The Barn Nursery

The Barn Nursery Buckinghams Farm, Stanbrook, Thaxted CM6 2NJ

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Inspection date 20 February 2019 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 Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision is good

n The ambitious manager is committed to providing the highest quality care for children. For example, she has been proactive in sourcing support from external agencies and other professionals. The manager has established links with the other settings children attend. This supports an inclusive approach and continuity of care for every child. n The stimulating indoor and outdoor areas engage children in high levels of imaginative play. For example, children cook pretend meals in the mud kitchen. They look for the pretend wolves and make magic wands from available sticks and netting. n Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills. For instance, young children negotiate space as they ride bicycles and scooters at speed. Older children manipulate tweezers and household utensils to transport a variety of different shaped beans. n The manager has introduced a system to precisely track the progress of different

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This provision is good

groups of children. She uses this information effectively to oversee staff practice and set clear targets for improvement. n The established key-person system helps to promote children's well-being and development. Staff know the children well. This helps children to build secure attachments with them. Staff tailor children's activities to build on their interests and abilities. Parents have complete trust in the staff who oversee their children's care. n Parents have high praise for the nursery and say the environment is like a home from home. They feel the outside space provides added value for their children and say that when they collect children, they smell of fresh air. Parents describe the manager as strong and passionate about childcare, and the staff as professional. n Although detailed development plans are in place to enhance staff's day-to-day practice, these are not yet highly effective in securing exceptional staff performance.

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This provision is good

n Staff do not make best use of activities that are planned to enhance children's speech and language skills.

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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 focus precisely the plans to enhance staff's performance, to enable each child to have high-quality daily experiences n strengthen teaching to enable children to immerse themselves in rich opportunities in order to extend their speech and language skills.

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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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through discussions on the day and recently completed written feedback.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The management team and staff put a great deal of thought and effort into enhancing the provision. In addition to extensive building works and decoration, staff regularly evaluate how children use the spaces in each room. For example, they now make craft materials more accessible for the younger children. These changes help to ignite children's curiosity and maintain their motivation to learn. The manager benefits from the support and input of a local early years adviser. The adviser is very proud of all they have achieved and regularly seeks permission to share photographs of the nursery environment with other settings. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff maintain a secure knowledge of child protection issues and immediately raise any concerns to the manager. Actions taken to safeguard children's welfare are effective.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The well-qualified staff complete regular and precise assessments of children's learning. They have a clear understanding of the skills children need to develop next. Staff manage groups of children with ease and listen carefully to their ideas. They use a range of ways to capture children's concentration and help them to achieve their task. Children proudly talk about the bird houses they have made, which includes a bed for the bird to rest. They use various sized boxes and items they collect on their daily walks in the woods. Staff are responsive to babies and provide them with resources to build on their current interests. For example, babies who are fascinated by wheels have access to a range of vehicles, such as trucks and tractors, as they explore their surroundings.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff support children to experience a smooth move into the nursery. For example, staff gather detailed information about each child when they join and offer parents the option of a home visit. In addition, staff take note of children's friendships groups. When children are ready to move through to the next room, staff make arrangements for them to stay together. This helps children to settle into their new surroundings and quickly become familiar with the daily routines. Staff use agreed strategies to promote children's good behaviour and teach them ways to manage their feelings. Children have frequent opportunities to learn outdoors. In addition, the nursery chef prepares a range of fresh and nutritious food each day. This helps to promote children's good health.

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Outcomes for children are good

The manager makes effective use of funding. For instance, staff attend ongoing training to help enhance the outdoor activities that they provide. This benefits several children from homes with limited access to outdoor space. Interventions, such as the use of story boxes, help to close gaps in children's learning. The majority of children are now working within the typical range of development expected for their age. Children enjoy the responsibility of small tasks. For example, each morning, older children choose their role for the day. This may include feeding the chickens and pigs, watering the plants or clearing away after mealtimes. Children begin to explore mathematics. They use the language of size and say number names to count in their play. Children gain many of the essential skills that they require in readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY540176 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10089625 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 - 11 Total number of places 68 Number of children on roll 125 Name of registered person J.E & L.E Green Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01371831262

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reference number

The Barn Nursery re-registered in 2016 and is privately owned. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 1 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. It closes for one week between Christmas and New Year. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6.15pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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