Willowbrook Nursery

Willowbrook Nursery North Mymms Youth & Community Centre, Station Road, Welham Green, North Mymms, HATFIELD, Hertfordshire AL9 7PF

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Inspection date 2 July 2019 Previous inspection date 5 May 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 provider and staff regularly reflect on their practice and look for ways to improve. For example, they introduce new strategies for recording observations and assessments. This helps them to closely monitor the progress each child makes. n Staff offer good support to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities to make continual progress in their development. For example, they offer many sensory experiences, such as dark dens that children can crawl into when they need quiet time. At other times, children are active as they throw and follow balls that light up. n Children are making good progress. Staff make effective use of adult-directed activities and play opportunities to teach children mathematics. For instance, they look at the numbers of children in each group and introduce concepts such as 'more' and 'less'. n Parents speak positively about the nursery and staff. They state their children are

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This provision is good

happy and the staff provide them with good information on how they are learning and developing. n The staff team is well established and this impacts positively on children's emotional well-being. n Staff do not gather sufficient information from parents about children's abilities when they first start, to help them to have the best possible understanding of what children can already do. n At times, staff expectations of what children need to learn next are set too high. For example, the learning outcomes for some adult-planned activities and children's next steps are too challenging for children to achieve.

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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 gather more detailed information from parents on what children can already do when they start to attend, in order to support high-quality learning from the outset n check that the learning objectives set for activities and children's next steps in learning are both challenging and achievable.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector observed staff interactions with children indoors and outside, and assessed the quality of teaching. n The inspector spoke to staff and children and held a meeting with the provider. n The inspector observed an adult-led activity with the provider and held a discussion with her about staff teaching skills and children's learning. n The inspector looked at a sample of paperwork, including evidence of staff qualifications and suitability checks. The safeguarding policies and procedures were also seen. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The provider and staff have good knowledge and understanding of the signs and symptoms that may indicate concerns about children's welfare. Staff turnover is low. However, when needed, the provider has robust recruitment and vetting procedures in place. This helps to ensure that new staff are checked to determine their suitability to work with children. A thorough induction process helps new staff and students to understand their roles and responsibilities. The provider effectively supports staff to develop their skills through supervision meetings and observations of their practice. Together, they identify suitable professional development opportunities to help staff to continuously develop their teaching skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff plan activities based on children's interests and experiences. For example, staff in the room for the younger children provide pictures of items children might take on holiday. Children enjoy choosing pictures to cut out and staff support them well to develop their skills in using scissors. The role-play area set up as a school is of particular interest to older children. They take turns pretending to be teachers, such as by taking registers and leading group activities. The resources staff provide enable children to practise their skills, such as writing and counting. These activities prepare children well for their imminent move to school. Staff regularly observe and assess children's learning to help them to identify what they need to learn next. These are shared with parents. Staff provide parents with ideas of how they can support children's learning at home.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are confident and independent. They warmly welcome visitors to the nursery and are keen to show them what they can do. Staff provide wonderful opportunities for children to be active and explore outdoors. For example, children climb up steps to use the slide and enjoy riding around in cars. At other times, staff take children on walks through the extensive grounds to experience the changing seasons. Children are given freedom to move between the rooms and outside, where they become familiar with every staff member. Children show strong attachments to their key person and understand when it is time to return to their base room.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress and are well prepared with the skills they need for their next stage of learning and for starting school. Many pre-school children are able to use pencils very well for drawing and writing their names. They explain in detail what each part of their picture is. Children enjoy singing activities and join in very well. Younger children are learning how to play alongside each other and share resources. Older children are developing strong friendships and good negotiation skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY309110 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10106677 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Nicolas, Charalambia Bambi

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Date of previous inspection 5 May 2015 Telephone number 07815 11 88 98

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Willowbrook Nursery registered in 2005. The nursery opens through term time from 8.30am until 3pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff, five of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. 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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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