Noah's Ark Nursery School

Inspection of Noah's Ark Nursery School Downlands Road, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 5EF

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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 curious and happy as they play with friends. On arrival, they confidently wave goodbye to their parents and rush into the nursery. They feel secure and safe. Children of all ages engage well, often focusing on one activity for a long time. Pre-school-age children build coordination and strength riding tricycles. Staff join in, riding adult-sized tricycles. They help create clear routes, guiding children to take turns.

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The provision is good

Staff have created a broad curriculum, preparing children well for their next stage of learning. Children of all ages make good progress in their learning and development. Staff support children to enhance their imagination and creativity. Weekly music sessions allow children to play percussion instruments alongside someone on guitar. They learn about tempo, volume and rhythm. During role play, children sell pretend ice cream. They concentrate as they pretend to scoop ice cream into cones. They use a wide vocabulary, explaining flavour options like 'vanilla', 'strawberry' or 'chocolate' and suggest 'marshmallow' or 'sprinkle' toppings. Others confidently share what they know and enjoy.

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The provision is good

Staff guide children to understand how their behaviour affects others. Children are kind and share toys. They learn to sit quietly while cuddling Georgie, the nursery rabbit, and Tango, the guinea pig, so as not to frighten the animals. Staff prompt them to remember that the animals enjoy eating carrots and cabbage, teaching children what animals need to survive. Children grow sunflowers from seeds, learning what plants need to thrive.

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need to do better?

n There is a good focus on supporting children to build their confidence in mathematics. Staff support toddlers to build their mathematical vocabulary, using words like 'bigger', 'smaller' and 'taller'. Pre-school-age children identify numerals, explaining that the number they see in a book is the same as their age. They confidently count their 10 fingers and name shapes such as squares and triangles. n Staff have developed a good curriculum with a strong focus on building children's social and emotional skills and confidence. However, at times, activities for older and most-able children do not consistently provide them with further challenge to help them make the best possible progress. n Children are encouraged to have fun playing outdoors, where they build their core strength and balance by completing an assault course with staff's support. Some children develop their coordination by walking on stilts. Staff use gentle

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need to do better?

voices to encourage the children, praising them for their perseverance and achievements.

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need to do better?

29 April 2025 n Some older children are confident communicators and enjoy chatting with their friends. Staff teach children of all ages to use sign language to express their needs. However, in their interactions, staff do not always have conversations with children that support and encourage them to explore their ideas and interests further. n Children enjoy listening to stories read by staff. Staff help children develop a love for books and stories. Through listening to these books, children gain knowledge of experiences beyond their own. Staff read books in an engaging way, and children enjoy joining in with the parts they know well. Staff have created a popular lending library, which encourages children to extend their love of books at home. n Staff work well together and report feeling valued in their roles. Managers have strong links with other early years professionals and keep regular contact with

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need to do better?

other providers when children attend another setting. Staff undertake training to stay up to date with early years developments, and, by reflecting on regular feedback from other staff, they extend their practice. n Staff partnerships with parents are effective. Parents report that they feel well informed about their children's daily activities and progress. They value the staff's use of the outdoors, which promotes their children's physical development. Parents recommend the nursery to others. Parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities report that children are well supported and make good progress from their individual starting points.

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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 strengthen the planning of activities for older and most-able children to provide them with further challenge n engage children in conversations that support and encourage them to explore their ideas and interests even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 145998 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10388307 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 55 Name of registered person Noah`s Ark Nursery School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01380 727203 Date of previous inspection 5 July 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Noah's Ark Nursery School registered in 2001 and is located within the grounds of Wansdyke Primary School, Devizes, Wiltshire. The nursery is open each weekday from 8.15am to 4.30pm, during school term time only. It provides government funded places for childcare. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications, including two with qualified teacher status.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this is having on the children's learning. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk of the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity, and they evaluated this together. n The inspector spoke to parents and gathered their views on the setting.

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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

29 April 2025 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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