Country Mice Nursery

Country Mice Nursery Station Road, Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 8DA

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 May 2017 9 June 2015

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Children are prepared well for school. For example, staff take children on a weekly visit to the school hall to practise physical education. Children develop good independence.  Children practise their early writing skills in a number of ways, for example, younger children make marks in sand and older children use white boards to practise writing their names. Children are confident and keen to learn.  The manager considers the views of parents, staff and children when evaluating her setting and seeks their views to develop it further. For example, parents asked for a better outside area which the manager and staff have now developed.  The manager and staff support the children's well-being effectively. For example, staff praise them, building on their developing self-esteem.  The manager effectively keeps staff up to date with new legislation and practice ideas.  The manager's good settling in procedures and comprehensive information about

p.1

This provision is good

children enable staff to plan for the children's progress right from the start.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 The manager and staff do not consistently make the best use of daily routines to challenge and extend children's learning further.  The manager and staff do not provide the best possible opportunities to extend children's knowledge of technological equipment to understand how some things work for a purpose.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 strengthen opportunities during daily routines to extend children's development and learning further  enhance ways to encourage children to explore technology and learn how some things work for a purpose.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed the premises and sampled some documentation.  The inspector observed the manager and staff interacting with children.  The inspector interviewed the manager and carried out a joint observation of an activity.  The inspector spoke to children and viewed their activities.  The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager and staff know what to do if they have a concern about children's welfare and who to contact. Safeguarding is effective. The manager monitors and tracks all children's progress well, including those who have special educational needs. The manager supports staff effectively. She identifies any development needs and provides staff with the appropriate support. For instance, after attending training, staff are more aware of how children learn and plan activities that interest and motivate them. The manager and staff have good partnerships with other agencies, parents and other settings children attend. For example, staff work well with parents and share information, such as letter of the week, to continue children's learning at home.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children learn to explore the natural world. For example, children learn about chicks and how they hatch though the use of an incubator. Older children learn how eggs are scanned to see if a membrane has attached to the shell and a chick is developing. Staff effectively plan activities for children of all abilities. For example, during story time, staff used exaggerated tones and funny voices to make the story exciting for younger children and introduce rhyming words, such as pup and cup to older children. Staff skilfully develop children's mathematical knowledge. Younger children recognise shapes and older children do simple additions. Children are prepared well for their future learning. For example, staff research what happens at school and discuss what will be expected. For instance, children learn good sitting and good listening, just like they will at big school.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The manager and staff act as positive role models. Children's behaviour is good. They learn to share, take turns and play cooperatively. For example, children work together to build a marble run. Staff support children's knowledge of personal safety well. For instance, when preparing fruit skewers, they know to hold the sharp end away from them. Children prepare their own fruit and know to cut grapes in half so that they are not a choking hazard. They learn about healthy eating. For example, staff discuss how milk has calcium in it which helps develop strong teeth and bones.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children learn good communication and language skills. For instance, older children learn to link letters and their sounds and younger children repeat words back. Children's physical skills develop well, for example, through visits to the cows in a field and the nursery's allotment. Children develop good social skills through a range of experiences, including outings in the community. For instance, when they visit the local shop and toddler group. Children begin to learn mathematical language, such as more and bigger.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 113450 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 1089104 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 2 - 4 Total number of places 22 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person Cowfold Pre-School Playgroup Committee

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 9 June 2015 Telephone number 01403 864011

p.4

reference number

Country Mice Nursery registered in 1992. The nursery is located adjacent to St Peter's Primary School in Cowfold near Horsham, West Sussex. The nursery operates Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 5.30pm during term time only. The provider receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are seven staff and of these, six hold an appropriate early years qualification. This includes the learning lead who has qualified teacher status and the manager who holds a relevant early years degree.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

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

p.5