Old Macdonald's Day Nursery

Old Macdonald's Day Nursery Darley Ash Farm, Chipperfield Road, Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP3 0JW

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 June 2017 1 September 2016

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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

 The well-qualified team of staff and the ambitious manager have successfully addressed the action raised at the previous inspection. For example, robust measures are now in place to record and monitor children's attendance throughout the day.  Children and their families form warm and caring bonds with their key person. For example, key persons visit children in their own homes prior to attending the nursery. Children also build strong family bonds and secure relationships with each other. The open arrangement of some rooms enables children to play together and staff organise dedicated time for siblings to regularly visit each other.  Staff plan a wealth of stimulating and challenging learning activities that reflects children's interests. For example, babies have a wonderful time using all of their senses to explore play foam. Older children are excited to visit the local farm to listen for sounds. They make suggestions of words that rhyme with the sounds that they hear.

p.1

This provision is good

 Visits within the local community enhance children's awareness of the wider world.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 The newly introduced arrangement for monitoring groups of children's progress is not yet highly effective in precisely identifying their ongoing development in learning.  Staff working with the younger children do not make the best possible use of the stimulating outdoor space to support those who prefer to learn in this environment and promote their good health.

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

 refine the new arrangement in place so that the ongoing progress of groups of children is more precisely monitored  extend opportunities for younger children to access the outdoor space.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspectors observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspectors spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspectors completed joint observations with the manager and reviewed how the nursery reflects upon the service it offers.  The inspectors held a meeting with the manager and the provider. They looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspectors spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are very aware of the procedures for identifying and responding to any concerns about a child's welfare. The manager regularly monitors staff through frequent observations of their practise and supervision meetings. Staff attend a wide range of training courses to continually enhance the quality of their teaching. They demonstrate that they are happy in their roles and have high expectations of themselves. The whole staff team is reflective and regularly evaluates the provision it offers. Parents speak very highly of the nursery. They regard staff as an extension of their own family and appreciate the ideas to extend their children's learning at home.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

All children are motivated and inquisitive learners in this welcoming nursery. Babies giggle with delight as they notice their reflection in the mirror. They discover how to create more bubbles by splashing in the water and develop good control and coordination of their hands as they use small nets to scoop up toy animals. Younger children use their vivid imagination and pretend that a plastic plate is a steering wheel as they join in with the words and actions to a familiar song. Older children are excited to use the telescopes they have previously made to search for treasure hidden in the garden. All staff skilfully promote children's communication and language skills. For example, staff introduce babies and younger children to new descriptive words, such as sparkly and shiny. Older children use complex sentences to describe their actions as they work out how to use a hand-held juicer to squeeze the juice from oranges, lemons and limes.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children positively benefit from staff being very good role models. They behave well and use good manners. All children are confident and relish in the responsibility to carry out age-appropriate tasks. They receive clear messages about the importance of a healthy diet. Older children gain a good awareness of how to keep themselves and others safe. For example, they help staff to complete the daily risk assessments. Children develop good physical skills. For example, older children pedal tricycles and climb on large apparatus in the garden. Babies develop strength in their legs in preparation for walking.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in relation to their starting points. For example, younger children learn to serve themselves healthy meals and are able to manage their own outer clothing. Older children solve mathematical problems, link letters to sounds and understand how stories are sequenced. They gain the necessary skills needed to help prepare them for their future learning at school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 129381 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1074288 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 74 Number of children on roll 147 Name of registered person Old Macdonald's Day Nursery Ltd

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 1 September 2016 Telephone number 01442 834118

p.4

reference number

Old MacDonald's Day Nursery registered in 1998. The nursery employs 34 members of childcare staff. Of these, 25 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above, including one who holds early years professional status. The nursery opens from 7.30am until 7pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. It provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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