Pinecones Nursery School

Inspection of Pinecones Nursery School Unit 5, Kingsdown Business Park, Salcombe Regis, Sidmouth EX10 0PD

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

p.1

The provision is good

The passionate and dedicated staff team creates a vibrant and stimulating environment, indoors and outdoors. Staff have wonderfully high expectations of children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Children show sustained levels of engagement, curiosity and concentration, and are highly motivated to learn. Wonderful consideration is given to children's physical and emotional well-being. Children relish the opportunities to be physically active in the garden. They strengthen their muscles using balance bikes and learn to manage their own risks as they climb equipment, calling to staff that they feel safe as they climb.

p.2

The provision is good

Children, including babies, settle very quickly and are exceedingly happy at nursery. They continuously demonstrate that they feel safe and secure, through their positive engagement and attitude towards learning. Babies and young children respond extremely well to the nurturing manner of staff. They explore the environment with increasing confidence, having the reassurance that their key person is close by. Older children persevere and show great determination to succeed at tasks. They behave extraordinarily well and develop firm and positive friendships with each other. Children exhibit kindness and concern, and they intuitively know when to share resources and take turns without direction from staff. Children speak confidently and with increasing fluency as they excitedly share the experience with their friends.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff know the children well. Well-planned and considered induction procedures help new children settle smoothly into the nursery's routines, whenever they start. Staff gather useful information from parents when children first start to plan for their future learning and care. Staff carefully observe children to check what they already know and can do. They use this information well to plan challenging activities. n The owner has a clear and ambitious vision for the setting. She is fully invested in supporting and encouraging every individual, both professionally and personally. As a result, staff morale is high. Practitioners' workloads are managed effectively, and the owner ensures that staff's well-being is given the highest priority. Everyone engages in training and research to boost their skills and knowledge. n There is a strong emphasis on promoting children's communication and language skills. Staff speak clearly and model good conversational skills. They

p.2

need to do better?

use strategies such as animated facial expressions, gesturing, picture cards and sign language to support children well. Children are confident and strong communicators.

p.2

need to do better?

29 January 2020 n Books, rhymes and stories are central to many aspects of children's learning. Babies select favourite stories and take them to staff to read. Older children enjoy being able to borrow books to take home and read with their families. Children in all rooms enjoy joining together before lunch to sing songs. n Children's mark-making skills are strongly promoted indoors and outdoors. Staff make sure that children are enticed by the wide range of good-quality writing, painting and drawing media. Babies develop their hand control as they make patterns in sequins and older children as they manipulate play dough and rice. Staff constantly praise children to successfully boost their self-confidence and esteem. n Children are resourceful and imaginative. They excitedly pretend to make a campfire using building blocks, working together to see how big they can make it. They collect song stones and use these to independently sing their favourite

p.2

need to do better?

songs around their campfire. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff provide thorough information on children's routines and achievements. Parents appreciate the guidance and support they receive to help their children through key stages of development such as toilet training and independent eating. In addition, staff work particularly well with specialist professionals to provide excellent levels of support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The dedicated owner and her team are committed to continuing to provide high standards of care and education for all children. They meet regularly as a team to reflect on practice and identify areas that can be improved. Parents' and children's views are actively sought, evaluated and acted on to drive continuous improvement. However, the owner is still developing the monitoring of staff practice to ensure the quality of teaching is consistently high across the nursery.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Stringent recruitment and induction processes are implemented to ensure that staff are suitably checked and vetted. The owner and staff have a good understanding of child protection procedures. They are alert to the possible indicators of abuse and know how to record and report any concerns they may have. Staff are well trained in wider safeguarding matters and understand the importance of monitoring children's attendance. They carry out daily checks to ensure that all areas of the premises are safe and secure.

p.3

should:

n further develop monitoring procedures to raise teaching to a consistently high level.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY551114 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10130863 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 to 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 46 Name of registered person Pinecones Nursery School Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01297680587 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Pinecones Nursery School registered in 2017 and is situated on the outskirts of Branscombe, Devon. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, all year round. The owner has early years professional status and is supported by eight staff. Of these, one has a level 6 qualification, two have a level 3 qualification, and three have a level 2 qualification. The nursery provides funded early education for children aged two, three and four years.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector observed staff and children inside and outside. n The inspector spoke with the owner and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the owner. n The inspector sampled documentation including policies and staff files. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through conversations and written feedback.

p.4

Inspection activities

29 January 2020 We carried out this inspection 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

Inspection activities

29 January 2020 regulates and inspects to 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.5

Inspection activities

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.6

Inspection activities

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.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6