Zahara Day Nursery improves to good after inadequate rating

Zahra Day Nursery in Vicarage Street Bolton, was found to be a place where children 'happily' attend and are well supported by staff.

The Ofsted inspector reported: "Children smile happily and parents enjoy watching as their children confidently say 'goodbye' and eagerly go to explore the available activities. Children benefit from high levels of staff support."

Staff are delighted with the new rating of good (Image: Public)

They added: "Children develop the skills and attitudes they will need to be ready for the next stage in their learning. Children behave well and are supported by staff to achieve good levels of personal independence."

Following the  Ofsted inspection in December last year Zahra Day Nursery was rated good in all areas including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and personal development.

It follows on from the inspection in June last year where they were rated as inadequate.

Inspector Vickie Halliwell found that staff “enthusiastically” welcomed children and their families into their “caring and supportive nursery”.

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Since the previous inspection, the provider has taken steps to address concerns.

The report states that the newly recruited manager, Susan Lister, evaluates the quality of the provision “effectively” and is keen to further enhance the quality of education provided.

She currently works directly alongside staff to ensure that children receive good quality care and education.

The report added: “The skilled manager uses her time working alongside staff to help identify staff training needs.

“She provides coaching and support as she models good practice.

“However, staff are not fully supported to access additional training to further improve their teaching skills and develop their professional knowledge.

“Leaders are clear about how the curriculum should be taught.”

Miss Lister joined the nursery in September last year and says that a lot of the feedback from the last inspection has been taken onboard.

She said: “I have been working with the owners and the Early Years team and looking at the actions that came up and working towards getting a good rating.

“Through my experience of being a manager and a deputy manager for quite a few years, and looking at what worked and didn’t work, we put this into practice.

“I have also helped get staff up to date with training and looked at anything they needed to work on.

“Parents spoke to Ofsted on the day spoke about all the improvements they saw, and they said that the environment was a lot better.

“We had no warning they were coming, but we got a good result in the end.

“I am pleased that I have got it back up to a good rating, and it feels quite positive for the owners of the nursery.”

Director Afeefa Datool said: “The whole credit goes to the manager Susan Lister who did really well, as well as Debbie Meggie from Bolton Start Well.

“It feels great that we are back on track and get the funding back.

“We can see major differences between the reports, and with the right manager and help and support we were able to make it.”

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