Linden House Nursery

Linden House Nursery 83 West Street, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 1SE

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Inspection date 23 October 2018 Previous inspection date 8 May 2018

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Inadequate 4 Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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The provision is good

n Since the last inspection, the provider has made extensive improvements to the organisation of children's arrival and departure routine. This now ensures that all children are accounted for at all times. n The parent partnership group shares its views with the nursery. Staff use these views to help them evaluate the quality of the provision and make improvements. n Older children become confident making marks and begin to write. They recognise the first letter of their name and practise forming the letters, showing their excellent literacy skills. n When there are less children at the nursery, staff recognise that children need more support. With this in mind, they move young children into rooms with older children so can enjoy eating their lunch together. n Children make good progress from their initial starting points. Staff know children well and can confidently talk about their development.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

n The next steps in learning that staff identify for some children are not the most pertinent to enable them to make the best possible progress. n The records of children's progress that staff make and share with parents do not reflect their actual good knowledge of children's abilities. This means that parents do not have the most up-to-date information to support children's learning at home.

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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 identify more specific, relevant next steps for children, encouraging the best possible progress in their learning n ensure the information staff share with parents to support children's learning at home more accurately reflects their current stage of development.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to some parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

There are comprehensive arrangements for recruiting and inducting new members of staff and checking their suitability. All staff demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the signs and symptoms that might suggest that children are at risk of harm. There are clear lines of responsibility, leaving staff in no doubt about how to report any child protection issues. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff know about the work of the Local Safeguarding Children Board and ensure that they undertake their training programmes. The provider and manager value the good knowledge and skills staff bring to the nursery. They share their ideas and the nursery trials new ways of working. The manager effectively supervises and guides staff.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children enjoy dressing up and using their imagination to create new identities. They put on spectacles and wings and proclaim they are princesses and butterflies. Staff know that young children need freedom to move and test out their physical skills. Babies enjoy handling plastic animals that they put in and out of a fabric ark. Staff sit with children and talk about what they are doing, supporting babies in hearing language as they play. Staff read stories to older children. They pause and allow children to ask questions. In turn, staff ask children about the characters and the illustrations, and this prompts their thinking skills. Children use their ideas during role play. They play with dolls, bathing them, and make pretend dinners in the home corner.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Young babies have strong attachments to their key person. The key-person approach is effective and children develop secure relationships with those who care for them. Staff pay attention to supporting children in learning social skills. They engage children in turn-taking activities to enable them to understand about how to play together cooperatively. Older children learn about rules and expectations for behaviour. All children's behaviour is consistently good. They benefit from fresh air and exercise when they play outdoors. Children engage in a range of activities that helps them to be physically active.

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Outcomes for children are good

Older children are competent talkers who use language to make connections with others and share their ideas. They confidently talk and negotiate to resolve minor disagreements over toys. Children are beginning to learn about using technology. They know how to use the nursery computers to view photographs of themselves that parents share with staff. Young babies show a resilient attitude and assert themselves within the nursery group. Older children develop the skills they need in readiness for starting school. Children gain a sense of their own identity. Older children say they are grown up in comparison to the babies they read about in stories and the dolls that they play with. They are developing a definite sense of their identity and their place in the world.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY103054 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 10079471 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 - 4 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person De Leonardis, Dora Marie

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 May 2018 Telephone number 01582 662575

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reference number

Linden House Nursery registered in 2002. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff, seven of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including the manager, who is qualified at degree level. The nursery opens Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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