Pontefract Road First School

St Aidans Nursery The Vicarage, St. Gregorys Crescent, GRAVESEND, Kent DA12 4JL

p.1

Inspection date 24 May 2019 Previous inspection date 20 May 2015

p.1

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

p.1

This provision is good

n This nursery provides a welcoming environment where staff support positive relationships with children and their families. Consequently, children settle in well and feel comfortable with the adults who care for them. n There are good arrangements in place for staff supervision, which help to promote good outcomes for children. Staff attend a range of training courses and have a secure knowledge of child protection procedures and how to keep children safe. n Staff are very positive role models, who teach children to share, take turns and respect one another's feelings. Therefore, children develop valuable social skills. n Staff make the most of opportunities to introduce mathematical language and encourage children to further explore their ideas and thoughts throughout the daily routine. n Although staff provide a wide range of exciting activities to support children's learning, there are times when some areas could be adapted to follow children's interests and

p.1

This provision is good

enthusiasm. For example, sometimes children need more space when playing with water outside. n There is scope to improve how staff gather information about some children's progress at home after they have settled in at the nursery.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

n consider how resources can be used in a variety of ways when children show an increased interest in activities and more space is needed to accommodate their interests n find more ways to involve all parents in their child's learning and development, for example, by gathering more detailed information about what children achieve at home.

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector sampled planning and assessment records and a range of other documents. n The inspector conducted a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector spoke to children, parents and staff to consider their views on the nursery. n The inspector held a management meeting with the manager.

p.2

Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Procedures to keep children safe are clear and understood by adults. The well-qualified and hardworking team runs the nursery efficiently and with enthusiasm. Committee members are actively involved in the nursery and are very supportive. The manager monitors the educational programmes well and has a clear picture of the progress of individual children and groups of children. This overview identified that some groups of children do not access certain areas of the curriculum. For example, some lacked interest in books. The manager made effective use of specific funding to improve the book area. Consequently, children became enticed to use this area and soon caught up in their literacy skills. This positive approach supports children's readiness for starting school. Parents are very complimentary about the nursery and comment on how well their children progress in their learning.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Overall, staff make effective use of information about children's progress and development, especially when they begin attending the nursery. They observe children's play, assess their progress and plan well for the next steps in their learning. Children have ample opportunities to develop their early writing skills. For example, younger children explore patterns with the good range of writing materials and older children are proud of the letters they form as they learn to write. The targeted support provided for children's social and communication skills is a strength of this nursery. There are good links in place for partnership working with local schools and specialist services for children who need additional support. Consequently, all children are supported to make sustained progress in readiness for starting school.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff support children's independence throughout the morning by offering children praise and encouragement. Staff are very positive role models, who are kind, respectful and caring. They teach children to understand and follow simple rules and teach them to share and collaborate with one another. Consequently, children are very well behaved and caring towards one another. Staff teach children about their own well-being. For example, they teach them to keep the environment safe and about the importance of drinking water in hot weather.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children are very settled and show enthusiasm for learning from the moment they arrive at the nursery. They confidently wave goodbye to their families and begin the morning chatting to adults and other children as they play. They develop valuable skills in readiness for starting school. For example, they learn about mathematical concepts such as shape and measurement as staff introduce mathematical language during sand and water play. Children enjoy exploring and developing their creative skills. For example, they delight in creating a range of drawings and paintings as creative activities are readily available inside and outside. Children remain friendly and sociable throughout the morning. They greet visitors and talk confidently about the many activities they enjoy at the nursery.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 127571 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10105144 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 36 Name of registered person St Aidans Nursery School Committee

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 20 May 2015 Telephone number 07715 337825

p.4

reference number

St Aidans Nursery registered in 1979. The nursery operates from a large room in a church hall in Gravesend, Kent. It opens Monday to Friday from 9am to midday, term time only. The nursery is in receipt of funding to provide free early education for two-, three-, and four-year-olds. It employs seven members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: www.ofsted.gov.uk/user .

p.5

reference number

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

p.5