's progress, in order to get a clearer overview of progress relating to specific groups of children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff interaction with children during a range of activities, indoors and outdoors.  The inspector spoke with the managers, staff and children at appropriate times.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views.  The inspector sampled a wide range of documentation, including staff suitability checks, children's development records and attendance registers.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a good understanding of the procedures to follow to protect a child's welfare. Leaders follow an effective system for managing staff performance, which contributes to a targeted cycle of professional development. Staff regularly attend training courses to enable them to improve their knowledge and understanding of children's learning and development. For example, staff have received recent training regarding managing children's challenging behaviour and on the whole children behave well. The management team works in close partnership with the local authority early years advisor. Their views and those of other outside agencies, parents and children are sought to inform the nursery's plans for improvement.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children spend their time purposefully engaged in activities, and move around the environment freely, making independent choices. For example, babies and toddlers choose freely in their dedicated outdoor space; they play with water, sand and paint outside and choose favourite stories for their carers to read to them. Staff skilfully adapt physical activities to develop older children's understanding of mathematics. For example, children count from one to ten as they swing back and forth and learn about higher and lower, and up and down as they are pushed on the hammock. Staff devote their time and attention to the children. They know children well and set out activities linked to their interests. For example, staff adapted an area to be a building site following children's recent interest in construction, sparked by nearby work on adjacent buildings.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Good relationships between staff provide children with good examples about how to behave towards others. Staff praise the children regularly, enabling children to develop their sense of self-esteem and confidence. Daily access to outdoor play, and music and movement sessions inside provide good opportunities for children to exercise. Staff make good use of opportunities during meal times to give children clear messages about following a healthy diet. Children learn using natural resources and show a keen interest in the world around them. For example, they plant seeds in the raised beds, water them and watch them grow.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children thrive in this warm, caring and friendly environment. They arrive eager and excited, and confidently ask their carers what they are going to do today. Children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities make good progress from their starting points and gaps in attainment close steadily. Children acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes to learning that prepare them well to start school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY437216 Local authority Hackney Inspection number 1085956 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 21 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person Maxine Aboagye

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 February 2015 Telephone number 0208 815 8421

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reference number

The Ark Day Care Nursery (Springfield) registered in 2011. It is situated in Upper Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney. The setting operates Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6.30pm for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs nine members of staff, including the manager. Of these, the owner holds Early Years Professional Status. Of the remaining staff, seven hold relevant qualifications in childcare.

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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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