Elestar Services Ltd T/A Flying Start Nursery

Elestar Services Ltd T/A Flying Start Nursery The Lodge, Cemetery Road, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4AZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 June 2017 12 June 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

 Children are secure and settled. Staff know them and their families well. Parents say it is like a 'home from home'. Children are inquisitive and confident. Staff support them well as they make new discoveries for themselves, for example, as they mix colours.  All children make good progress and are well prepared to start school. They develop a love of books, songs and rhyme, and cooperate well.  The manager works well to include staff to continually develop and improve the nursery. She ensures that staff use activities and resources well to interest children and meet their needs. The manager uses additional funding well to provide good support for eligible children.  Staff are skilled at following children's interests and ensure that activities develop and challenge them, for example, working out how to make wands out of the paper available.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 There are inconsistencies in the quality of observation and assessment by staff across the nursery, to accurately identify the next smaller steps in children's learning and communicate these to parents.  The manager does not check the progress of different groups of children as well as she could, to narrow any gaps in their achievement more promptly.

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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

 check that the quality of observation and assessment by all staff is consistently good, so that smaller steps in children's progress are accurately evaluated and communicated clearly to parents  strengthen the systems to regularly check the progress of different groups of children, to narrow any gaps in achievement promptly.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching indoors and outdoors and the impact it has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke to parents and took their views into account.  The inspector talked to staff and children throughout the inspection.  The inspector had a meeting with the manager and looked at a sample of documents, including children's assessment records, policies and procedures, and evidence of suitability of staff.  The inspector conducted a joint observation of teaching and learning with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff are vigilant. They quickly contact parents if a child does not attend and know who to notify if they have any child protection concerns. They work effectively with other agencies to support children and ensure that they make good progress with speech and language development. The manager ensures that staff develop their good teaching well through training. For example, staff share what they learn from other professionals so that teaching continues to improve consistently across the team. Staff encourage parents well to support their children's learning at home, for example, by providing books and puppets. Parents have access to an online system that allows them to check their children's good progress and see what their children achieve. Staff work closely with local schools to support and prepare children well for the move to school, for example, by organising visits to the school and teachers.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff ensure that they use resources that follow children's interests. For example, tents, picnic sets and barbeque toys were available, which children continued to enjoy as they developed imaginary adventures for themselves. Children chose from a wide range of resources, for example, using fabric to make cloaks, and investigating cause and effect with mechanical toys. Children worked well with each other to fit cogs together so that they turned each other. They remarked on the circular movements the cogs made. Staff question children sensitively to extend and challenge their understanding, for example, when finding out how many scoops of water will fill the bucket. Staff use their good knowledge of development to check children's progress accurately.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are considerate and learn to express their feelings confidently. There are very strong relationships between staff, children and parents, founded on high levels of mutual respect. Staff are good role models and children develop strong friendships. Staff make sure that children learn about healthy eating and the importance of drinking water when the weather is hot. Staff enable children to develop good independence, for example, by pouring their drinks and spreading cheese spread on bread themselves at snack time. Staff play alongside children, helping them to assess risk for themselves when using scissors or playing in the tent, for example.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children learn to concentrate and keep trying. They develop good creativity, and investigate and ask questions. Children explore rhythm, rhyme and counting. Those eligible for additional funding and any who have identified special educational needs and/or disabilities make good progress from their starting points, particularly in communication and confidence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY344682 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 1092923 Type of provision Sessional 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 31 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Elestar Services Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 June 2015 Telephone number 01747 824998

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reference number

Elestar Services Ltd T/A Flying Start Nursery opened in its present location in 1998 and registered under the current ownership in 2006. The nursery is one of two nurseries operated by Elestar Services Ltd and is situated in a converted house close to the centre of Gillingham, Dorset. The nursery is open each weekday from 8am until 3.30pm, for 50 weeks of the year. The nursery receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs six staff. Of these, one has early years professional status, one has a level 4 qualification, two have a level 3, one has a level 2 and one is unqualified.

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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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