Starjumps Nursery, Creche and Out of School Provision

Inspection of Starjumps Nursery, Creche and Out of School Provision Furzefield Centre, Mutton Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3BW

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is good

Children are welcomed by cheerful staff who help them to settle quickly into their day. Staff help children feel safe and secure through the strong key-person relationships that are in place. Children demonstrate growing friendships as they play together, taking turns to look after the 'baby'. When children face difficulties with sharing, staff help them to manage their emotions. Together, they seek solutions, such as finding a bigger space to draw. This enables all children to take part and have their own space to work. Children behave well. Staff set clear expectations for behaviour. They praise children for making positive choices, such as walking when inside.

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The provision is good

The ambitious curriculum provides children with a rich set of experiences that broaden and develop their knowledge of the wider world. Children enjoy swimming lessons and make regular visits to the local woods. They engage in a variety of physical sessions, such as gymnastics and football. This helps them to be physically active and develop their large motor skills. Staff ensure that children make the best use of their available environments, capitalising on as much learning as possible. For example, children become 'maths detectives' as they search for numbers that staff have hidden in the soft-play area.

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need to do better?

n The well-considered curriculum supports all children to build on their prior knowledge and skills. Staff use their knowledge of children to plan exciting activities that stretch and challenge children's learning and development. Children work through problems, such as how much water to add to sand to make it 'mouldable'. n Staff support children to become capable communicators. Children engage in favourite stories, songs and rhymes. They listen intently as staff engage them in a creative story session outside. Children learn new and interesting words as staff describe puddles in the sand tray as 'streams' and use the word 'combine' when children mix materials together. Staff use questioning that provokes children's thinking. However, staff do not always give children enough time to listen to and respond to the question. n Children are developing their fine motor skills. They make marks outside using

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need to do better?

large chalks, showing their emerging drawing skills. Inside, children make snowmen from dough. Staff ask them what features a snowman has, and children use materials such as sticks to make arms. Children remember that using the dough helps them to develop strong fingers. n Children are learning about what makes them unique. They create self-portraits and learn about festivals, such as Christmas and Diwali. Visits to the local community help children to understand about people who help them, such as

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need to do better?

11 December 2024 the staff in the local supermarket. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported very well. Leaders and staff have ensured that children receive personalised support that meets their individual needs. Staff know the children incredibly well and tailor their teaching to support every child to make the progress they are capable of. Effective observation and assessment identify what children already know and can do. This helps staff plan appropriate next steps in children's learning that link to children's interests and ideas. n Children have positive attitudes. Staff set clear and consistent expectations, which means that children behave well. They plan well-thought-out environments that support children to become engaged in their play and learning. Children focus as they match the correct number of dinosaurs to the numeral. They concentrate as they wash the dolls' hair. However, during small-

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need to do better?

group time, the noise levels mean that some children lose concentration and become disengaged for a short period. n The driven leaders use evaluation well. They have a clear vision and work hard to make continuous improvements to the curriculum and quality of teaching. This is supported by a commitment to staff supervision sessions and professional development. Staff well-being is a high priority and leaders ensure that staff receive meaningful support. n Parents speak very highly of the nursery and staff. They comment that they feel valued and supported. Parents are delighted by the range of opportunities that children have. They say that communication is excellent and the nursery helps them to network with other families and access support.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n support staff to develop their questioning skills that allow children more time to think about and respond to questions n review the arrangements for group activities, particularly in relation to noise levels, to ensure that all children are able to focus and concentrate during the sessions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY402500 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10368275 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

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inspection

Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 59

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Name of registered person

InspireAll Leisure and Family Support Services

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reference number

Telephone number 01707850555 Date of previous inspection 14 March 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Starjumps Nursery, Creche and Out of School Provision registered in 2010 and is situated in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds a qualification at level 6, seven are qualified at level 3 and four are qualified at level 2. There is also one member of staff who works in the office. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays and two weeks 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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Inspection activities

n The leadership team and the inspector carried out a learning walk and discussed how the curriculum for the nursery is organised. n The inspector and leaders carried out a joint observation together. n Parents shared their views with the inspector and their comments were taken into account. n The inspector observed teaching and learning, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's development. n A range of documents were sampled, including evidence of suitability checks, and discussions were held with leaders about the leadership and management of the nursery.

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Inspection activities

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.

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Inspection activities

11 December 2024 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.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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