Head Start Day Nursery

Head Start Day Nursery Headstart Nursery, 1e, Stocking Fen Road, Huntingdon, PE26 1SA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 March 2018 6 July 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

 The nursery is managed by an experienced and knowledgeable manager. She has a clear overview of the strengths and priorities for development. Since the last inspection, she has worked hard to make significant improvements.  Staff are well qualified and use their knowledge effectively to plan a wide range of activities that makes effective use of resources which children play with in a variety of ways. For example, children use flowers to create 'soup', explore the textures of leaves, stems and petals, and pretend to give their friend's bouquets.  Staff work closely with parents to get their input and to extend children's learning at home. Parents provide complimentary feedback about the nursery. For example, they praise the range of activities on offer and comment that children have fun and get dirty.  Children make progress in relation to their individual starting points. They develop a good range of key skills to help support the next stages in their learning.

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This provision is good

 There are effective partnerships with local school teachers, which help to provide children with good levels of continuity when they move on to school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasions, staff do not provide children with a wide range of opportunities to develop their imaginative skills, particularly during role play.  Staff have not fully considered how to organise some daily routines to help keep children occupied and engaged consistently.

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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

 increase the opportunities for children to develop their imaginative skills, particularly in the role-play area  review the organisation of some daily routines to help keep children engaged and occupied consistently.

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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 held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager has effective systems to help monitor staff performance, including opportunities for training and supervisory meetings. This helps staff to feel valued and able to reflect on and improve their own practice. Staff attend training which helps to develop their practice. For example, staff attended training to increase their understanding of using natural resources in children's play, such as oats and dry cereal hoops. Safeguarding is effective. All staff have completed safeguarding training and have a secure understanding of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare. The manager follows rigorous safe recruitment procedures to help ensure staff suitability. Staff complete in-depth risk assessments and encourage children to learn about safety. For example, children search for 'sharp things' in the garden as part of the daily risk assessment procedures.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff observe children and regularly assess their progress. They have a thorough understanding of each child's learning and development and use this information effectively to help plan for the next steps in children's learning. Children concentrate and lead their own learning. For example, they explore using their senses and enjoy manipulating dough with their fingers. Staff give children opportunities to investigate, such as exploring the garden for worms with a magnifying glass and mixing leaves and water to make 'potions'. Staff promote children's language and development particularly well. Children are interested in stories and books and listen intently as staff read stories in small-group sessions. Staff provide a variety of opportunities for children to develop their early writing skills, indoors and outdoors.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children develop warm, nurturing relationships with staff, who support their emotional well-being effectively. They benefit from interesting and stimulating opportunities to learn about their local community. For example, when learning about how plants grow, they visit a florist and walk to local shops to buy bulbs. Children show good independence skills as they peel their own fruit for snack and set the tables for lunch. Children learn to enjoy healthy lifestyles. For instance, they benefit from fresh air and exercise in the nursery garden each day and on regular outings to the nearby park.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, and those in receipt of additional funding make good progress from their starting points. They are well prepared for their next stages in learning and their eventual move on to school. Children are confident and happy, and enjoy their learning. They are keen to engage in conversations with adults and demonstrate their skills and knowledge. They develop good mathematical skills. For example, they count peas as they carefully remove them from their pods and use mathematical language when exploring quantity as they empty and fill different-sized containers with sand.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY499215 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1109078 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 2 - 4 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Head Start Ramsey Nursery Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 6 July 2017 Telephone number 01487 710709

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reference number

Head Start Day Nursery registered in 2016 The nursery employs 6 members of childcare staff. Of these, 5 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm all year round. 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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