Armathwaite Nursery

Armathwaite Nursery Playhouse, Armathwaite, Carlisle, CA4 9PW

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 June 2018 Not applicable

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

 The manager and staff team have a good understanding of how children learn. They provide a calm, welcoming, interesting, stimulating and well-resourced learning environment, indoors and outside. Children are eager to play and learn. They make good progress in relation to their starting points. Staff prepare them well for the next stages of their learning and their future move on to school.  Children benefit from the secure relationships established with all the staff. They settle easily and confidently ask for help when needed. Children behave very well and quickly become engrossed in whatever they choose to do.  The highly experienced staff team works closely with relevant professionals in supporting children in the nursery. Staff provide additional early support during the daily routine to ensure continuity of learning and progression for all children.  The manager and staff team demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the

p.1

This provision is good

quality of the provision. Self-evaluation is ongoing and the management continually supports and monitors staff performance to help ensure that all children reach their full potential.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not make the best use of opportunities to further support children's knowledge and understanding of healthy lifestyles.  Opportunities to provide parents with further information and guidance for supporting children's next steps in their learning are not consistently promoted with maximum effect.

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

 extend children's understanding of routine health and hygiene practices and why these are important for their well-being  explore additional ways of providing parents with information and guidance for supporting children's next steps in their learning.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during the activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  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 took account of the views of parents through discussions and written feedback.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have an excellent understanding of the referral procedures to follow should they have concerns about the safety or welfare of a child in their care. The manager carefully checks the progress made by all children. This helps her to quickly identify gaps in children's learning and seek external intervention, when necessary. Furthermore, when children's progress in some areas of learning is slower, plans are quickly put in place to address this. For example, staff provide extra speech and language sessions which have had a positive impact on helping children's communication and language development. Additional funding is used very well to support children's learning. Staff gather essential information from parents throughout their children's time at the nursery to help them in their planning. Parents are well informed about their children's progress and feel the staff prepare their children well for school.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The experienced and well-qualified staff are fully aware of children's preferred learning environment. They ensure that both the indoor and outdoor environments are stimulating and inviting. This motivates the children to explore and investigate so they become inquisitive and curious individuals. For example, while experimenting with water children predict what will float and sink and say why they think this happens. Staff support children well while using technology. For example, children confidently match pieces of a jigsaw together using an interactive touchscreen and practise writing their name. Staff make regular observations and assessments of children's learning. These are used effectively, to inform planning and support children's ongoing good progress.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children engage in purposeful play, self-selecting from the wide range of resources on offer. Their physical development is promoted well outdoors. For example, children skilfully negotiate their way around equipment on bicycles, and younger children learn how to climb up steps and use the slide safely. Children are able to choose to play inside, outside or in the different rooms. This especially helps younger children, who settle quickly and become familiar with all the staff and the whole nursery. They join in with all the activities and learn how to share and take turns. Staff regularly share progress with parents and complete detailed transition documents when children leave to go to school.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in their learning and development, including those receiving additional funding. Children develop their number skills while looking at books and counting aloud during snack-time routines. Children are highly independent. They competently help prepare and serve snacks and put on their sun hats before going outdoors. Children are confident and enthusiastic. They demonstrate positive attitudes to their play and learning and are gaining the key skills in readiness for school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY501217 Local authority Cumbria Inspection number 1055125 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 51 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Armathwaite Nursery Group CIO

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01697472000

p.4

reference number

Armathwaite Nursery registered in 2016. The nursery is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It employs five members of staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, including one member of staff who holds a level 4 Foundation Degree in Teaching and Learning Support. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday term time only. Sessions are from 8.15am to 3.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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