Cygnet Nursery

Cygnet Nursery 44/45 Evenlode Crescent, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, OX5 1RF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 June 2016 20 January 2016

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Leaders and managers have a good overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the nursery. They use effective monitoring procedures to check the quality of practice. Senior staff have worked closely with the local authority to devise and implement a clear action plan which continues to improve the overall quality of the nursery.  Partnership with parents is strong. Parents speak very positively about the nursery. They comment that staff are 'amazing' and 'really know their children well'. Parents say that the methods of communication have improved and they are actively involved in their children’s care and education.  Children with special educational needs are supported well. Close partnership working with both parents and professionals ensures children receive the support they need and they are helped to achieve their full potential.  The key person system is effective because staff know their children well. This supports

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This provision is good

children’s well-being. Children are confident, enthusiastic and emotionally well prepared for the next step in their learning.  There is a strong focus on communication and language skills. For example, staff narrate what younger children are doing to enable them to link actions to words. The use of signs and pictures help children who need additional support.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Teaching is not consistently of the highest quality throughout the nursery, especially in the room for the older babies.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 ensure that the teaching in the older baby room is consistently of the highest quality.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to parents and carers to gain their views on the quality of the nursery.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the nursery manager in the pre-school room to assess how leaders monitor staff practice.  The inspector observed activities both inside and outside to evaluate the support for children's learning.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children’s developmental records and staff information.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Leaders and managers of the nursery have worked extremely hard since the last inspection to target areas that required improvement. The new management team is dedicated and committed to improving outcomes for children. Senior staff listen and act promptly on the advice and support given by the local authority. The staff team have updated their skills and knowledge by attending a range of training, which is further supported through new mentoring and monitoring systems. The impact of this work can be seen in the improvement in the quality of teaching and learning. Safeguarding is effective. All staff have completed training, which helps to ensure they understand their responsibilities to protect children and keep them safe. Recruitment procedures are robust and effectively monitored. This means the appropriate checks are completed to confirm that all staff are suitable to work with children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The quality of teaching is consistently good or better in the younger baby room, toddler room and pre-school and mainly good in the older baby room. The improved assessment procedures are having a positive effect on planning for children's individual needs. Staff plan activities based on children's interests and the next steps in their learning. They actively promote children’s interests in books and singing, by using props such as puppets, and this encourages children to listen and respond.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are well behaved and they are learning to be kind, share and take turns with their friends. Staff praise and reward children for their efforts; for example, through the positive use of a 'kindness tree' and 'star of the week’. Children show a sense of belonging; they are eager to talk about the activities they take part in and proudly show visitors photographs and their displayed art work. Parents contribute 'wow moments' from home enabling staff and parents to celebrate children's achievements. This promotes their self- esteem and confidence. Babies demonstrate they feel secure with their key person. They go to them for cuddles and are confident to eagerly explore their environment.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are busy and engaged in their learning throughout the day. They are motivated, keen to learn and well-prepared for moving on to school. Children are encouraged to be independent through the daily routine. For example, they put their boots and coats on ready for outdoor play. Children are keen to investigate the interesting activities available. They become deeply engrossed in washing their dolls and spend long periods of time concentrating on what they are doing. Children are encouraged to communicate their own ideas through art and craft work. Having learnt about the life cycle of plants, they draw pictures of how they grow. Children’s physical development is promoted well. They confidently ride bikes, climb the slide and balance on beams.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 133852 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 1051827 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 72 Number of children on roll 80 Name of registered person David Patrick Smith

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 20 January 2016 Telephone number 01865 842006

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reference number

Cygnet Nursery is a privately owned setting which opened in 1992. It operates from two adjacent buildings in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. Funding is accepted to provide free early education for children aged three and four years, and for eligible two-year-olds. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm all year round. A team of 20 staff including support staff are employed; of these, 15 have appropriate early years qualifications.

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reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted 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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reference number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, 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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reference number

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reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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