Homesteaders Day Nursery

Homesteaders Day Nursery The Homestead, Sudbury Road, Gestingthorpe, Halstead, Essex, CO9 3BL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 June 2017 10 February 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 provide a well resourced and stimulating environment. They present the toys and resources effectively to support children's free choice and independence. Children build their confidence as they explore for themselves.  Children have daily opportunities for exercise and fresh air in the spacious rural outdoor environment. This helps to promote their good health and supports their physical well- being. They have very good opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, they confidently pedal bikes, carefully manoeuvring around obstacles.  Children build secure emotional relationships with staff. They demonstrate that they feel confident and secure. Staff are responsive to children's needs and are good role models. Children learn to be polite and demonstrate good manners.  Overall, staff make accurate assessments of what children know and can do. They effectively use this information to provide activities that are matched to children's

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This provision is good

abilities. Children make good progress in their learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The provider's monitoring of staff practice is not yet rigorous enough to identify how the quality of teaching can be raised to the highest level.  The provider does not yet use assessment information to check on the progress of different groups of children, in order to target teaching even more effectively.  Staff do not consistently gather detailed information from parents about children's capabilities when they first 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

 evaluate staff practice even more precisely to pinpoint where to target further support and guidance in order to enhance their already good skills  embed monitoring practices so that information about the learning and progress being made by different groups of children is used to target teaching even more precisely  work more closely with parents when children first start at the nursery to gather more detailed information about what their children already know and do.

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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 deputy manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents and carers during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Staff make observations of children during their play. Overall, they communicate regularly with parents to share information about their children. Parents express their thoughts about the care and education provided for their children. They are very positive, stating that their children are always happy to attend and are making good progress. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a clear understanding of their role to protect children from harm. They are fully aware of what to do should they have concerns about children's welfare. Staff have thorough policies and procedures that are in line with current legislation and guidelines to support their good practice. Systems for self- evaluation are in place and used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the setting.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide a relaxed learning environment for children. They work very well together and get to know the children in their care well. Staff demonstrate a secure knowledge and understanding of how children learn. They interact purposefully as children play. Children have good opportunities to develop their speaking and listening skills and become confident communicators. Staff adapt their teaching skills to take account of individual children's needs. For example, they use strategies, such as speaking clearly, repeating words and modelling new vocabulary, to help children learn. Staff engage children in meaningful conversations and skilfully ask questions to build on what they already know. Children have time to process questions and solve problems for themselves. This contributes to the good progress they make.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are vigilant and carry out daily checks on the premises to ensure that all areas used by the children are safe and suitable. Children become more independent and responsible. They readily go to staff for support when necessary. Children make friends, build relationships and learn how to share and take turns. Staff praise children as they recognise their efforts and achievements. This helps to raise their confidence and self- esteem. Children follow good hygiene routines and experience sociable mealtimes. Staff effectively support children to adopt good table manners. Staff have well-established links with the local primary schools, and class teachers visit the children at the nursery. This helps to prepare children emotionally for their eventual move to school.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are motivated and keen to join in and are becoming effective learners. They enjoy looking at books with staff. Staff support children's mathematical understanding well. Children learn to count and recognise a range of shapes and colours. Children have many opportunities to develop their early writing skills. Staff place a high emphasis on children's personal development to ensure they are well prepared and acquire the skills they need for future learning and for school. All children make good progress in their learning given their starting points and capabilities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 650074 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1091227 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 10 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person Susan Aitken

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 February 2015 Telephone number 01787 460255

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reference number

Homesteaders Day Nursery registered in 1993. The nursery employs three members of childcare staff, two of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 50 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded 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

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 .

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reference number

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

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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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