Little Oaks Day Nursery & Childcare @ Woodlands

Inspection of Little Oaks Day Nursery & Childcare @ Woodlands 85 Shaftsbury Avenue, Woodlands, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN6 7TH

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Managers and staff form strong relationships with children and their families and get to know them well. This helps staff to provide meaningful learning opportunities that build on children's individual experiences. Staff value the uniqueness of every child. This is confirmed by parents, who are extremely happy with the care and education that staff provide. Parents compliment the 'home away from home' feel that the nursery has. They say staff 'love' and 'nourish' their children just as they do.

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The provision is good

Children are safe, happy and at ease in the nursery. They are keen to join in the appealing activities that staff offer. For example, two-year-old children enjoy hiding toy dinosaurs in sand and washing them afterwards. Older children explore colours while mixing chalks and water on an outdoor wall. However, occasionally, children become restless during some group activities.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of all children and provide clear boundaries for behaviour. They consistently model good manners and respect to help children to learn to be polite and considerate. Staff are sensitive to the needs of children who are new to the nursery. They give them plenty of attention and affection to help them to settle quickly and develop a sense of belonging and security.

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need to do better?

n Staff morale is high. Managers support staff well and involve them in improvement plans. Professional development is focused on its impact on children's learning and development. Funding has been used to provide training aimed at helping staff to enhance children's outdoor experiences. Managers and staff value the benefits of this on children's emotional well-being. n Provision for babies is very good. They thrive in staff's care and develop remarkable skills. For example, they communicate with staff using simple signs, and anticipate what comes next at song time. Babies clap, bounce and babble along, copying actions and joining in with familiar sounds. n Children are keen to learn and they help to plan and review activities. Staff offer them plenty of choices in their play and recap their learning with them afterwards. For example, children show their friends the tree roots they have dug up in the garden and explain that this is how trees take in water. This helps

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need to do better?

to reinforce new learning. Children remember and build on their new knowledge and skills. n Staff use what they know about children to help them to support their learning through planned and spontaneous activities. This, generally, helps children to learn more. However, some group activities are less effective. At times, children are distracted by other activities or people in nursery, or they become restless

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need to do better?

26 February 2020 when activities are too long. n Staff promote and support children's good health very well. Hygiene procedures are well embedded. Children know when and why they should wash their hands. Staff are working towards an accreditation for the provision of healthy meals and snacks. Children benefit from the highly nutritious menu. Opportunities for exercise are plentiful. Children run and climb in the garden and enjoy lively dance sessions indoors. n Relationships between staff and children are consistently warm and supportive. The key-person system is highly effective. Staff support children very well to develop resilience and confidence. Managers aim to provide children with a 'secure base' from which to explore. Children frequently climb onto an adult's lap for a hug. n Staff develop effective partnerships with a wide range of professionals. This supports them to meet the needs of children with special educational needs and/

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need to do better?

or disabilities even more precisely. n Children develop good skills in literacy and mathematics. Some exceed typical expectations for their age. They confidently count and identify familiar letters and the sounds they make. Staff provide plenty of opportunities for children to make attempts at early writing. For example, they encourage them to write their name in greeting cards and some children can do this very well. Babies learn about early mark making during sensory play. They trace their fingers through lentils in a tray.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff have a secure understanding of their responsibility to keep children safe. They have a good knowledge of the signs that may indicate a child is at risk from harm. There are clear procedures to follow if managers and staff have a concern about a child's welfare. There are good arrangements implemented to keep up to date with changes to legislation and guidance. This contributes to staff's understanding of wider aspects of safeguarding, such as protecting children from dangers posed by extreme views. Recruitment procedures are robust and managers undertake regular checks to ensure that staff remain suitable for their role.

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should:

n refine the organisation of group activities and promote children's listening and attention skills even more effectively.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY430580 Local authority Doncaster Inspection number 10131615 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 to 4 Total number of places 34 Number of children on roll 63 Name of registered person Little Oaks Day Nursery & Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01302 724 707 Date of previous inspection 31 May 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Little Oaks Day Nursery & Childcare @ Woodlands registered in 2001. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one who has early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The managers showed the inspector around the nursery. They talked about how they organise their provision and about the curriculum they follow to support children's learning. n The inspector observed staff's teaching in all nursery rooms and in the outdoor area. She assessed the impact this has on children's development and achievements. n One of the managers observed and evaluated an activity alongside the inspector. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She spoke to a number of parents and took account of the views of others through written feedback provided. n The managers met with the inspector to discuss the leadership and management of the nursery. She looked at a range of documents provided for inspection, including evidence of the suitability checks carried out on staff.

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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.

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Inspection activities

26 February 2020 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.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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