The Mall Nursery and Creche

The Mall Nursery and Crèche Unit 35, The Mall Shopping Centre, LUTON, LU1 2TW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30 March 2017 17 February 2014

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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 management team places a strong emphasis on promoting children's welfare. They work closely with external agencies and families in a range of situations to help provide children with a secure and stable environment, both at home and in the nursery.  Children benefit from a language-rich environment. They join in with familiar songs and listen intently to staff. For example, staff make good use of signing and the several languages they speak to help children, such as those who are learning to speak English as an additional language, to communicate their preferences and needs effectively.  The key-person system is managed effectively by well-qualified staff to help children form secure attachments, and to tailor care and learning to meet their individual needs. Monitoring of assessments ensures that children who have additional needs are identified early and appropriate interventions are secured.

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This provision is good

 Staff provide children with clear messages about the importance of a healthy diet. For example, children learn about food that is good for them and talk about how daily exercise and drinking water keep them strong.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Plans to enhance staff's good practice even further have not been fully implemented yet, to help raise the quality of teaching and learning to the highest possible level.  At times, staff do not provide parents with detailed information about how to precisely support children's learning at home to help children make the best progress.

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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

 evaluate further the plans for development, in particular to work towards achieving teaching practice of a consistently high quality across all areas  explore further ways to include parents in extending children's learning at home.

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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. She also held conversations with committee members and the local area special educational needs coordinator.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery deputy manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and deputy manager of the nursery. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery and members of the parent committee.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through discussions on the day and recently completed written feedback.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The enthusiastic management team strives to provide the best quality care for children. Overall, they make good use of support, such as through the local authority and online resources, to reflect on and improve their practice. For example, the deputy manager has refined the supervision process for staff. Safeguarding is effective. Robust recruitment procedures and comprehensive policies, followed by all staff, ensure the suitability of adults who have contact with children. Detailed risk assessments help staff to manage and minimise potential hazards for children. For example, staff teach children how to use apparatus safely and supervise them closely. The provider has received recognition for her safeguarding practice, such as winning several awards for fire safety.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide children with a well-balanced learning programme. For example, adult-led activities ignite children's curiosity, such as a recent focus on volcanoes. Children show interest in others' play and engage in imaginative games. They concentrate as they empty and fill containers, pouring different quantities of water through funnels. Staff choose timely moments to extend children's learning and stimulate their thinking. For example, as children roll vehicles down a ramp, staff ask them to predict what will happen if they place the ramp at a lower level. Staff complete detailed observations of children. They take note of their levels of involvement during tasks, as well as children's preferred learning styles. This precision helps staff devise challenging yet achievable next steps.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff provide clear boundaries for children and use a range of ways to promote their good behaviour. For instance, they show children how to use a timer to help them share resources and take turns with their friends. Children know that when staff bang cymbals together, this indicates tidy-up time. Children enjoy taking on the responsibility of small tasks. For example, as the nominated snack monitor, they help to prepare the food, pour out children's drinks and inform other children that snack is available. Staff make good use of the local facilities, enabling children to share their experiences and learn more about the community. For instance, children enjoy trips to the indoor market to purchase multicultural resources and regularly visit the library.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children, including those whose starting points are below expectation for their age, make good progress. They develop a positive attitude to learning and follow instructions well. Children's early mathematics and literacy skills are developing well. They count numbers in sequence, learn how letters sound, and experiment with words that rhyme. These are just some of the key skills that children gain in preparation for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 105261 Local authority Luton Inspection number 1087602 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 - 8 Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 104 Name of registered person The Mall Nursery and Creche Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 February 2014 Telephone number 01582 458545

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reference number

The Mall Nursery and Creche registered in 1998 and is located in Luton. It is managed by a parent committee. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including four staff with a qualification at level 6 and three staff who hold qualified teacher status. The nursery is open each weekday from 8am until 5.30pm, for 51 weeks of the year. Saturday sessions are also available from 9am until 4.30pm. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The nursery provides funded early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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