The Athelstan Nursery

The Athelstan Nursery All Souls Church Hall, Athelstan Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN35 5JE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 February 2018 11 June 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

 The managers and staff are very caring. They create a particularly nurturing, positive and welcoming environment where children feel happy, secure and valued. Children build trusting bonds with staff and strong friendships, developing their good social skills.  The managers monitor the development of individual and groups of children closely, such as boys and girls. Staff use their thorough knowledge of the children to help effectively plan for the next steps in their learning and close any gaps. All children make good progress from their starting points in learning.  Staff have strong partnerships with parents. They make plenty of time to discuss children's interests and achievements, and provide parents with effective guidance for children's home learning. Parents feel very well supported and give high praise for the care their children receive.  The managers work closely with staff, parents and other professionals to help evaluate

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This provision is good

the effectiveness of the nursery. They accurately identify strengths and areas for further improvement, making positive changes to improve children's experiences.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Some staff do not make the best use of their questioning to give children the time and opportunities they need to fully extend their thinking skills.  At times, staff do not support children to fully understand why certain safety rules are important.

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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

 enhance the use of questioning to give children more time and opportunities to fully develop their thinking skills  give children more consistent support to help them fully understand why certain safety rules are important.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed teaching practices and the impact these have on children's learning.  The inspector held discussions with the managers, staff, children and parents.  The inspector read some of the nursery's documentation, including the safeguarding policy and procedures.  The inspector sampled children's development information and records.  The inspector completed a joint observation with a manager and discussed children's play, learning and progress.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The ambitious managers support and supervise their enthusiastic and well-qualified staff successfully. Staff attend relevant training and have regular support meetings to help update their skills and improve practice further. For example, after recent training, staff have improved their support for children's early literacy development and physical play opportunities. The managers and staff work hard to improve children's outcomes and make continual improvements. For instance, after observing that the role-play area was particularly popular, they created more space for children to explore their imaginary play further. Safeguarding is effective. The managers and staff access regular training and have a thorough, up-to-date knowledge of child protection concerns. They confidently know the actions to take to safeguard children's welfare.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The managers and staff regularly observe children's play and keep detailed records of their learning. They prioritise children's current interests and successfully plan an engaging and stimulating environment. Children particularly enjoy exploring an indoor physical play area and staff support them to invent challenges and games. For example, children excitedly estimate how long it will take them to complete a circuit on scooters as staff count along and time them. Staff join in sensitively with children's play and support their ideas well. For instance, as children decide to use shaving foam as 'cement' to help stick blocks together, staff enthusiastically encourage them and praise their efforts.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are strong role models and gently help children learn to manage their own behaviour and needs. Children are respectful and sociable, and actively include others in their play. For example, they kindly ask others if they want to join in with their role play, sharing out roles, such as 'head-chef' and 'customer'. Children are very active and take part in plenty of enjoyable opportunities for exercise, such as daily music-and-movement sessions. They confidently discuss how their 'hearts beat faster' after dancing and how exercising is good for their bodies. Staff carry out home visits to meet new children and families in a comfortable environment, which helps children to settle quickly into the nursery.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are well-motivated, eager learners and confidently explore their environment, making easy choices in their play. They concentrate well and take great care during activities, such as drawing, building and moulding dough. Children develop strong mathematical skills and confidently use technology, such as when driving remote- controlled cars. They are beginning to write their names and can recognise letters and their sounds. Children are inquisitive and quickly gain the skills needed for future learning and school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 109320 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 1089033 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 40 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person The Athelstan Nursery Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 11 June 2015 Telephone number 01424 446105

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reference number

The Athelstan Nursery registered in 1978. It is open between 8.45am and 3.30pm each weekday, during term time only. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are seven staff members, all of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications, including qualified teacher status and early years professional status.

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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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