Puddleduck Nursery School

Puddleduck Nursery School Puddleduck Nursery School, Woodlands Park, Bedford Road, Clapham, Bedfordshire, MK41 6EJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 December 2017 19 August 2013

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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 consistently make accurate assessments of children’s starting points. On occasion, they cannot demonstrate that they are aware of what children’s starting points are. This means they cannot reliably monitor the progress that children make.  Sometimes, staff make inaccurate assessments of children’s development. The next steps they identify are not consistently accurate, or well matched to children’s individual stage of learning.  The provider does not effectively evaluate the nursery practice. At times, progress for improvement is slow, and they do not swiftly identify and address areas of weakness.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff are kind, gentle and caring towards children. Children form close relationships with the staff who care for them. The effective key-person approach helps to ensure that staff meet children’s care needs well.  Young children benefit from sensory play. They explore ice, sand and mud. Children enjoy feeling the different textures as they touch, feel and squeeze the materials in their hands. This helps them to learn about the world around them.  Staff build effective relationships with other professionals. For example, children visit the neighbouring school to help them become familiar with staff and prepare them for moving on in their learning.

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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 ways of observing and assessing children's learning, to clearly identify their starting points and development over time 31/01/2018

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Due Date

 ensure that children's next steps in learning are relevant and suited to their individual age and stage of development, to support their progress. 31/01/2018

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 improve evaluations of the nursery, to identify and swiftly tackle weaker areas of practice.

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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 completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to children and 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

The provider, manager and staff all display an understanding of child protection issues. Staff complete relevant, regular training and are aware of the work of the Local Safeguarding Children Board. Arrangements for safeguarding children are effective. Staff work closely with parents. They share regular information, photographs and videos of children. Parents say they feel included in children's learning. The manager effectively supervises the work of staff. Although the manager completes some evaluations of the nursery, improvements are sometimes slow. For example, the outdoor area for babies does not mirror the good opportunities available for older children. Furthermore, the provider does not review new ways of working, which weakens staff practice.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff sing with children. They model language and recognise if children's speech is slower to develop. Staff spend time talking with children and helping them to hear and use language as they play. However, staff are overly concerned with seeing children repeat aspects of learning, before determining they are making progress. Consequently, they do not swiftly move children forward. The next steps they generate using a computer programme do not consistently match children's abilities. Staff know the children they care for and recognise that, at times, their assessments are inaccurate. This undermines their confidence, so they do not feel secure to use their own knowledge to address this. Despite these weaknesses, children enjoy their activities at the nursery.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Older children benefit from stimulating activities outdoors. They dress in waterproof suits and explore the garden in all weathers, helping to promote their good health. Children balance on tree stumps and tyres, testing out their physical skills and experiencing risk and challenge. They learn to care for local wildlife that live within the grounds of the nursery. For example, children enjoy feeding squirrels and pheasants, watching them intently through the window, fascinated by how they eat and move. Babies follow their own independent routines. They sleep when they are tired and eat nutritious meals.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

The weakness in observations and assessments and the lack of accurate starting points mean that it is not possible to determine how well children progress at the nursery. Despite this, pre-school children develop skills in readiness for starting school. The most able children learn about letter sounds and numbers as they increase in ability. Children know how old they are, and how old they will be on their next birthday. Older children talk about foods they like when skilfully making sandwiches for snack time. Babies appear to be content and they settle well at the nursery.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY346123 Local authority Bedford Borough Inspection number 1064953 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 51 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Rosedale Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 August 2013 Telephone number 01234 330957

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reference number

Puddleduck Nursery School registered in 2007. It is situated in Clapham and is managed by Rosedale Nursery Ltd. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff, nine of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am 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

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

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