Puddles Nursery

Puddles Nursery Hesters Way Community Resource Centre,, Cassin Drive, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 7SU

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 April 2018 3 March 2015

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Staff provide a warm, welcoming and stimulating environment with a balanced range of easily accessible resources. Children are able to make independent choices in their play. Children make good progress relative to their starting points.  The new owners, senior management and the staff team work very well together. They evaluate practice regularly to ensure that they maintain good-quality teaching and learning experiences for the benefit of the children.  The management team carries out regular staff supervision, and encourages staff to maintain and update their professional development through in-house and external training courses. This has a positive impact on children's learning and development.  Children are happy, confident and demonstrate they feel safe in the company of the staff. They build strong attachments to their key person. Staff support children's emotional well-being effectively.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, staff do not have a consistent approach when building children's independence during daily activities, for instance, children help to clear away their plates after snack time, but not after lunch.  Occasionally, staff do not give children clear and consistent support to remind them of expectations. For example, some staff give young children explanations about why they should not do something, and others just remove the children from a situation.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 use a consistent approach to help build on children's independence skills even further  provide young children with more-consistent support, to increase their understanding about what is expected of them and the consequences of their actions.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and staff interactions with children, inside and outside the setting.  The inspector had a meeting and carried out a joint observation with the manager. She also had a discussion with the owner/director.  The inspector spoke to children, staff and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. She also took into account the views of parents from information gathered by the manager.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children, and looked at the provider's improvement plan.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's records, the provider's safeguarding procedures and other written policies and procedures.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff are clear about how to safeguard children. They are confident in their knowledge of the indicators that might alert them to any concerns about a child's welfare. Staff are very clear about the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child in their care. All staff are required to gain child protection and first-aid certificates to help them keep children safe. Staff understand the importance of monitoring children's non-attendance closely. Leaders use effective procedures for the recruitment, induction, monitoring and training of staff to help promote good-quality teaching. Staff state that recent training on children's preferred learning styles has helped them understand better how children learn and play. Partnerships with parents, carers and other professionals are good. Parents speak highly about the care provided and the staff team. They appreciate the improvements the new owners have made to the outside space

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The staff use detailed observations and assessments to plan and provide a range of challenging, interesting activities for the children. Children are confident to talk and express their ideas, such as when children decide to build a train track around the room, using chairs to support it. Staff ask skilful questions to help children solve problems during this task. Staff support children's communication and language skills effectively. They repeat words and introduce new words for children as they interact and play. Staff promote children's early writing skills, such as supporting them to make marks with chalks on boards in the garden.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children settle quickly into the setting. They demonstrate they feel comfortable with the staff. Children respond to the positive language and praise offered by the staff. Overall, children are well behaved, working well together as they play. All staff have a calm, caring approach towards the children and obviously enjoy being with them. Staff are good role models. They promote healthy eating and lifestyles, such as when they talk to children about what is healthy food, and why they should eat it. They encourage children in their understanding of good personal hygiene practices. Children benefit from regular fresh air and exercise. They enjoy access to the garden areas where they can explore the world and experience the changing weather.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children gain skills to prepare them for school or their next stages in learning. Children enjoy taking part in activities to promote their mathematical understanding, such as recognising numbers and counting the spots on two large dice. They recognise the words 'more' and 'less' as they talk about numbers. Young children enjoy exploring the world around them, such as when they dig in soil and sand, and play in the water trays.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY343475 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1092897 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 38 Number of children on roll 67 Name of registered person Desirable Childcare Limited

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 3 March 2015 Telephone number 01242 527545

p.4

reference number

Puddles Nursery is one of two nurseries owned by Desirable Childcare Limited. It registered in 2007. It operates from a purpose-built building in the Hesters Way area of Cheltenham. The nursery is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks a year. The nursery employs 12 staff, including the manager, to work directly with the children. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. Two staff have gained early years teacher status.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

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

p.5

reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5