Meadgate Nursery

Meadgate Nursery C/o Meadgate Primary School, Mascalls Way, Chelmsford, CM2 7NS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 November 2017 Not applicable

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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

 Staff build good partnerships with parents and encourage their involvement in children's learning. They carry out early assessments of children's development with parents including the required progress check for children aged between two and three years.  Children make good progress in their learning and development. Staff understand how children learn and provide interesting and challenging activities and experiences that motivate them to learn and stimulate their curiosity.  Children behave well. Staff set clear and consistent boundaries for children's behaviour and this helps them to feel safe and secure. Parents say that their children enjoy their time in the nursery and are eager to attend.  Staff observe children closely and accurately identify any delays in their learning. They work with individual children's parents to secure effective interventions to ensure that gaps in their learning close quickly.

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This provision is good

 Leaders and staff evaluate the effectiveness of activities and teaching. They seek the views of parents and set targets for continuous improvement.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff training is not extensive or focused enough to continually sharpen and develop their knowledge and skills to the highest level.  Resources, activities and experiences that promote understanding of the world are not robust enough to help children gain a sound appreciation of people, families and communities beyond their immediate experience.

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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

 develop a stronger and more focused programme for staff's professional development to extend and sharpen their skills and knowledge further  improve, increase and strengthen activities, experiences and resources that promote a deeper understanding of the world to help children gain a sound appreciation of people, families and communities that are different from their own.

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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 a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and spoke to staff and children.  The inspector took account of the views of parents by speaking with some of them during the inspection.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as the suitability and qualifications of staff, risk assessments, children's records, policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. All staff receive regular training in safeguarding and child protection. This provides them with the knowledge and understanding they need to effectively protect the children in their care. Policies are regularly reviewed and procedures implemented. Staff have a secure understanding of their responsibilities and they know how to record and report concerns. Procedures for staff recruitment follow safe practice, references are sought and the suitability of all adults in contact with children is checked. Leaders and staff successfully monitor the progress of specific groups of children to identify and reduce any gaps in teaching and resources. Children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities are especially well supported and receive individual attention and care.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff support children's growing communication and language skills well and they are making good progress. This includes children who are learning to speak English as an additional language. Children receive lots of individual interaction to help extend their learning as they play. For example, staff use symbols, visual resources and sign language to stimulate conversation. Children practise their listening and speaking skills as they play, for example, with dinosaurs. Staff provide new words to extend children's emerging vocabulary, such as 'Tyrannosaurus' and they clap to sound out each syllable. Staff regularly observe and assess individual children's development. They accurately identify the next steps in children's learning and patiently support and praise their achievements.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are kind and caring. Children show their enjoyment and delight in their activities with smiles and squeals of pleasure. They relish the sensory activities provided, such as mixing cornflour and water. Staff teach them how to pour the cornflour and water and how to mix them together. Children immerse their hands in the mixture letting it trickle through their fingers. Staff ask children whether their mixture is hard or soft, thick or thin, thus teaching them mathematical language. Children are independent. They tidy their toys and clear the table after lunch. Staff develop children's sense of achievement and raise their self-esteem, such as when rewarding them with stickers. Staff teach children about foods that are good for their health and they grow vegetables to cook and eat. Children enjoy physical activities outdoors and play exciting chasing games with staff.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children learn good skills in readiness for school. They hang up their coats and recognise their names on coat pegs. They make friends and sit together reading books. Children use their imaginations in dressing up and role play. They learn to recite the days of the week and the months of the year. Children learn about letter sounds and numbers and they count in sequence. They use a variety of tools to make marks and develop hand control in readiness for early writing.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY499618 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1117583 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 36 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person Meadgate Pre-School And Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07759558730

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reference number

Meadgate Nursery registered in 2016 and is run by a limited company. There are six members of staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, one at level 2 and the manager holds qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, from 8.50am until 11.50am and midday until 3pm, during school term times. The nursery also operates a breakfast and after-school club from 7.30am until 8.50am and 3pm until 5.30pm. 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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