Cockleshell Nursery

Cockleshell Nursery Southend Adult Community College, Ambleside Drive, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 2UP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 September 2017 12 April 2013

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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 new management team is highly ambitious. Action plans are targeted effectively to make specific improvements to benefit children's care and learning.  Staff provide an exciting variety of toys and resources for children and babies to choose from. Playrooms are well organised and children's independence is promoted well. Additional funding is used wisely to help children to make good progress.  Children and babies show they are happy and relaxed. Staff give children who are new to the nursery sensitive support and reassurance to help them to settle.  Staff are good role models and manage children's behaviour well. Children are polite, sociable, kind to each other and demonstrate good table manners.  Staff encourage parents to share information about their children's achievements. This helps them to plan activities linked to each child's current interests and abilities. Staff also provide ideas to help parents extend children's learning at home.

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This provision is good

 Parents speak very highly of the nursery. They make very positive comments about the friendly, approachable staff and about how their children enjoy learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The manager and deputy are not yet consistently monitoring to check that all staff make the best use of regular assessments and focus even more precisely on what children need to learn next, to help all children make even better progress.  Staff in the room for two-year-old children do not always make the most of every opportunity to build on children's early speaking skills, including some children who speak English as an additional language.

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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

 strengthen the monitoring of assessments and support all staff to consistently plan very precisely for children's individual next steps in learning and increase the potential for all children to make rapid progress  explore more ways to enhance children's early speaking skills to help raise the outcomes for two-year-old children, including those who speak English as an additional language, to an even higher level.

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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 deputy, and viewed a sample of children's development records.  The inspector held discussions with the nursery manager, area manager, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector reviewed evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff, action plans, health and safety records and a sample of the 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 surveys organised by the nursery.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Management and staff benefit from good training opportunities that build on the level of their qualifications. Regular supervision and staff meetings help staff to understand their responsibilities and continuously reflect on their practice. Any underperformance is swiftly tackled and addressed. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are well deployed to supervise children, indoors and outdoors. All staff have a secure knowledge of the steps to take if they have any concerns about children's safety and welfare. Staff have developed effective partnerships with local primary schools. Information in regards to children's learning and development is shared between the nursery and school staff to help ensure a positive move on to full-time education.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff understand how children learn and provide appealing activities that cover all areas of learning. They also understand that children have different learning styles and now plan more experiences to inspire children to experiment and investigate using their senses. Younger children become enthralled by the activities on offer. Older children become confident communicators and are eager to ask questions to find out more. Staff encourage children to use their imagination as they take part in exciting small world and role-play scenarios. Overall, staff assess children's progress effectively. They work successfully with parents and other professionals to ensure that additional support is provided to help close any gaps in children's learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are patient, kind and sensitive. Children develop friendships with each other and form genuine bonds with their key person. Babies' care needs are swiftly attended to. Nappy changing and toilet training are sensitively carried out to ensure children preserve their dignity. Babies sleep according to their own needs and awake happy and alert. Staff promote healthy lifestyles effectively. A variety of well-balanced snacks and meals is provided and there are daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise. Children have many opportunities to develop their independence and self-esteem. They are keen to help staff lay the table, tidy away toys and serve their own food and drinks. Children confidently talk about hazards and how to keep themselves safe. They know that they need to drink plenty of water when the weather is hot. They practise regular fire drills so they learn what to do in emergency situations.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are busy and motivated to learn new things. They are prepared well for the next stage in their learning, including starting school. Children listen well, concentrate and persevere in their chosen activities. They share toys amicably and they are sensitive to the needs of others. Children enjoy calculating when singing number rhymes and use mathematical language as they play with construction toys, games and puzzles. They learn to count in sequence and sort items by size, shape and colours.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY284617 Local authority Southend on Sea Inspection number 1064573 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 72 Number of children on roll 95 Name of registered person Pre-School Learning Alliance

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 April 2013 Telephone number 01702 614171

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reference number

Cockleshell Nursery registered in 2004 and is one of a large chain of nurseries run by the Pre-School Learning Alliance. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff. The manager holds early years teacher status, one member of staff holds a qualification at level 5, 12 staff hold a qualification at level 3 and one member of staff holds a qualification at level 2. The nursery also employs a cook, cleaner and an administrator. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year, excluding bank holidays and three staff training days. Opening times are from 7.30am 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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