The Willows Day Nursery

The Willows Day Nursery 1 Sovereign Way, Trafalgar Industrial Estate, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 9SW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 January 2018 5 April 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

 Management and staff have worked hard to address weaknesses identified at the last inspection, to ensure that children receive good-quality learning experiences. They have taken effective action to ensure that all staff have the skills and qualities required for their role. Children are grouped age appropriately and teaching is strong in all rooms.  Staff are provided with effective support to help them to improve their teaching skills. They receive regular feedback from management, including supervisory meetings with the manager, to help them to further develop their practice. The whole team is committed to maintaining sustained improvement for the benefit of children.  Staff interact well with children to help them to learn. They make accurate assessments of children's progress and carefully plan activities tailored to children's needs and interests. Children make good progress in readiness for school.

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This provision is good

 Staff develop warm and caring relationships with children who settle quickly. Children's emotional well-being is effectively supported and they learn to be kind, well-mannered and considerate to others. Parents speak highly of staff, the care and learning their children receive and the support that they are given to help children's learning at home.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Management have not fully considered how to best use detailed information obtained from tracking, including tracking for groups of children, to raise their attainment levels even higher.  Staff do not always gather highly detailed information about children's prior learning to enhance individualised and well-focused plans for learning on entry to the nursery.

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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 better use of information gathered from tracking children's progress, including groups of children, to provide even more targeted teaching to raise the progress even higher  gather more precise information from parents about children's prior achievements at home so that highly focused plans for learning can be implemented at the earliest opportunity.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during indoor and outdoor activities and assessed the impact of this on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and senior management team. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Positive changes have been made to the running of the nursery. Managers have worked closely with the local authority and have a clear vision for the future. They regularly reflect, review and evaluate the provision, considering what impact developments are having on the outcomes for children. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Managers ensure all staff complete regular child protection training to keep their knowledge of current guidance and procedures up to date. Staff suitability is well monitored. Staff implement sound policies and procedures to promote children's health, safety and welfare. They work in close partnerships with parents, professionals and outside agencies to meet the needs of individual children effectively.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of how children learn through play and exploration. Children of all ages benefit from a well-organised and resourced play space. There are subtle differences of equipment and toys in each room. Consequently, as children grow and develop they are provided with age-appropriate challenge and stimulation to help to support good all-round learning. Staff sensitively participate in children's play and suggest ideas to extend learning. They talk to children and engage them in conversations. For example, children confidently answer staff's questions and share their experiences of using different types of transport. Staff provide good support for children who speak English as an additional language. Parents are very complimentary about the quick progress their children have made with their language development. Babies learn about colours and textures as they explore different media and materials, such as painting with their hands.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

They experience good physical activities to help develop their muscle skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The key-person system works well. Staff are welcoming and attentive towards children. They promote their health well with nutritious meals, exercise and outdoor play throughout the day. Staff give clear instructions and guidance to children during care routines. From an early age, children learn to be independent and to manage their own needs. Children are very involved at mealtimes, taking responsibility for tasks, such as setting the table. They competently serve themselves with what they like to eat. Mealtimes are very social occasions. Staff praise children and thank them for being helpful and kind. They provide positive experiences that reflect children's backgrounds, encourage children to share experiences from home and learn about cultural differences.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning and development. This includes children who receive funded education. Children become confident and independent learners. They develop good early literacy and mathematical skills. For example, children count, compare size and weight. They form letters as they write their name on artwork. Children are developing a strong interest in books and enjoy rhymes that link sounds and letters.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY495009 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 1099364 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 - 8 Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 61 Name of registered person Alpha Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 5 April 2017 Telephone number 01366 381515

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reference number

The Willows Day Nursery registered in 2015. It is one of several nurseries run by Alpha Nurseries Limited. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am 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

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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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