Lodge Farm Nursery School

Inspection of Lodge Farm Nursery School Lodge Farm Nursery, Malmesbury Road, Kington Langley, Chippenham SN15 5PY

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 Not applicable

p.1

The provision is good

Babies and young children enjoy attending this friendly and welcoming nursery, located on a working farm. Staff provide a broad curriculum, which incorporates the main areas of learning effectively. Children show they are happy and build secure attachments with the caring staff team.

p.2

The provision is good

Children have lots of opportunities to be independent and explore their natural surroundings, including going on daily woodland walks. The nursery has three alpacas and free-range chickens. Children often collect the chicken eggs and talk proudly about their discoveries. Staff use these opportunities well to promote children's sense of responsibility and develop their nurturing skills. Children have a good understanding of the wider world and show confidence in exploring the various natural habitats.

p.2

The provision is good

Leaders are ambitious and have high expectations for all children to improve their learning potential. For example, following recent training, the staff team looked at creating 'friendly' spaces to promote and encourage good communication. As a result, all rooms introduced cosy, enclosed areas with soft furnishing for children to sit and enjoy talking with their peers, or to share a book. Staff have seen a significant improvement in children's speaking and listening skills and general engagement, since introducing these spaces.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff know how to create a calm atmosphere to support babies and young children to settle in and feel at ease. They ensure children understand how their behaviour may have an impact on others. For example, they are consistent in reminding children about using their walking feet, listening ears, quiet voices and kinds hands. All children build secure relationships with adults and play well alongside their peers. n Staff observe children regularly during their play and know how to seize opportunities throughout the day to extend children's interests. For example, when staff notice that some children show a keen interest in tractors during their play and when exploring picture books, they take them to see the farm tractors. Babies and toddlers have good opportunities to experience sensory play, such as exploring everyday objects and natural materials, including lavender-scented play dough. n Key persons monitor children's individual progress and, overall, they make good

p.2

need to do better?

use of their assessment information to identify children's capabilities. However, following recent changes in planning, staff are yet to achieve a more consistent approach in offering a mix of child-led and adult-led activities, and in embedding fully children's identified next steps within their plans.

p.2

need to do better?

25 November 2019 n Babies and young enjoy looking at picture books and staff use these opportunities well to help children understand about changes, such as using the potty or moving on to school. Older children learn to use technology confidently for a purpose. For example, they show good hand-to-eye coordination as they use their fingers to touch the interactive whiteboard and make marks. Overall, staff use language well to introduce new words and increase children's growing vocabulary. However, at times, staff do not give children sufficient time to respond to questions or to solve problems for themselves, before providing the answer. n Staff work closely with parents to find out about babies' personal care routines, such as sleep patterns and dietary needs. Parents receive regular feedback about their children's progress, such as via an online assessment tool, where they get to view their children's work. Parents comment positively on how staff

p.2

need to do better?

are always looking for new innovations to improve the quality of the provision. n The nursery's special educational needs coordinator has established secure links with local authority advisers and other professionals, such as speech therapists. She supports staff in providing targeted help for children who have language and speech delay, and those in receipt of funding. n Leaders ensure that all staff receive ongoing support and training to develop their practice and improve their skills. The nursery manager meets regularly with room supervisors to discuss any concerns. Additionally, the room supervisors meet termly with individual staff members to discuss key children and training needs, and explore ways to reduce staff workload. Staff comment that they enjoy their role, feel valued and welcome the support they receive from managers.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The lead practitioner for safeguarding has a secure understanding of her role. She ensures staff implement the nursery's safeguarding policy and procedures fully. She provides ongoing safeguarding training so that staff remain up to date with wider safeguarding issues. All staff demonstrate a good understanding of their role to keep children safe from harm. They are familiar with the main signs of abuse and the procedures for making a referral, should they have a concern about a child in their care.

p.3

should:

n enhance the current system for planning so it reflects fully a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities, and to embed clearly any identified next steps in children's learning

p.3

should:

25 November 2019 n allow older children sufficient time to process information and respond to challenging questions, to help develop their problem-solving and thinking skills.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY545761 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10102142 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 4 Total number of places 96 Number of children on roll 136 Name of registered person Collins, James Leslie

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01249 750075 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Lodge Farm Nursery School re-registered in 2017 and is located in Kington Langley, Chippenham, Wiltshire. The nursery is open weekdays from 7.30am until 6pm, throughout the year. The provider employs 28 staff. The majority of staff hold relevant qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 6. The provider is in receipt of free early education funding for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector undertook a learning walk, and the manager discussed how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector held a meeting with the management team. She looked at relevant documentation and checked evidence relating to the suitability of staff working at the nursery. n The manager and the inspector undertook a joint observation of an activity, which led to the inspector and manager discussing their findings. n The inspector visited all rooms, including the outdoor areas, and observed the interaction between children and staff. n The inspector took into account the views of children, staff and parents during the visit.

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

25 November 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