Little Ark Nursery

Mega Nursery The Mega Centre, Bernard Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S2 5BQ

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Inspection date 5 March 2019 Previous inspection date 15 December 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 Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision is good

n The members of the management team are keen for all groups of children to learn in a stimulating environment and achieve well. They have high expectations and set a clear direction for the nursery's future development. n All groups of children achieve well overall during their time in the nursery. They acquire the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to succeed in their future education, including preparation for starting school. n Children learn in a bright and motivating environment. Staff plan interesting and imaginative activities to engage children and promote their curiosity. n Staff help children to develop good personal and social skills. Children learn to cooperate and play and learn together. They are well behaved and learn to follow instructions carefully. n Staff establish good relationships with parents. They keep them well informed about their children's progress. Parents appreciate the warm and welcoming environment the

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This provision is good

staff provide. The nursery forms strong links with other settings children attend. n Staff do not make full use of their knowledge of children's constantly developing achievement to help them attain the strongest rates of progress. n Staff do not consistently promote the highest levels of children's organisational and self-reliance 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 support staff to make full use of their good knowledge of children's ongoing achievement to build constantly on learning to reach the highest standards n strengthen strategies to help children to be more self-reliant and organised.

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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 manager. He looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The management team, which is new since the last inspection, carefully evaluates the quality of provision and its impact on children's learning. The team reflects on the views of parents and children. Staff have good opportunities to express their views through regular staff meetings, for example, and contribute to the nursery's action plans. The management makes good use of training opportunities tailored to the nursery's identified needs to strengthen staff's performance, particularly the quality of teaching. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff have first-aid training and know how to respond to any concerns. Staff are well deployed to supervise children. They regularly attend child protection training and ensure their knowledge and understanding are up to date.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide a warm and safe environment which contributes to the settled start babies and children make to their learning. Staff stimulate babies' emerging curiosity and awareness through a wide range of age-appropriate strategies such as the use of colourful mobiles, spinning and shaking toys and repeated gentle songs and rhymes. Staff match work closely to children's interests and enthusiasms to promote children's learning in many areas. For example, children's physical and mathematical skills are extended when they sort dinosaurs by number, colour or size. Staff enrich children's speaking skills when, for instance, they join in their construction and role-play activities and model pirate calls and phrases. Leaders make sure that any additional funding received for children's care and support is targeted to meet their main learning needs.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff closely consult with parents to ensure children make a smooth start to their time in the nursery. Children and their parents get to know their key person well. This helps children to grow in confidence and feel secure. Staff help children to understand and respect the needs of others through, for example, well-considered stories which promote specific values such as 'kindness' or 'fairness'. These books are often linked to other areas of the curriculum, which helps to reinforce the children's personal development. Staff promote children's knowledge and understanding of healthy lifestyles and good hygiene procedures. They help them to make healthy food choices at snack time and provide many opportunities for children to be physically active indoors and out.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop the skills they need for their future learning effectively. Children of all ages make good progress in their communication skills. They develop a good knowledge of popular stories and nursery rhymes, for example. Older children make good progress in their knowledge of letters and the sounds they make. Children learn to count accurately and order objects by size and shape. They have a positive understanding of how to solve puzzles and problems when, for instance, they play in the construction area or with sand.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY216880 Local authority Sheffield Inspection number 10065771 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 - 5 Total number of places 57 Number of children on roll 62 Name of registered person Hope City Church

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 December 2015 Telephone number 0114 213 2050

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reference number

Mega Nursery registered in 2002. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one with early years professional status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. Sessions are from 8am 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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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