The Ridge College

Little Oaks - Ashford William Harvey Hospital, Kennington Road, ASHFORD, Kent TN24 0LZ

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Inspection date 21 August 2018 Previous inspection date 27 October 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1 Outcomes for children Good 2

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The provision is good

n The manager works closely with the nursery directors to establish and reinforce her high expectations for the setting. She works well with parents, staff and children to evaluate nursery practice and implement effective changes which enhance the quality of care and early education offered. n Staff establish extremely secure attachments with children from the start. They are sensitive, caring and highly skilled at recognising and supporting children's individual needs. Children are extremely happy, settled and secure. They show confidence and high levels of self-esteem. Parents comment on the, 'Fantastic and supportive' staff team. n The manager and staff monitor and track children's development well. They swiftly recognise and target any emerging gaps in their progression. This ensures children are well supported to make progress and develop the skills needed for future learning. n Children are highly respected and listened to. They freely explore the resources

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The provision is good

available and enjoy being able to develop their own ideas in their play. Children develop impressive social skills, they are respectful of those around them and play cooperatively with their peers.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

n On occasions, during adult-led group times, staff do not fully engage all younger children so that their learning is as effective as possible. n At times, some staff move on quickly. They do not always give children sufficient time to use their well-developed language skills to respond to questions being asked.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n develop the organisation of group times further to help all children be fully involved n strengthen staff's questioning techniques to ensure children are given time to respond and express their thoughts and ideas to further support their learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector took account of the views of parents and children. n The inspector spoke to key people and viewed individual children's development records. n The inspector observed interactions between the staff and children in the inside space and the outside environment. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including the nursery's policies and staff records.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager ensures all staff are knowledgeable about current safeguarding issues and requirements. Staff know the children well and are confident in recognising and recording concerns, such as any changes to children's well- being or behaviour. They know the procedures to follow to report any concerns and recognise the importance of working closely with other professionals to help keep children protected. The manager effectively monitors staff practice and is focused on supporting all staff to enhance their knowledge and skills. She has developed a culture of ongoing training which helps staff make positive changes to practice. For example, staff use knowledge and ideas gained from training to provide further outside learning experiences. They have introduced new activities, such as an exciting treasure hunt, which encourage children to use their developing exploration and literacy skills as part of

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff maintain an effective two-way sharing of information with parents. They use this information and their accurate observations of children's play to effectively recognise children's achievements and plan purposeful experiences. Overall, staff support children's learning well and children use their emerging skills to enhance their play. For example, babies show early writing skills as they use crayons to draw on large sheets of paper. Staff name the colours of the crayons and babies start to develop language skills as they repeat the colour names. Older children show a strong understanding of the world. They use well-developed language skills to describe how sweetcorn needs water and sun to grow. Staff encourage children to explore the sweetcorn, by picking it, peeling the leaves and tasting the cooked sweetcorn. Children show a strong understanding of healthy food as they explain that vegetables make them, 'Big and strong'.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff maintain a welcoming and highly stimulating environment. Children show a highly impressive consideration for each other and they offer excellent support to their peers. For example, older children hold the play digger so younger children can get on safely. They demonstrate and tell them how to use the handles to make the scoop move. Staff work highly effectively to help children learn to think about their personal care needs and safety. For example, older children apply their own sun cream and talk about needing this, as the sun is 'Hot and may hurt them'. Staff are skilled at giving unlimited support to ensure children are emotionally prepared for moving around the nursery. Children are extremely confident and enthusiastic as they attend play sessions in their new rooms.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop well from their starting points. They are independent, active and enthusiastic learners who enjoy challenge and persevere with simple tasks. Children learn and practise skills to support the next stages in their development. For example, young children show developing independence as they use their emerging skills, to start putting on their shoes. Older children confidently use knives to cut their own fruit.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127517 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10060663 Type of provision Full day care

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 1 - 11 Total number of places 74 Number of children on roll 91 Name of registered person Little Oaks Early Years Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 27 October 2015 Telephone number 01233 616746

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reference number

Little Oaks - Ashford registered in 2001. It is one of five nurseries run by Little Oaks Early Years Ltd. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm, all year round. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 23 staff, including the two owners who hold relevant early years qualifications at level 6. The manager holds a level 4 qualification and the remaining staff hold relevant early years qualifications at level 2 or above.

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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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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.ofsted.gov.uk

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