Birch Farm Complex Day Care Nursery

Birch Farm Complex Day Care Nursery Birch Farm, Silver Hill, Hintlesham, IPSWICH, IP8 3NJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 June 2017 13 December 2016

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 There are some inconsistences in the quality of teaching in the pre-school and as a result children are not always encouraged to make the best progress in their learning and development.  A range of accessible, stimulating activities and resources are not provided in the barn, an area used by the pre-school children. Therefore, children lack engagement in their play and learning opportunities are minimised.

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It has the following strengths

 Since the last inspection, the management team has started to make effective improvements. Managers now hold regular supervision meetings to monitor staff practice and have started to identify their ongoing professional needs.  Staff are kind and attentive to the children’s needs. The key person system supports children, as a result, children settle well and are safe and secure.  Staff develop positive relationships with parents. They regularly update parents on their child’s achievements, progress and time spent at the nursery. They provide a range of detailed information to inform parents of different aspects of their child's development.  Staff have very effective systems in place to support children who have special educational needs or disabilities and for children who receive additional funding. They work closely with other agencies to support children's individual needs and provide targeted support which enables these children to make steady progress.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 improve the quality of teaching in the pre-school room to ensure all children are consistently engaged in purposeful, challenging activities 31/08/2017

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Due Date

 ensure challenging and enjoyable play experiences and resources are provided for and accessible to older children playing in the barn. 31/08/2017

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Inspection activities

 The inspectors spoke with members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held meetings with the nursery management.  The inspectors sampled various documents, including a range of policies and procedures and evidence of self-evaluation.  The inspectors observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and in the barn and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector engaged in a joint observation with the manager.  The inspectors considered the views of parents in discussions during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Since the last inspection the management team have worked hard to make changes to the nursery, they have worked closely with the local authority adviser and all staff are committed to continuous improvement. The deputy manager oversees the day to day operation of the baby and toddler rooms and ensures that these rooms are well resourced and managed by consistent staff. However, recent staff changes mean that those who now work in the pre-school do not have a robust understanding of how children learn and a broad range of stimulating activities is not always provided. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff are fully aware of their responsibility to protect children from harm. They are familiar with the procedures they should follow to report any concerns they may have. Staff monitor the physical environment to help them minimise any potential hazards.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Teaching in the pre-school room is not consistently good enough to challenge and skilfully question children's thinking. As a result, noise levels rise, older boys sometimes run around and staff supervise children rather than teach. Nevertheless, all children enjoy attending the nursery. Staff regularly complete observations and assessments of the children, and have a sound understanding of what they know, understand and can do. Babies and younger children are actively encouraged to imitate words and sounds, for example, to ‘meow’ like a cat. Staff share story books with children. Younger children point to illustrations and excitedly join in known phrases. Children eagerly explore using their senses. They scrunch shiny foil in their hands, wave colourful ribbons in the air and explore the shape, light and colour of the sensory blocks.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Staff create a welcoming environment. However, activities and resources provided in the barn do not always captivate older children’s interest or enable them to develop and extend their own play and ideas. Staff spend time getting to know the children and their families during effective settling-in periods. This eases transitions and supports continuity of care for children. Babies snuggle into staff for a cuddle and older children naturally seek support. Children are encouraged to share and take their turn. They are praised for their achievements, helping to develop their self-esteem. Children enjoy a healthy balanced range of foods, and meal times are successfully used to promote good table manners. They are beginning to learn about the diversity of the wider world and people from the local community visit the nursery. For example, fire officers and the local farmer.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Overall, children make steady progress in their learning and development. They count and differentiate between heavy and light objects. Children use scissors and concentrate as they thread beads. Additional funding to support individual children's progress is effectively used. However, older children do not always make the best possible progress towards the next stage of their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY458685 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 1099781 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 - 10 Total number of places 100 Number of children on roll 178 Name of registered person Birch Farm Complex Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 13 December 2016 Telephone number 01473652152

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reference number

Birch Farm Complex Day Care Nursery was registered in 2013. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including the owner who holds early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Opening times are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery also runs a holiday playscheme for children up to 10 years of age. 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

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

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