Cowdown Day Nursery

Cowdown Day Nursery Cowdown Farm House, Cowdown Lane, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 6LE

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 April 2018 25 November 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 create an interesting and nurturing environment where children confidently explore and investigate from an early age.  Careful monitoring helps to identify any gaps in children's learning, enabling action to be taken to ensure all children make good progress in relation to their starting points.  Staff encourage children's communication and language skills, physical development and personal, social and emotional development very well, providing a firm base for future learning.  The management team evaluates the effectiveness of the provision well. The views of staff and parents are taken into consideration to help shape future improvements.  Effective partnerships with parents and professionals promote a consistent, shared approach to support children's ongoing learning.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Some staff do not consider how to maximise the learning potential in every activity, enabling further challenge to children to fully extend their learning.  Although the system for summarising children's overall progress across each area of learning has recently changed, it is not fully established to enable staff to easily identify overall strengths and weaknesses in teaching.

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

 maximise the learning potential in every activity, enabling children to extend their interests and learning even further  develop further the systems for identifying strengths and weaknesses in staff's teaching skills.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the premises and reviewed resources with the owner.  The inspector observed the staff and children at play and discussed their activities.  The inspector reviewed documents provided by the manager and discussed self- evaluation.  The inspector considered the comments made by parents on the inspection day.  The inspector talked to and played with the children at appropriate times.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The enthusiastic managers use the views of all involved to reflect on the provision offered and to identify areas for improvement. Staff are supported well and are encouraged to develop their skills and knowledge for the benefit of the children in their care. They regularly attend training to improve their practice and meet statutory requirements. Staff carefully monitor and track children's developmental progress. Safeguarding is effective. Staff understand the importance of their role in helping to maintain children's safety and welfare. Careful risk assessments are undertaken, and staff know how to report concerns about a child's welfare.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff observe children as they play and find out from parents what children like to do at home. They use the information well to support children's learning. Staff actively encourage good communication and language skills, for example, by providing an enthusiastic commentary and asking questions that encourage children to think. Staff provide good opportunities for children to explore their rural environment. For instance, children have great fun splashing in puddles and exploring the textures of various resources in the garden. Children are developing an awareness of the natural world around them. For example, they watch and identify the wild creatures that come into the garden to eat the food they have put out. Staff encourage mathematical skills through play. Children count, recognise shapes and describe the size and position of pegs, for example, as they complete simple tasks.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Careful well-planned introductions to the nursery help children to settle quickly. The staff are happy, positive role models, setting a very good example to the children in their care. Babies respond well to the warm nurturing care and there is lots of laughter to be heard. Children arrive confidently, separate easily from their families and quickly become engrossed in play. Children behave well. The staff provide a consistent and calm approach to behaviour management. Staff strive to ensure every child is included and their individuality respected. All the children have good opportunities to play outdoors and be physically active. Staff teach children good health and hygiene routines and children enjoy a varied diet of home-cooked food each day. Children learn to regularly have a drink of water from their cups that are always easily accessible.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children are developing important skills for their move on to school. They are curious, sociable and articulate. Children enjoy listening to stories and speculate what will happen next. They enjoy books and use them with care. Children also care for dolls and dress up as favourite characters, acting out the role they are playing. They explore the texture of paints and materials as they create their own works of art. Children are developing good levels of confidence. They learn to be independent and take care of their own needs, and to share and help each other.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 507866 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 1128319 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 36 Name of registered person Cowdown Nursery Ltd

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 25 November 2015 Telephone number 01264 363098

p.4

reference number

Cowdown Day Nursery, in Cowdown, Andover registered in 1996. The nursery receives funding for the provision of early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery operates from 8am to 6pm each weekday for 50 weeks of the year. A total of 13 staff are employed to work with the children, nine of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, one holds a qualification at level 4 and three are qualified at level 2.

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