Pastures Way Nursery School

Pastures Way Nursery School Pastures Way, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU4 0PE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 September 2017 17 February 2015

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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

 Leadership and management is strong. Governors and the Head Teacher have a thorough understanding of their responsibilities and ensure that all requirements are met. Children are safe and well cared for.  Teaching is good. Staff are enthusiastic, engage well with children and understand their learning needs and children make good progress from their starting points.  The Head Teacher has a strong overview of strengths of the nursery and of areas for improvement. Targeted action taken to improve staff performance has been effective and resulted in improvements in teaching quality.  Safeguarding is effective. Staff are vigilant about children's safety and act upon any concerns they have to promote children's wellbeing at all times.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally staff do not recognise that children have tired of activities and do not always time activities in line with young children's concentration skills.  Staff do not always recognise when children are achieving a specific part of an area of learning, for example, not recognising when children are developing skills to use different types of technology.

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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 develop the confidence of staff when working with small groups so that they respond better to individual children's concentration levels  continue to develop staffs’ understanding and skills to more accurately assess children's knowledge and ability to use different types of technology

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Inspection activities

 This inspection focussed on children aged two years and under in the nursery.  The inspector conducted a joint observation of an activity with the family worker at the nursery.  The inspector observed a range of activities throughout the baby room and the room for children aged up to three years old, including a forest school session in the nursery garden.  The inspector reviewed a range of documentation that supports the smooth running of the setting, including the school improvement plan, evidence of staff suitability checks, children's assessment information and policies for child protection and managing behaviour.  The inspector spoke to parents to gather their views about the quality of the nursery.  The inspector spoke to the Head Teacher and other senior leaders including members of the governing board.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff and leaders are vigilant about children's safety and follow local safeguarding procedures. Leaders monitor any emerging concerns to ensure that referrals are made in a timely manner and children are protected. Leaders and managers are very reflective. The Head Teacher has implemented a range of changes based on thorough analysis of the strengths and areas for improvement in the nursery. These continue to improve staff practice, children's safety, and the quality of teaching across the nursery. The Head Teacher and her team monitor the quality of teaching and assessment practice to ensure that teaching meets children's individual needs. Staff have many development opportunities. Leaders support staff and action taken to improve teaching has been effective. Procedures for the recruitment of suitable staff are thorough. All persons working in the nursery have been through rigorous suitability checks

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Teaching across the nursery is strong. Staff provide interesting activities that encourage children to become focussed in their play. For example, children play 'vets' tending to animals and bandaging their wounds. A staff member recently trained in Forest School practice, leads lively, imaginative outdoor activities. These enthuse children as they learn about the world around them, exploring textures, sounds and build animal habitats. Staff ignite children's curiosity when exploring items in a bag or basket. Children eagerly join in story, rhyme and singing sessions that develop their confident speaking and listening skills. Assessments are accurate overall. However, staff do not always recognise when children are accessing different types of technology so do not track this area of learning as accurately as all others. Baby room staff create play opportunities that are language rich, modelling and repeating speech to support babies’ emerging speaking and listening skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

From the earliest stage of children's time in the nursery they are well settled in the nurturing environment. Indoor and outdoor areas are imaginatively resourced. Children enjoy plenty of time in the fresh air. The key person system is particularly effective. Children eagerly greet their key person and regularly seek cuddles if they need reassurance. Babies are held warmly and allowed to sleep and rest according to their needs to support links between home and nursery. Children enjoy a wide range of nutritious foods that support their good health.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress from their starting points, achieving at least expected development for their age. Personal, social and emotional development is strong. Children are independent, motivated learners who are well prepared for the next stage in learning. Resources and activities to encourage early and pre-writing skills ensure all children make better progress in their literacy skills than at the last inspection. Babies learn to sign, using gesture and babbling to successfully express their needs and wants.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY280683 Local authority Luton Inspection number 1110976 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 117 Number of children on roll 200 Name of registered person Pastures Way Nursery School Governing Body

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 February 2015 Telephone number 01582 600691

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reference number

Pastures Way Nursery School and Children's Centre was registered in 2004. The nursery provides care for children under the age of three and offers wrap-around care for children attending the onsite local authority nursery. Parents of children aged three- to five-years old also have the option to purchase additional hours alongside their funded entitlement. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, and eight hold qualifications at level 3 or above, including one staff member who holds Qualified Teacher Status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for four weeks holiday. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-year-old children. It has close links with the onsite local authority nursery and children's centre.

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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

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