Highfield Nursery School

Highfield Nursery School The Pavilion, Cold Christmas Lane, Thunderidge, Nr Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 0SL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 May 2018 7 October 2015

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision is inadequate

 The provider does not ensure that staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues. This has a significant impact on the safety and welfare of children.  The provider does not ensure that recruitment is effective in carrying out checks that establish new staff's suitability. In addition, staff's ongoing suitability is not monitored.  The provider does not ensure that staff receive the support necessary to improve the quality of their teaching. Leadership roles are not clear, and the deputy manager is not provided with the support she needs to fulfil her role.  Staff do not develop effective partnerships with other settings that children attend, to help to support their learning.  Not all staff have high expectations of what children can do for themselves. They do not always notice opportunities to support and develop children's play. Staff do not plan activities to challenge children fully.

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It has the following strengths

 Parents speak highly of the relationships that staff build with children. They describe staff as warm and caring.  The hardworking, friendly staff team creates a welcoming and inclusive environment.  Children are keen to attend the nursery school and enjoy many of the opportunities offered to them.

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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 staff understand and implement safeguarding policies and procedures, and that this knowledge is updated regularly 31/05/2018

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Due Date

 ensure rigorous recruitment procedures are in place and implement systems for checking the ongoing suitability of staff 31/05/2018

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Due Date

 implement a system of supervision and appraisal to support staff in their roles and to improve the quality of teaching and learning 31/05/2018

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Due Date

 implement effective partnership working with other settings that children attend, to ensure a regular two-way flow of information. 31/05/2018

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 improve planned activities to ensure that children are sufficiently challenged and make progress in their learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities inside and outside, 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 setting.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the deputy manager.  The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is not effective. The provider does not ensure that staff are supported to update their safeguarding knowledge on a regular basis. The provider does not use safe recruitment procedures to help her to determine the suitability of new staff rigorously. In addition, the provider does not have systems in place to review staff's ongoing suitability. The provider fails to provide the support leaders require to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. Gaps in staff's practice are not identified or addressed to help them to raise the quality of teaching to a good level. This compromises children's safety and progress. Staff do not share information with other settings that children attend, to help to promote consistency in their learning and development.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The quality of teaching is variable. Some staff do not enable children to learn new things and develop new skills. For example, when making butterfly prints, staff direct the children to make marks. They do not enable them to decide where to place the paint for themselves. Opportunities to promote children's thinking are missed when staff solve problems for them. Staff do not always take advantage of opportunities to promote learning by extending children's ideas. For example, children talk excitedly about a 'whirlpool' while playing in the water. However, staff do not follow this interest. Children benefit from a wide range of resources and have daily access to a good-sized garden. The children enjoy joining in with daily music-and-movement sessions, which enable them to be active and to move in different ways.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Weaknesses in the leadership and staff's understanding of safeguarding procedures have a negative impact on children's safety and well-being. Despite this, children are happy to arrive at the nursery school and generally part from their parents and carers with ease. Staff are kind and caring, and they encourage and praise children for the things they do. Children behave very well, follow instructions and are familiar with the daily routines. At snack times, children develop independence as they pour their own water and clear away their cups and bowls. Children develop an understanding about keeping healthy and fit. Staff talk to them about foods that are good for them.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Not all children make the progress of which they are capable. Children do not always use the new skills they have learned, such as writing their names for themselves on their paintings. They do not always make their own decisions in their creative work. Children do play well together and engage confidently with the activities that are provided. Children who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities are supported. Some children acquire the skills they need for their next stage of learning, such as school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 496566 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1128230 Type of provision Sessional 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 26 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Lucy Ali

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 7 October 2015 Telephone number 07762 782471

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reference number

Highfield Nursery School registered in 2001. The nursery school employs seven members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The manager holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 6. The nursery school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am to 1pm on Monday and Friday, and from 9am to 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery school supports children who have SEN and/or disabilities.

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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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