A SOUTH OCKENDON nursery has been told to improve by Ofsted.
Headstart Nursery in Darenth Lane in South Ockendon was inspected by the government watchdog in April 2016.
Headstart Nursery was registered in 2015 and is one of three settings operated by Headstart Partnership. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or level 4.
The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 7pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.
The report makes the following observations.
The quality of teaching and activities provided are variable. Staff supervision is not sharply focused on what aspects of practice can be improved to further raise the quality and consistency of teaching.
Staff do not consistently make best use of children’s interests and activities to challenge and extend their learning.
The two-way flow of information with parents is not yet fully established. Staff do not always encourage parents to contribute their own views towards children’s ongoing learning and assessment in the setting.
The manager is not using self-evaluation effectively to identify key priorities in order to drive improvements in the setting more swiftly.
The report points to the following strengths.
Daily risk assessments are carried out by all staff to ensure areas accessed by children are safe and any hazards are quickly identified and removed. Staff are diligent in their supervision of the children and staffing ratios are met at all times.
Parents speak positively about the nursery. They feel their children are safe and well cared for.
Staff spend time making sure that all children settle well. The warm, caring staff team build secure relationships with children who learn to behave well.
Children’s physical and emotional well-being are promoted well. Staff provide plentiful opportunities for children to enjoy fresh air and exercise which contribute towards a healthy lifestyle.
