Plume Avenue Nursery

Plume Avenue Nursery United Reformed Church, Plume Avenue, COLCHESTER, CO3 4PQ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 October 2017 7 January 2015

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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3

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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

 Staff do not ensure that their interactions with children are of a consistently good quality. They do not ensure that all children are sufficiently challenged or motivated to play and learn. In addition, staff often do not support younger children to engage in activities well enough.  Staff do not use their observations of children effectively. They do not evaluate what they observe to identify and plan for the next steps in children's learning.  Staff do not check children's progress precisely. They do not have high enough expectations of what children can do to ensure they are making good, or better, progress across all areas of learning.

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It has the following strengths

 The management team uses self-evaluation to identify the strengths of the nursery and areas for improvement. There is an achievable action plan in place, designed to bring about improvement to the quality of the provision.  Partnerships with parents are well established. Parents are kept well informed about how well their children are learning and developing and are given ideas about how to support their children's learning at home.  Children are happy and settled. Most children separate readily from their main carer. Those who do not are sensitively comforted and supported by their key person. Staff show genuine care and concern for the children.

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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 staff skills and teaching to ensure that children receive consistently good quality learning and development experiences 05/01/2018

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Due Date

 improve how observations of children's play and learning are evaluated to enable staff to plan a suitably challenging experience for each child, that helps them make at least good progress across all areas of learning 05/01/2018

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Due Date

 assess individual children's learning and development precisely to identify gaps in their attainment to ensure that they are making progress across all areas of learning. 05/01/2018

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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 at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation and held a meeting with the nursery co- manager.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. She also discussed activity planning, children's learning and looked at a selection of policies and other records.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

There are weaknesses in the quality of teaching and learning. However, there is a programme of regular supervision meetings to support staff's professional development and tackle underperformance. In addition, daily meetings take place before the nursery opens each day, giving staff opportunities to discuss concerns and issues. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a good awareness of the signs and symptoms of abuse and know how to report concerns. This helps to underpin staff's commitment to protecting children at all times. Most staff have completed training to ensure that they are aware of their duty to prevent children being drawn into situations that put them at significant risk of harm. Staff establish good relationships with parents to promote an effective two way flow of information. Parents describe staff as friendly, caring and approachable. They feel confident to be able to discuss any concerns.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff do not use information gained from their observations of individual children's learning effectively. Instead, they use published guidance of the development stages of children as a checklist. Once staff observe that children have achieved a development statement they move on to the next one. The quality of interactions between children and staff does not always encourage children to be motivated to play and learn. Often, staff do not have high enough expectations of what children can achieve. They do not adapt or extend activities well enough to ensure all children are fully engaged in purposeful play. Although teaching is variable, some aspects are good. Staff do talk confidently about their key children and know their likes, dislikes and interests. Staff encourage children to join in singing songs and rhymes. They provide children with opportunities to make marks and practise early writing skills. Children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Each child has a named adult who takes responsibility for their care and learning needs. The key persons build friendly and trusting relationships with parents and children, helping children to develop close emotional bonds with staff. Children play well together. They initiate interactions with each other and follow the consistent ground rules. Staff manage children's behaviour well. They are calm and gentle as they remind children of the need to share and take turns. Children manage their self-care needs relevant to their age and level of understanding. They enjoy developing their physical skills in the garden.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Weaknesses in teaching and learning mean that children are not making the best progress possible. Despite this, children do develop the basic skills needed to be ready for school. They learn to manage their personal hygiene needs, relevant to their age and level of understanding. Children are able to choose what they want to play with, giving them opportunity to lead their own play and learning. Older children understand that print carries meaning and are beginning to write their own first name.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 404856 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1091027 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 64 Number of children on roll 71 Name of registered person Jean Patricia Catley

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 7 January 2015 Telephone number 01206 579 458

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reference number

Plume Avenue Nursery registered in 1971. The nursery employs 26 members of childcare staff, 23 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. It opens from Monday to Friday, from 9am until 3.30pm, during school term time, except for Mondays when the nursery closes at 1pm. Children attend for a variety of sessions. 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

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

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