Fledglings Lodge

Inspection of Fledglings Lodge 51 Armour Hill, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire RG31 6JP

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are happy to say 'goodbye' to their parents at the nursery door. They are met with a warm welcome by the nursery staff. Children are eager to explore in the inclusive environment, which is arranged to promote independence. They choose toys easily and engage well with other children during activities. Children behave well and are polite, kind and caring.

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The provision is good

Children have rich learning experiences that help them to develop skills essential for their future. Staff use effective teaching methods, including stories, songs and rhymes, to develop children's early literacy skills. Children sing familiar songs and have access to a good variety of books. They listen with interest to familiar stories and make comments about what they see. For example, they comment that a giraffe has very long legs and a very long neck.

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The provision is good

Children have plenty of opportunities to explore the outdoors. They have lots of fun as they play in the well-resourced garden. Children develop an awareness of how to keep themselves safe. For example, they confidently negotiate large apparatus, including tyres and wooden planks. Children manage risks effectively and understand the importance of being careful, such as when climbing up the tyres and down the planks.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff have worked hard to follow the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic lockdowns to help children to feel secure at the nursery. They have robust procedures in place to minimise disruption to children's learning. As a result, children follow nursery routines well and take care of resources. They have good relationships with staff and show respect for each other. n The curriculum is well designed and ambitious. Staff support children's communication and language development particularly well. Promoting language development is a key focus across the nursery. Staff introduce new vocabulary to children of all ages during focused communication and language activities. n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents are very happy with the support that children receive and comment on how staff keep them informed about their progress. Parents appreciate the effort that staff have made to maintain good

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need to do better?

communication and information sharing during the national lockdowns. n Leaders are proactive at assessing support for children who need it. They work well with other professionals and use additional funding effectively to support individual children's needs. As a result, all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), make good progress from their starting points. n Overall, staff are attentive to children's needs. They assess children effectively to

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need to do better?

14 September 2021 find out what they already know and can do and plan a curriculum to support children's next steps. On the whole, staff interact well with children; however, some staff do not always identify when quieter and less-confident children need more support to help them to fully engage in learning and play. n Staff make good use of spontaneous opportunities to extend children's learning. This is observed when children find a snail and a spider in the garden. Staff encourage them to compare the characteristics of the two insects to identify the differences. Children observe that the snail has a hard shell and moves by sliding. When children handle the snail, they comment that it tickles the palm of their hands as it moves along. Children also use mathematical vocabulary in their play. For instance, they comment that the snail is much smaller than the spider and, therefore, it must be a baby.

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need to do better?

n Staff teach children good habits that contribute to their health. Children role play brushing their teeth, and they wash their hands carefully before eating and after using the bathroom. However, staff do not extend this good practice and fully promote children's understanding of healthy eating when having snacks and meals. n Leaders regularly evaluate the strengths and areas for improvement in the nursery. This helps them to make continual improvements. Leaders make good use of annual appraisals to monitor staff's ongoing suitability and performance. They encourage their professional development. For example, staff have completed training to help them to support children's communication and language more effectively.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Robust recruitment and vetting arrangements help ensure that those working with children are suitable for their role. Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of child protection, including the wider aspects of safeguarding. Managers ensure staff undertake regular training, so staff's knowledge remains current. Staff confidently describe the signs which indicate that a child may be at risk of harm. They implement effective risk assessments that help to ensure children can play in a safe and secure environment.

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should:

n give quieter and less-confident children the support they need to engage fully in their learning n extend children's understanding of how healthy eating habits contribute to their overall health.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2496408 Local authority Reading Inspection number 10194322 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 17 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Fledglings Day Nursery (Tilehurst) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0118 9018068 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Fledglings Lodge registered in 2018. The setting is located in Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. The registered provider holds a level 6 qualification. The manager holds a level 4 qualification, and three staff members are qualified to level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector asked the staff questions throughout the inspection to establish their understanding of how to safeguard children and to how they assess and plan for children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between the staff and the children and considered the impact on children's learning.

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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

14 September 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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