The Apple Tree Nursery School

The Apple Tree Nursery School 373 Scraptoft Lane, Scraptoft, LEICESTER, LE7 9SE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 July 2017 8 November 2016

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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

 The manager and staff have made significant improvements since the last inspection. The manager supports staff in providing consistently good-quality teaching throughout the nursery. Staff are deployed appropriately to maintain adult-to-child ratios.  The manager has measures in place to ensure confidentiality is maintained. She implements risk assessments and routine checks to minimise hazards and to maintain a safe environment for children.  The manager supports her staff well through supervision and staff meetings. Professional development for staff is encouraged. Recent training has helped staff to improve opportunities for children to develop their communication and language skills and oral health.  Children develop positive relationships with staff. Babies hide in boxes and giggle when they and hear staff say 'peek-a-boo'. One-year-old children seek out staff for tickles and cuddles. Children demonstrate that they are emotionally secure.

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This provision is good

 Children are confident to explore and move from room to room within the nursery easily. Staff take them for visits and information is shared to ensure consistency.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not fully gather sufficiently detailed information from parents about children's abilities when they first start.  The manager has not yet implemented a system to monitor the progress that different groups of children are making.

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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

 gather more-detailed information from parents about what children know and can do when they first start  monitor the progress of different groups of children to help all children make as much progress as possible.

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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 provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager works well in partnership with schools that children move on to. She invites teachers to visit the nursery to see the children and to talk to staff about children's learning to support a consistent approach. Staff share information with parents about their child's learning through daily diaries, discussions and meetings. This helps parents to know their children's levels of learning and how they can continue to support their good progress at home. Staff complete the progress check for children between the ages of two and three years and share this with parents. Safeguarding is effective. Staff attend child protection training and know where to share any concerns about children's safety. Recruitment procedures are robust and the necessary suitability checks are undertaken. The manager continually reflects on practice and gathers feedback from parents, staff and children to inform improvements.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know the children well and use observations and assessments to identify what children need to learn next. The manager supports her staff well to maintain children's good progress. Staff plan activities around children's interests which help to keep them motivated to learn. They help children to develop their communication and language skills. For example, they use simple words and phrases with younger children and help them to develop good listening skills. Staff talk to children about the date and day of the week and show them this in a written format. This helps children to develop an awareness that print carries meaning. Staff encourage two- and three-year-olds to explore water outside. They provide children with tools and resources to pour and measure. Staff introduce mathematical language, such as 'full' and 'empty'. This helps children to develop their knowledge and measure. Staff encourage older children to make predictions when they

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

mix different coloured paint together. Children develop their early writing skills when they use paint, brushes and their fingers to make marks.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff ensure that children receive daily exercise. Outside, children balance on wooden planks to help develop their balance and coordination. They ask staff to join them to share their experiences, demonstrating good social skills. Children behave well. Staff give children praise for their achievements and listen to them. This helps to raise their self- esteem. Staff provide opportunities for children to learn about their local community. For example, they take children to the local shops and museum.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are independent and confidently explore the environment indoors and outdoors. They enjoy sharing their knowledge and experiences with staff. Children learn key skills in readiness for their move on to school. Children recognise shapes and match these to shapes they see in the environment, such as the square window pane. They confidently talk about seeing a star shape in the sky. Children make good progress in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY393094 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 1078392 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 - 5 Total number of places 42 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person The Apple Tree Leicester Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 November 2016 Telephone number 0116 2413351

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reference number

The Apple Tree Nursery School registered in 2009. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications level 3, one at level 4 and one at level 5. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. 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

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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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