Little Owls Nursery

Little Owls Nursery Century House, Well Lane, Danbury, Essex, CM3 4AB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 August 2017 17 September 2012

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The provider and nursery managers are very ambitious and strive for excellence. They continually reflect on all aspects of the provision. Ongoing development plans are informed by best practice and drive the quality of the nursery to the highest level.  Children and babies flourish and thrive in the nursery. They are remarkably confident and eager to join in with activities and discussions. They have very special bonds with their key persons and clearly enjoy their interactions with other staff.  Children make excellent progress from their starting points. Extremely effective systems are implemented to monitor the development of individuals and different groups of children. Management analyse data meticulously and expertly evaluate the effectiveness of teaching. Prompt action is taken to ensure that no child is left behind.  Children's health and physical well-being are given an extremely high priority. Children

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This provision is outstanding

and babies develop a love of the outdoors and recognise the benefits of fresh air and exercise. They particularly enjoy the wholesome, nutritious food they receive in the nursery.  Partnerships with parents are exceedingly strong. Staff provide a wealth of information to parents and support them with their children's learning, health and care needs.  Staff are admirable role models and instinctively promote equality at all times. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They share and take turns extremely well. They show kindness to one other and value each other's differences, opinions and ideas.  Staff morale is exceptionally high and they say they 'love their work'.

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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

 continue to implement the planned changes in the pre-school room and review the impact of this on maintaining the excellent practice and exemplary outcomes for children.

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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 carried out joint observations with the manager and viewed a sample of the children's development records.  The inspector held discussions with the manager, registered provider, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector reviewed evidence of the suitability and qualifications of the staff, self- evaluation, plans for improvement, health and safety records and a sample of policies in relation to safeguarding children.  The inspector took account of the views of parents from those spoken to on the day and from their written responses in emails and surveys organised by the nursery.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The nursery managers and the staff team have worked tirelessly to make improvements in the nursery. The indoor and outdoor areas have been totally refurbished to provide extremely imaginative experiences. Staff are well qualified. There is a proactive approach to professional development using a highly targeted programme of induction, mentoring, supervision and training. The manager is also proactive in sharing information to help other settings. Other professionals and the local schools praise staff for their quality of teaching that is worthy of dissemination to others. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are extremely vigilant about security. They are very knowledgeable about child protection issues and current legislation. They know what action to take if they have a concern about a child's welfare. Policies and procedures in relation to safe recruitment and maintaining health and safety are rigorously adhered to.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Teaching is inspirational. Staff captivate children's curiosity and imagination extremely effectively. Plenty of hands-on, purposeful activities are provided each day. Staff also use spontaneous events extremely well to extend children's learning. For example, a storm is used successfully to promote conversations and mathematical development. Children describe what they see and hear, such as singing songs they associate with the weather. They count the time between lightning and thunder, collecting and measuring the rainfall. Babies and toddlers really enjoy tactile experiences, experimenting with a wide variety of natural and messy materials. The manager and staff have identified plans to increase and review opportunities to extend play even further in the pre-school room, based on children's learning needs and interests.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children and babies are cared for tenderly and with great affection. They settle well and develop a very strong sense of belonging. Children take care of their environment and show an excellent understanding of how to manage risk and challenges relative to their age. Pupil premium funding is used extremely well and children's emotional well-being is especially well supported. Parents all agree that the nursery is 'brilliant' and gives an excellent start to their children's educational journey. They say they really appreciate the additional support staff provide when families are experiencing difficulties in their lives.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children and babies are highly independent and self-motivated. They have an incredibly strong willingness to try new things and become totally engrossed in their play, which sets them off to a flying start. Babies are very alert. They babble and sing in response to staff's interactions. Older children are extremely articulate and confident during their play and when interacting with staff and visitors. They competently link sounds to letters and can identify the initial letter sounds in words. The skills children are acquiring prepare them exceptionally well for the next stage in learning, including the transfer on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY297422 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1059687 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 - 4 Total number of places 108 Number of children on roll 142 Name of registered person Little Owls Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 September 2012 Telephone number 01245 221333

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reference number

Little Owls Nursery registered in 2005. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff. Of these, one member of staff holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 5, 13 staff hold a qualification at level 3, three staff hold a qualification at level 2. The manager holds early years professional status and the deputy holds qualified teacher status. The nursery also employs a chef, a kitchen assistant and two administrators. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7am until 6.30pm. 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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