Albert House Day Nursery

Albert House Day Nursery Albert House, 192 Manor Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 2JD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31 May 2017 31 March 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 work with teachers from the local school to develop their teaching skills. For example, they are developing their knowledge of teaching to help children to link letters and sounds.  The provider and manager continually develop the nursery. They have extended learning for those children who prefer to learn outside. For instance, including equipment for children to be imaginative and understand how to care for living things.  The provider is constantly improving resources and each room is highly stimulating for children. The learning environments are of a high standard.  Staff quickly identify children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. They work effectively with other professionals to support these children to help them close gaps in their learning swiftly over time.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The manager's evaluation of staff practice is not yet effective enough to help raise the quality of their teaching to the highest possible level.  When children move rooms, or change key persons, new key persons do not fully consider the information about children's prior learning in their planning. Sometimes, activities are not highly challenging for all children.  Staff do not encourage parents to share information about children's knowledge and skills from home when they first start to help them plan effectively from the start.

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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

 build on the evaluation of staff practice to help tackle any minor variations in the quality of their teaching to help raise to a consistently high standard  strengthen the arrangements for when children change rooms or key person, to help new key persons plan highly challenging activities that reflects children's learning styles  encourage parents to share more-detailed information about children's capabilities when they first start and use this information to better inform planning from the outset.

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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.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and spoke to the provider. He looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Managers and staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures, including how to report concerns about the welfare of children. Managers vet staff before they start working at the nursery to help check their suitability. Managers encourage staff training, which has a positive impact on their teaching. For example, staff in the baby room have recently attended a course about babies. They have used the knowledge gained from the course to enhance the range of sensory activities for babies. They have also changed the key-person system to help ensure where possible they carry out their own key children's care routines, such as nappy changing.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff's ongoing assessment of children are good. They provide innovative activities that build on children's interests. In pre-school, staff support children to develop their physical skills. For example, children use mops and water to make marks on the floor outside. They also use water sprayers and learn how to squeeze the mechanism together to make water come out. Staff teach children mathematical concepts, such as size, weight and quantity. Children compare different size sticks, weigh different quantities of sticks and predict how many sticks they have before counting them. Staff's interaction is good. They regularly talk to children, ask them questions and give them time to respond.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff take the time to talk to parents about their children. Together, they promote good continuity for children between home and nursery. Staff support children's independence and promote their healthy lifestyles in different ways. For example, children wash their hands before snacks, serve themselves lunch and talk about different vegetables and how they grow. Children's behaviour is good. Staff encourage children of all ages to share popular toys, particularly babies. Children are independent and have high levels of confidence. For instance, pre-school children put on their shoes and babies come into nursery, say hello to their friends and staff, and quickly start playing with others.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress and learn some of the skills they need for school or the next stage in learning. Toddlers learn early writing skills. For example, outside they grasp chalks and make marks on an easel. They are keen learners and enjoy mixing sand using different tools, and chasing after bubbles. Babies develop good communication and language skills. For instance, they listen to different words that staff repeat from books and make noises. Babies also make sounds using instruments. Pre-school children have a keen interest in books and concentrate as they sit and listen to stories. Children who the nursery receives additional funding for are developing good physical and creativity skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 511401 Local authority Stoke on Trent Inspection number 1091194 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 42 Number of children on roll 55 Name of registered person Lisa Michelle Rigby

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 31 March 2015 Telephone number 01782 844377

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reference number

Albert House Day Nursery registered in 1999. It is located in the Fenton area of Stoke-on- Trent. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 2, 3 or 5. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am until 5.45pm. The nursery receives funding to provide free 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

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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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