YMCA Woolston Day Nursery

Inspection of YMCA Woolston Day Nursery Victoria Road, SOUTHAMPTON SO19 9EF

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children thrive in this large, very clean, airy nursery, alongside staff who support their needs well. They enjoy rich play and language experiences and show high levels of motivation and curiosity. Staff create an extremely vibrant and inviting environment to stimulate children. Children show great excitement and joy in their learning and development, particularly in the younger age groups. They are highly enthusiastic and active learners who quickly learn new skills and develop their knowledge. The leadership team has a clear understanding of the curriculum and high expectations of the staff and children. For example, two-year-olds listen animatedly to stories because staff have good teaching skills. They capture children's interest through excellent use of pause, pitch and tone in their voice. They offer children varied questions and give clear explanations. Babies in particular feel extremely safe and happy. Staff tune into their individual needs

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The provision is good

effectively and have a good understanding of child development. Children across the nursery show excellent behaviour and very positive attitudes to learning. Older children show strong relationships and respect for their friends. For example, when one of their friends has an accident and is receiving first aid, they look on with great concern.

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need to do better?

n Members of the new leadership team strive for excellence in everything they do and have high aspirations for their staff and children. They work extremely cohesively together and develop a culture of continuous reflection and improvement. Staff recruitment and retention are very good. There is high focus on staff well-being and personal development which includes a lot of coaching and training opportunities. n An excellent monitoring system is in place to develop the quality of education across the nursery. Leaders recognise that although the curriculum intent in the pre-school room is good, the teaching practice is not of high quality, in particular for children starting school. They have short-term plans in place to address this. n Staff expertly support babies' care and learning needs. They know each unique child extremely well and offer great support for them to master key skills in talking and walking. For example, staff create a mini beach theme, after

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need to do better?

identifying that babies lack this experience. Babies have huge fun and show great excitement discovering the sand, water, toys and underwater creatures. Staff are highly enthusiastic. They role model words clearly to babies, introduce simple counting and share a book about going to the seaside on a train. n The focus on high-quality key-person relationships is evident. Children show very strong bonds to one another and the staff. Staff have an excellent understanding of children's emotional well-being and actively promote this. For example, when a young child becomes attached to a nursery sun hat, they take

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need to do better?

1 July 2021 it home and wear it consistently indoors and outside. n Children's behaviour is excellent. Staff have very high expectations of children from a young age. For example, at lunchtime, children aged 'just two' help to give out food to their friends and then help to tidy up supervised by the staff. Young children are very proud of their achievements and smile broadly. n Partnerships with parents are good. Overall, parents report good communication with the staff and the benefits of their child attending nursery. However, there is not enough emphasis on helping parents carry on children's learning at home, particularly due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic restrictions of the past year. n Children demonstrate high levels of confidence. They take responsibility for themselves, showing excellent self-help skills. For example, after getting wet in water play, they make the decision to change their clothes. Children

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need to do better?

independently go to the bathroom, undress, and skilfully put on dry clothes, without any adult help.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Members of the leadership team pay excellent attention to child protection. They use their extensive knowledge of their families and the local safeguarding children partnership procedures to ensure children are kept safe from harm. The leaders ensure there is a clear culture of vigilance amongst the team. All staff are extremely well trained. They are confident at recognising and reporting any signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. This includes wider aspects of safeguarding, such as children being drawn into extremism. The provider follows safer recruitment procedures well when appointing new staff, which includes a specific safeguarding interview.

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should:

n continue to develop the quality of education, with emphasis on the quality of teaching practice with older children n strengthen the partnership with parents to enable them to continue their children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY479896 Local authority Southampton Inspection number 10197595 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 108 Number of children on roll 147 Name of registered person YMCA Fairthorne Group

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reference number

Telephone number 01489 785228 Date of previous inspection 30 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

YMCA Woolston Day Nursery registered in 2014. The nursery opens from 7.30am to 6pm five days a week for 51 weeks a year. It receives funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. There are 26 members of staff who work with the children. Of these, two hold an early years degree at level 6 and 24 hold an early years qualification between level 2 and level 5.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they like to do at nursery. n Parents gave feedback to the inspector about the nursery. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together.

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Inspection activities

1 July 2021 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

1 July 2021 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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