Noahs Ark Day Nursery

Noahs Ark Day Nursery Shephall View, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 1RR

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Inspection date 26 July 2019 Previous inspection date 29 January 2019

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Inadequate 4 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 has made significant improvements since the last inspection. Leaders and staff have worked hard to review and improve the learning environment and provision of resources. Parents comment positively about these improvements. n Children enjoy high levels of engagement in activities because they are able to use their imagination to take their ideas in lots of different directions. For example, a large upturned container and a sack cloth creates a rocket, a horse and a bus for toddlers. n Children make good progress given their starting points. Good-quality teaching and effective monitoring and intervention ensures that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, get the support they need. n Staff are very enthusiastic in their roles. They have taken ownership of the improvements they have made to their rooms and are rightly proud of the positive impact this is having on children's behaviour and learning.

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This provision is good

n The key-person system is effective. Staff have a good knowledge of their key children and plan for their needs and learning well. n Staff use ongoing risk assessment to ensure children's safety inside and outside. The arrival and departure of parents, children and visitors is managed effectively. n Opportunities for children to engage in deeper learning sometimes get cut short by staff's management of everyday routines, such as tidy-up time. n Some activities, such as the regular phonics sessions, do not have enough extension to challenge the learning of the most-able children.

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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 ensure that children are given more opportunities to engage in deeper learning and that these times are not restricted by everyday routines n provide more extension to challenge the learning of the most-able children, particularly during regular phonics sessions.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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 at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and deputy manager. She looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a solid knowledge of the nursery's safeguarding policies and procedures to follow if they have any concerns about children or adults working with them. All required documentation and records are maintained, which promotes the safe and efficient management of the nursery. Recruitment and induction procedures are robust and staff's ongoing suitability is monitored. Staff work well as a team and this has been instrumental to the many positive improvements made since the last inspection. Additional funding for individual children is accounted for and used to have the greatest impact where it is needed. Training opportunities are used wisely. For example, recent training has enabled managers to implement an effective system to track and monitor all children's progress across the areas of learning. This information is used by staff to identify and target intervention where it is needed most. Feedback from

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

parents is very positive. Comments include that they cannot fault what the staff do for their child and that their child is always happy there.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff make regular observations of children. They use this information, together with knowledge of children's interests, to effectively plan activities to meet children's learning needs. Children who speak English as an additional language receive good support. Their home languages are respected and their developing English is monitored closely to ensure they are well prepared for school when the time comes. The quality of teaching across the nursery is consistently good. Children of all ages are developing strong exploratory skills as they explore many natural and everyday resources. For example, babies hide under fabric and build with blocks. Staff support their exploration well; they narrate what babies are doing and include simple number language. Toddlers solve problems by themselves. For example, they find the right sized cardboard tube to fit their small toy down. Pre-school children recognise when their name card is not on the

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

table because, for example, they cannot see one with an 'f' at the beginning of it.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children have built strong attachments with staff and staff respond warmly to children. Even children who are very new to the nursery settle readily into the arms of staff when they separate from their parent on arrival. The chef ensures that children receive a healthy and nutritious menu of meals and snacks. There are safe practices in place to ensure children's allergies or preferences are taken account of. Children get regular opportunities each day to play outdoors in the well-resourced environment. This offers children much fresh air and exercise to support their good physical development. Children behave well. Staff are clear about behaviour management and have suitable strategies in place to deal with any incidents of inappropriate behaviour.

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Outcomes for children are good

Overall, children make good progress. They learn the key skills in readiness for school. Children are happy and confident. They have good communication and language skills and enjoy their learning. Children show a keenness to share stories with staff and are familiar with repeated refrains.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY269854 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10095161 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 - 4 Total number of places 67 Number of children on roll 103 Name of registered person Noahs Ark Nursery Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 29 January 2019 Telephone number 01438 749090

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reference number

Noahs Ark Day Nursery registered in 2003. The nursery employs 23 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, and six hold a qualification at level 2. The manager holds early years professional status. Four staff are unqualified. The nursery employs a full-time chef. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6.30pm, all year round. 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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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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