Ruskinhouse School

Ruskinhouse School 48 Herne Hill, London, SE24 9QP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 March 2018 14 August 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 manager has planned and implemented positive changes to the outside area to help stimulate children's curiosity to explore outdoors. Older children thoroughly enjoy digging the soil for worms, toddlers learn to walk on a hanging bridge and babies learn to ride on wheeled equipment.  Children form close bonds with the staff and are settled. For instance, babies enjoy cuddles from staff and toddlers respond well to reassurance from them when they are upset. Older children are confident and freely approach the staff when they need help.  Staff support children's communication skills effectively. For instance, they use strategies such as signing to help support young children's understanding. They provide opportunities for older children to learn additional languages, such as Spanish. All children, including those who are learning English as an additional language, make good progress from their starting points.

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This provision is good

 The manager liaises well with schools and shares information effectively with staff. The learning programme is effective, which helps to support children's school readiness. These arrangements help to support a smooth transfer for children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, some agency staff do not receive sufficient information to fully support them in the implementation of planned activities.  There are occasional gaps in information sharing with parents, such as when staff leave the nursery and new staff are employed.

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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

 strengthen processes for sharing information with agency staff to help maximise on their contribution to the implementation of planned activities  strengthen the existing good communication with parents to minimise occasional gaps in information sharing, particularly when staff leave the nursery and new staff are employed.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the children and how staff interacted with them.  The inspector viewed a sample of documents, including children's learning records.  The inspector carried out two joint observations with the manager and assessed how she monitors staff practice.  The inspector took account of the views of the manager, staff, parents and children.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The new manager is ambitious. She reflects well on her practice. She monitors children's achievements regularly and uses this information effectively to identify and implement improvements to the learning programme. She works closely in partnership with parents and professionals to address any gaps in children's learning, such as communication and language difficulties. The manager holds regular meetings with staff and supports them well to help them improve their teaching practice. For instance, she provides guidance to staff to help them manage children's behaviour positively and most staff have had relevant training. Safeguarding is effective. Staff understand how to identify signs and symptoms that may cause concern for a child's welfare. The manager ensures staff are suitable to work with children. She ensures there are adequate staff to supervise children effectively. Staff deploy themselves well to ensure children's safety. The manager maintains a log of

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

required information with relation to complaints.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide a range of opportunities for children to explore different materials, such as water, foam, sand and play dough. This helps children build on their understanding of the world and their creativity. Staff skilfully support children's communication and language development. For instance, as older children explore play dough, they introduce words such as 'sticky', 'slimy' and 'oozy'. Children build on their vocabulary. Staff support young children well to help them build on their imagination and creativity. For example, children engage well in singing activities and join in with actions. They enjoy dressing up as doctors, for example, and staff tune in well to children's play. Key persons plan accurate next steps to help children build on what they already know. For instance, they plan focused activities to help toddlers practise their counting skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The manager and staff support children well as they transfer to different rooms within the nursery. This helps to support children's emotional well-being. For instance, the manager invites parents to view the new room and generally shares information to support their children during the transfer. Staff provide healthy meals for children. The cook has relevant training and ensures hygiene practices with regards to food storage and preparation. These arrangements help to support children's good health. Staff use positive strategies, such as praise, to encourage children's good behaviour. Children develop positive self-esteem.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children are prepared well for the next stages in their learning. Babies learn to make independent choices. For instance, they point to pictures to indicate what song they would like to sing. Toddlers build on their hand-to-eye coordination. For instance, they learn to stack small objects. Older children learn to identify the initial sounds of words, such as 'ball' and 'car', and they learn to complete alphabet puzzles.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 144706 Local authority Lambeth Inspection number 1132245 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 59 Number of children on roll 51 Name of registered person First Steps (London) Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 14 August 2015 Telephone number 0207 737 4317

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reference number

Ruskinhouse School registered in 1995 and is located in Herne Hill, in the London Borough of Southwark. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm for most of the year, excluding bank holidays and one week at Christmas. The provider receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged three and four years. There are nine members of staff. The manager holds a qualification in childcare at level 6. Six members of staff hold relevant qualifications at level 3 and two staff hold qualifications at level 2.

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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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

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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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