Spring - RAF Benson

Inspection of Spring - RAF Benson Royal Air Force, Benson, Wallingford OX10 6AA

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

p.1

The provision is good

Staff monitor children's progress effectively and they know the children well. They plan an exciting range of activities based on children's interests. Children progress well from their starting points and develop effective skills they need for their future learning and to support their readiness for school. Children are sociable, independent and eager learners. Staff provide varied opportunities for babies to use their senses. For instance, babies explore animals in the sand, and show great curiosity to investigate and handle a range of natural objects. All staff place a high focus on supporting children's language development. They listen attentively to older children and regularly engage them in conversations about their lives outside of the nursery. Staff working with the toddlers provide a rich range of vocabulary for children to hear and repeat.

p.2

The provision is good

Children's well-being is given a good priority in the nursery. Children develop secure attachments to staff, who are responsive to their needs. Staff speak to children warmly and listen to their ideas with interest. Children confidently move around the nursery, choosing what they would like to do. Staff encourage children's positive behaviour. They regularly praise children for their efforts. Staff use additional funding well. For example, additional training and resources help staff to promote children's communication and language skills. This helps to narrow any gaps in achievement.

p.2

need to do better?

n Leaders work well together to monitor the quality of the curriculum provided. They use many methods to evaluate the provision. For example, they seek the views of parents and staff to help raise standards. Since the last inspection, they have focused well on helping staff to improve their knowledge about children's development to accurately identify their next steps. n Babies settle well because staff get to know their routines. Staff use routine activities to interact with babies, such as singing and talking to the children consistently. This helps to develop babies' early stages of speech. Children enjoy good opportunities to be active and develop their physical skills indoors and outside. Babies crawl, learn to pull themselves to standing and take their first steps. Older children excitedly climb, dig or explore the sensory areas. n Staff support children to lead active and healthy lifestyles. Children eat nutritious

p.2

need to do better?

and healthy meals and have regular outdoor play. They are encouraged to follow good hygiene routines from a young age. Staff encourage children to be independent. For example, older children serve themselves food and pour their own drinks. n Children settle quickly and demonstrate they feel safe and secure in the nursery. They form strong bonds with caring staff. However, on occasions there are times

p.2

need to do better?

23 September 2019 in the toddler room where staffing ratios do meet the qualification requirements for children aged two to three years. Although this is a breach in requirements, during the inspection it was observed that this did not have an impact on children's safety, well-being and development. n Staff support children well, such as when children first start, when moving rooms and when preparing children for starting school. This includes partnership working with parents and other professionals. Staff communicate effectively with parents using a variety of methods, for instance through daily discussions and the sharing of photographs and information about children's achievements. Parents are complimentary about the nursery and the good progress their children have made. n Leaders have developed a programme for staff's ongoing professional development with regular supervision meetings and opportunities for staff to

p.2

need to do better?

complete training. For example, staff have applied what they have learned from their recent speech and language training to further support children's communication skills. However, leaders recognise there are some stronger areas of teaching across the nursery. They are keen to continually improve performance management opportunities that aim to manage staff's workloads and raise the quality and consistency of teaching, so that children make even more rapid progress in their learning.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff understand their responsibilities to keep children safe from harm. They know how to report any concerns they may have about children's welfare. Managers and staff have a clear understanding of local child protection procedures and wider safeguarding issues. Leaders are proactive in researching a wide range of safeguarding information, to increase staff's knowledge of how to identify and manage risks to children. Recruitment and vetting procedures are robust to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children.

p.3

Due date

ensure appropriate staff qualifications meet the ratio requirements at all times. 08/10/2019

p.3

should:

23 September 2019 n build on the systems for performance management opportunities and managing staff's workloads, to further develop their skills, to help enrich the practice and raise the teaching to an even higher level.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY539492 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10081916 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 to 8 Total number of places 104 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person Action For Children Developments Ltd

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01491 838112 Date of previous inspection 9 October 2018

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Spring - RAF Benson registered in 2016. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 5.30pm. An additional before- and after-school club operates on the same premises and offers care for school-age children during term time and some weeks in the holidays. The nursery employs 13 members of staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery receives funding for the provision of early education for three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

Information about this inspection

Inspectors Anneliese Fox-Jones Tracy Bartholomew

p.5

Inspection activities

n The inspectors and the manager completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n The inspectors observed activities in the three main base rooms and garden areas. They talked to staff about the progress individual children are making. n Two joint observation were carried out by the inspectors and leaders. The inspectors checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children. n A meeting was held between the inspectors and the manager. The inspectors spoke with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspectors took account of the views of parents spoken to during the inspection. n Leaders discussed self-evaluation processes and plans for improvement.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

23 September 2019 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7