Ashridge Day Nursery

Ashridge Day Nursery Tring Athletic Football Club, Pendley Sports Centre, Cow Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 5NT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 April 2018 Not applicable

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Children's behaviour is not managed consistently. Some staff do not implement the behaviour management policy appropriately.  Some staff do not use children's starting points or ongoing observations to inform the assessment of their learning effectively, to track their progress and achievements.  Staff do not consistently challenge the pre-school children. This means they do not make the best possible progress in their learning.  The monitoring of staff's practice is not effective enough to raise the quality of their teaching to a consistently good level.

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It has the following strengths

 Children's physical development is promoted very well. They enjoy daily opportunities to explore a wide range of activities and experiences in the stimulating outside area.  Partnerships with parents and other professionals involved in supporting the care and education of children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities are strong.  Staff encourage younger children's communication and language development. For example, they use strategies, such as questioning and repetition to promote this.  Staff welcome parents into the nursery and encourage them to share their observations of their child's achievements from home. This provides effective opportunities for staff and parents to work together to support children's learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure that all staff manage children's behaviour appropriately and consistently 09/05/2018

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Due Date

 improve the use of ongoing observations and assessments to ensure that children's starting points are identified and their progress and achievements are assessed effectively 23/05/2018

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Due Date

 use information about what pre-school children know and can do to plan challenging activities and experiences that help them to make good progress 23/05/2018

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Due Date

 ensure that monitoring of staff's practice, as part of performance management, supports them to improve their personal effectiveness and deliver good-quality teaching. 23/05/2018

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Inspection activities

 The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of parental views in written feedback provided.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The manager completes regular supervision and appraisal meetings to identify staff's training and development needs. However, not enough time is focused on monitoring staff's practice. This means they are not consistently supported to plan children's next steps in learning or monitor and track their progress effectively. Overall, the manager evaluates the quality of the nursery. She implements action plans to improve which include the views and suggestions of parents and staff. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a suitable knowledge and understanding of how to protect the children in their care. They attend regular training and development opportunities and they understand the procedures to follow if concerns are raised about children's welfare. Staff welcome parents into the nursery and encourage them to share their own observations of children's achievements from home. This provides effective

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

opportunities for staff and parents to work together to support children's learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff do not offer pre-school children enough challenge in their learning. Some staff do not identify children's starting points or complete regular assessments of children's learning effectively. This means that the progress and achievements of some children are not tracked consistently so that any gaps are identified and swiftly closed. Despite this, staff use spontaneous opportunities to support children's learning. For example, during outdoor activities children find worms. Staff encourage them to look at the worms and introduce vocabulary, such as 'short', 'long' and 'wiggly'. Children are happy and use their imagination well. They independently explore creative opportunities, such as the outdoors mud kitchen, making pretend carrot soup for their friends with mud and water. Additionally, children confidently explore a wide range of role-play resources.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children form close bonds with staff and other children. However, not all staff follow the nursery's behaviour management policy when dealing with children's negative behaviour. This means that children are not consistently supported to learn right from wrong. Staff suitably promote children's health and well-being. Children learn about the importance of good hygiene with regular handwashing opportunities promoted. Children's dietary and individual preferences are effectively met. The nursery chef provides a wide range of healthy, nutritious meals. Children learn about their ongoing safety. Staff help them to think about other children around them, such as encouraging them to wait before moving down the slide as they confidently use the climbing frame. This supports children to develop an understanding of how to play safe.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Weaknesses in teaching mean that not all children make enough progress in their learning. Nevertheless, most children gain the skills they need in readiness for school. They are independent and develop good social skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY493513 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1039447 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 60 Number of children on roll 100 Name of registered person Ashridge Care Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 0800 0235997

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reference number

Ashridge Day Nursery registered in 2016. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. This includes the manager who has qualified teacher status. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, from 7.30am until 6pm, for 50 weeks of the year except for bank holidays.

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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

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

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