Applepips Nursery School

Applepips Nursery School United Reformed Church, The Street, Little Waltham, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 3NT

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Inspection date 11 December 2018 Previous inspection date 16 September 2015

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3

Effectiveness of leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Good 2

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This is a provision that requires improvement

n The provider does not ensure that records of staff suitability checks are completed. n The professional development programme for staff is not robust enough to raise teaching to higher levels. n Staff do not make the most of opportunities to build on and extend children's learning in child-led activities.

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It has the following strengths

n Staff provide a well-resourced environment, indoors and outside. This enables children to explore, problem solve and make links in their play. For example, children explore a variety of resources, such as sticks, spoons, pegs, shells and buttons. n Staff provide a nurturing environment where children settle well. Children form secure attachments to staff and friendships with their peers. They show good levels of confidence and self-esteem. n Staff value children's beliefs and ways of life. They encourage families to bring in cultural items from their homes so that children learn to celebrate and value their similarities and differences.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date ensure that information from staff vetting procedures are recorded, this must include Disclosure and Barring Service checks and any other vetting procedures that have been followed. 08/01/2019

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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 enhance the professional development programme for staff, so that teaching improves to higher levels n build on the planning for child-led activities, so that children have more opportunities to make the best possible progress.

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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 supervisor. n The inspector held a meeting with the supervisor. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the nursery's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff. n The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management requires improvement

The provider has completed the required vetting procedures for staff. However, she does not ensure that she records this information for all of them. The supervisor has acted to reduce the risk. She makes sure that these staff are supervised at all times. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff can identify the signs and symptoms of abuse and know the action to take if they are worried about a child. They are aware of what to do if they have concerns about other staff. The supervisor has implemented effective risk assessments to keep children safe. She supports staff in their practice. However, the programmes to develop their performance are not focused enough to improve staff's teaching to higher levels. The supervisor monitors children's development well. She identifies gaps in learning and provides the appropriate support to help them make good progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff get to know children well through regular observations and accurate assessments of what they can do. They have a good understanding of how children learn. Staff use this knowledge to shape learning experiences for the children, based on their interests and age and stage of development. They develop children's imaginations. For example, during a physical play activity, children pretend to carry Santa's heavy sack and use their arms as reindeer antlers. Children respond with excitement to staff's enthusiasm in activities. They are at children's level and engage them in positive interactions. Staff extend children's language development. They speak clearly and add new words into their play, such as, 'feta cheese'. Staff have formed effective partnerships with other professionals. They liaise with them to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff have also formed successful partnerships with parents. They

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

provide them with updates on their children's learning. Staff encourage parents to contribute what the children have been doing at home. Parents comment on how nurturing and caring the staff are.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Despite the incomplete records of staff's suitability checks, they place a high importance on children understanding how to keep themselves safe. Staff promote good manners and children know what is expected of them. They praise children and show they are happy about their achievements and experiences. For example, during circle time, staff show their joy when a child excitedly tells the children about their recent trip to see Santa Claus.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including starting school. They develop good social skills during activities, such as role play. Children attend to their care needs and help to tidy up. They learn to understand and manage risk while carrying out their own risk assessments of the setting. Children work out when to move and how to keep their balance on a tower of wooden blocks. They use mathematical words, such as big, heavy and little to describe toys and resources, and use their bodies to make shapes, such as circles and diamonds.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY391242 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10087058 Type of provision Sessional day care Registers Early Years Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 37 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Tubby, Helen Claire

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 16 September 2015 Telephone number 01245 362455

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reference number

Applepips Nursery School registered in 2009. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including one with early years professional status. The nursery opens Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday term time only. Sessions are from 8.30am until 3.30pm. 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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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