Akeley Wood Nursery

Akeley Wood Nursery Akeley Wood Junior School, Wicken Park Road, Wicken, Milton Keynes MK19 6DA

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Inspection date 5 June 2019 Previous inspection date Not applicable

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Not applicable Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision is good

n Staff carry out daily checks of the environment to ensure it safe and suitable, and children are supervised well. Mandatory training, such as safeguarding and first aid, is undertaken by all staff, which contributes to children's safety. n The well-qualified and dedicated staff have a secure understanding of the areas of learning and development. Staff make regular observations and assessments of children's progress. They use this information to plan activities that promote individual children's next steps in learning. n Staff work closely with parents to plan an individual settling-in period for each child. They provide consistent personal care and flexible routines for babies and younger children. This ensures all children are well supported to feel safe and secure in the nursery. n Children arrive at the nursery eager to engage in play and learning. Staff welcome each child individually. There are warm bonds between babies and very young children and

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This provision is good

the staff who look after them. Children enjoy cuddles from staff when they are feeling tired or need reassurance. n The manager monitors individuals and groups of children to make sure they are all progressing well over time. All children make good progress from their individual starting points. This includes children who speak English as an additional language and those who require additional support. n The monitoring of staff practice is not rigorous enough to identify clearly how individual staff can raise the quality of their practice and teaching to the highest level. n Staff do not make the best use of their good partnerships with parents to encourage them to share what they know about their child's learning and development at home.

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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

n strengthen the monitoring of staff practice to help raise the quality of teaching to the highest level n engage parents in sharing information about their child's achievements at home, to gain a broader picture of their development.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery management team. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working at the nursery.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager and staff have a secure understanding of child protection procedures. They know to act quickly to keep children safe, including recording and referring concerns if they notice signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. There is a strong team spirit and staff value the importance of working together. The manager's commitment to build on the good quality of care and learning is enthusiastically demonstrated. Staff value the opinions of parents and make good use of these to drive change and to improve practice. Parents speak highly of the staff and the setting, and value having their opinions and ideas listened to. Following parent feedback, staff have provided more opportunities for parental involvement within the nursery.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children make choices about what they would like to play with. They develop their imagination as they recreate familiar experiences. Children eagerly buy and sell food in the role-play shop. Staff play alongside children and encourage them to talk about what they are doing. Toddlers express their ideas confidently. Children match pictures of animals. Staff engage children in conversation about the features of the animals, asking children questions to promote their thinking skills. Staff use signing to support young children's emerging language. Staff work effectively with other settings that children also attend, including the on-site school nursery. This helps to provide continuity in children's care and learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children spend prolonged periods playing and learning outside. Their love of outdoor play is apparent as they excitedly take part in forest school sessions. Toddlers show a keen interest in their natural environment as they collect natural items and hunt for insects. Children enjoy the varied and freshly prepared meals, which are meticulously planned to take account of any dietary needs or preferences. Staff eat alongside children. They encourage babies to feed themselves and model table manners to older children. Staff praise positive behaviour and give consistent, calm reminders about the boundaries in place. Children respect each other and are learning how to share and take turns.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident and are keen to learn. They are developing the necessary skills required to support them in the next stages of their learning. Toddlers handle books with care and listen attentively to stories. They gain a sense of responsibility as they eagerly help to tidy away toys. Babies babble happily and use gestures to communicate what they want to do. Toddlers develop good mathematical knowledge as they learn to count and use numbers in their play. Children develop their physical abilities, toddlers learn to manoeuvre bicycles safely and babies crawl and pull to standing. Toddlers manage their own self-care needs well, such as using the toilet and washing their hands before eating meals.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY542265 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 10105789 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 0 - 3 Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Cognita Schools Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01908 571231

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reference number

Akeley Wood Nursery registered in 2017 and is located in Wicken, Milton Keynes. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm.

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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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procedures set out in the guidance Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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