The Heathers Nursery

The Heathers Nursery Bracken Avenue, Norwich, Norfolk, NR6 6LS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 December 2017 24 January 2017

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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

 Since the last inspection, the manager and her team have worked hard to raise the quality of teaching to a good level. They regularly review the quality of the nursery and think of new ideas to continue to improve outcomes for children.  Parents are involved well in children's learning. Staff talk regularly to parents to find out what children are interested in. They use this information to plan activities that help children achieve their next steps in learning.  Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress in their learning. They learn important skills to help them to be ready for starting school.  Parents report that their children settle well when they start at the nursery. They appreciate the opportunity to spend time in the nursery with their child before they start attending. This helps them to get used to the new environment.  Staff speak passionately about the training they attend to help them teach

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This provision is good

mathematics. They use their newly acquired knowledge to provide imaginative and fun ways for children to learn how to count, identify numbers and compare quantities.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Some staff miss opportunities to encourage children to try to do things for themselves.  The teaching of early reading skills is not consistently of the highest quality, to help children further develop their awareness of rhyme, rhythm and hear sounds in words.

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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

 make the most of opportunities to encourage children to try to do things for themselves  provide more rich and varied experiences to help children develop their early reading skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the two nursery rooms and the outdoor area. She assessed the impact activities have on children's learning.  The inspector spoke to children and staff during the inspection to obtain their views.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documents, including the nursery's self-evaluation form and evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager has worked well, with support from the local authority, to address the actions raised at the last inspection. For example, staff visited another setting to find out how to improve the quality of staff supervision. From this, they developed their own agenda for supervision meetings which focuses on developing staff skills and improving outcomes for children. Good levels of support are put in place for staff to improve their planning and assessment of children's learning. For example, where needed, staff receive mentoring from senior staff. The manager checks how groups of children are progressing to identify where children may require extra support. Safeguarding is effective. Staff are able to identify signs that may indicate that children are at risk from harm. They understand the procedures to report their concerns to the relevant authorities.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff make regular and precise observations of children's learning. They consider what children need to learn next and use this information to plan activities that children enjoy. The manager has put an effective system in place to ensure that staff carry out the required progress check for children aged between two and three years. Staff interact and play with children well, helping them to develop their knowledge. They add comments and ask questions to help extend children's understanding. When children weigh small toy teddies, staff encourage them to use words, such as 'more' and 'heavy' to help them to compare quantities. Staff help children to learn about the world. For example, on a very cold day, they provide ice cubes outdoors for children to explore and investigate. Staff have recently introduced parent consultations, where they talk to parents in more detail about their child's development and provide ideas to help them support their child's

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children show that they are happy and settled in the nursery. Staff are quick to offer a cuddle for children if they become upset or worried. Children have lots of opportunities for fresh air and outdoor play. They develop their physical skills through yoga sessions where they learn to balance and stretch. At snack time, children enjoy a range of fruit and vegetables. Staff encourage children to say 'please' and 'thank you', and praise them for their good manners. Children behave well at the nursery. Staff gently encourage children to follow the rules and explain why these are important.

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Outcomes for children are good

Outcomes for children are good. Children learn to say new words and speak in sentences. They use number names as they count the amount of objects. Children make choices about what they want to play with and what they would like to eat. They learn how to follow rules and the routines of the day. Staff identify children who are entitled to additional funding and use this well to close gaps in learning. For example, they use their assessments to identify areas where children are working below age expectations. Staff then use funding to provide additional experiences to help children catch up.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 257937 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 1084064 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 49 Name of registered person The Heathers Nursery Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 January 2017 Telephone number 01603 485371

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reference number

The Heathers Nursery registered in 1996. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff, an administrator and a cleaner. Eight members of staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and two hold qualifications at level 2. Sessions are from 8.45am until 11.45am and from midday until 3pm, during term time. The nursery runs a lunch club from 11.45am until midday. A breakfast and after-school club are also available from 8am until 8.45am, and from 3pm until 4pm. 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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