Alton School Nursery Medstead

Alton School Nursery Medstead Convent Of St Lucy, Medstead Manor, High Street, Medstead, Alton GU34 5LL

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Inspection date 16 October 2018 Previous inspection date Not applicable

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Not applicable 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 well-qualified and experienced manager has a made a superb start at establishing a high-quality nursery in a new location. She draws on a wealth of expertise and support from the school leadership team. Parents say they are very confident in the care their children receive. n Staff make good risk assessments and prepare thoroughly to keep children safe from harm when they go on trips into the surrounding countryside. Children practise crossing roads on the school driveway. They learn to stay together, act responsibly and develop exceptional team skills. n Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and children rise to these. For example, older children experiment with test tubes in their pretend research lab. They learn to nurture caterpillars, hatch eggs and remember to feed their guinea pigs. n The manager checks that children benefit from rich experiences to promote all areas of their learning. She monitors the rate of children's progress and parents say they are

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The provision is good

kept well informed about their children's achievements.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

n Staff do not make the most of opportunities to extend the thinking skills of the most able children.

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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 make full use of opportunities to challenge the thinking skills of the most able children to help them make rapid progress in their learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed, listened to and talked with children as they played indoors and during outdoor play. n The inspector talked with parents and listened to their views about the nursery and their children's progress. n The inspector looked at children's records, discussed staff's planning and evaluation of activities, and discussed how they exchange information with parents. n The inspector reviewed records and procedures related to safeguarding and risk assessment, and discussed with the leadership team a range of other procedures related to children's welfare. n The inspector observed care routines and completed a joint observation with the manager. Together they discussed how staff's training had contributed to children's learning and development.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The manager uses the school's policies and procedures to underpin all areas of children's safety and welfare at the nursery. For example, safer recruitment procedures, a comprehensive induction programme and ongoing training help her to ensure that staff can meet their roles and responsibilities. Safeguarding is effective. The manager checks that the staff know how to identify and respond appropriately to any child protection concerns. She makes very good use of staff's appraisals to continue to strengthen the new staff team. For example, some staff are embarking on further training to enhance children's learning in the on-site woods and parkland.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are currently trialling two ways of tracking children's progress. They use these well to inform their planning and target the next steps in each child's learning. For example, during a music session, staff observed each child's skills in keeping time, remembering rhymes, and how they used their choice of instrument. Children listened carefully, learned to sing joyfully together and took an avid interest in creating different sounds. Staff reflect on their practice and children's interests to identify further improvements. For instance, new technology provides exciting opportunities for their teaching and for developing children's knowledge and skills in using computers safety.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff are welcoming, reassuring and attentive to children. Babies are secure in the care of staff who quickly observe and meet their individual needs. They thoroughly enjoy exploring an abundant range of carefully chosen toys and learn new vocabulary from playful staff. Children of all ages flourish in exceptionally attractive, well-organised play areas indoors and outside. For instance, they enjoy story time in cosy outdoor hideaways, dig for treasures in sand, mud and compost, and nurture their own plants and seedlings. Children choose to play outdoors for lengthy periods. They have plenty to investigate and persist in practising new physical skills using various apparatus.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress across all areas of their learning. For example, toddlers who are learning to speak more than one language quickly catch up with their age group in time for school. Children who need additional support receive it and rapidly grow in confidence and self-esteem. Older children learn to weigh and use knives safely through practical activities, such as cooking cakes. They listen carefully to instructions, willingly try new activities and cooperate with each other.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY539264 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10079369 Type of provision Full day care Registers Early Years Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 34 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Alton Convent School Charity

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01420 82070

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Alton School Nursery Medstead registered in 2016. It is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm, for most of the year. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged three and four years. It employs seven staff, six of whom hold relevant qualifications from level 3 to level 7. The manager holds a degree in early years education and another member of staff is a qualified teacher.

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

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