The Village Nursery, Shenington

Inspection of The Village Nursery, Shenington Shenington Airfield, Rattlecombe Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 6NY

p.1

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

p.1

The provision is inadequate

Children's safety is compromised. For example, at snack times, children are able to move about the nursery while eating. Staff have not identified that this presents a choking hazard. That said, at other times, staff monitor children closely. For example, they check regularly on sleeping children. Children arrive calmly to the nursery. They look to familiar staff for reassurance if they feel a little upset. Staff offer plenty of smiles and reassurance.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children initially enjoy many of the activities on offer. For example, they use their imagination to play with toy farm animals and make pretend cups of tea. They show curiosity as they explore baskets of different resources. Outside, older children have lots of opportunities to play and run energetically. However, staff are unclear about what they want children to learn next. This hinders staff's ability to build on children's interests and deliver meaningful learning and high-quality teaching. Younger children are often carried around by staff. This limits children's opportunities to explore and practise their developing skills. Staff engage in limited conversations with children.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children behave suitably for their age. They are polite to visitors. They show that they are keen to learn. For example, older children ask visitors how things work and ask them to join in with their play.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff have not identified and minimised all risks, nor do they supervise children closely enough at all times. For example, children are not asked to sit down at snack time. They are free to walk about and continue playing. Staff use this time to tidy up and clean. This means that they are not aware of where children are when they are eating foods that present a choking hazard. This puts children at significant risk of harm. n The manager, who is also the provider, has identified what she wants children to learn during their time at the nursery. However, this curriculum intent is not understood by other staff. As a result, staff do not plan activities with any precise learning in mind. Staff focus on supervising children while they play, rather than extending children's skills and knowledge. n Children are not hearing lots of words and phrases to build on their language skills. This is because some staff do not engage in enough conversations with

p.2

need to do better?

them or model language to describe what children are doing. When staff do ask questions, they do not phrase these in ways that invite children to use more than single words to answer. That said, the manager does model language well. For example, she explains to children what the word 'erosion' means. n Staff often carry younger children around the nursery and garden, including at

p.2

need to do better?

22 November 2021 times when children are happily playing and showing no signs of distress. At these times, staff are not helping children to develop important skills, such as learning to move in different ways or to explore independently. n Children initially find resources appealing. However, due to weaknesses in teaching, this interest wanes over time. Some younger children then stand around and are not sure what to do. Staff often prioritise domestic tasks over helping these children to engage in meaningful play and learning. n The manager knows that there are inconsistencies in the quality of teaching. However, she is not making good use of supervision sessions with staff to help them to improve. Staff are unaware of what they need to do to improve their performance. n Staff meet many of the children's care needs well. They are aware of family preferences and children's routines. For example, some children sleep outside in

p.2

need to do better?

buggies and others sleep in quiet rooms indoors. Staff follow strict hygiene routines when changing nappies or preparing food. They ensure that the premises are clean and hygienic. n Children have regular opportunities to listen to stories and sing songs. Older children, especially, show that they enjoy these times and have favourite books and rhymes. Children are developing some understanding of how stories are structured, in preparation for developing further their literacy skills at school. n Children are developing a positive attitude towards an active lifestyle. Older children really enjoy being in the garden. This was illustrated when they laughed and cheered as they collected leaves and threw them in the air. n Parents are positive about the nursery. They report that their children enjoy attending. Staff have kept in regular contact during the COVID-19 pandemic and offered parents lots of suggestions for activities they could do at home with their

p.3

need to do better?

children. However, not all parents are made aware of changes that affect their children. For example, when children are allocated a new key person. This illustrates that these partnerships are not fully effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Children are exposed to unnecessary hazards because staff have not identified the risks to children's safety that result from poor supervision at some mealtimes. However, staff have a secure understanding of the signs of potential abuse or neglect. They understand the importance of raising any such concerns quickly to help to protect children from harm. Staff understand their obligation to escalate any such concerns beyond staff at the nursery if they are unhappy with the action senior staff plan to take. The provider follows suitable recruitment procedures to ensure the suitability of those she employs to work with children.

p.3

Due date

ensure that all risks to children's safety are identified and minimised, including potential hazards around snack time arrangements 01/12/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure that all children are adequately supervised at all times, including when eating 01/12/2021

p.4

Due date

support staff to improve their interactions with children, to ensure that children receive effective support to develop their speaking and listening skills 01/02/2022

p.4

Due date

develop an effective curriculum for the youngest children, to ensure that they have ample opportunities and support to develop a wide range of skills and follow their curiosity and interests 01/02/2022

p.4

Due date

implement effective staff coaching and supervision, to improve the overall quality of the curriculum and teaching. 01/02/2022

p.4

should:

n improve partnerships with parents to ensure that they are promptly informed about changes to key-person arrangements, to further meet the needs of children.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY482561 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10210762 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

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Wray-Mitchell, Amanda Louise

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01295 688476 Date of previous inspection 31 August 2016

p.5

Information about this early years setting

The Village Nursery, Shenington registered in 2014 and is situated in Shenington, near Banbury, Oxfordshire. It is open from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8.30am to 6pm. The nursery employs four members of staff. The manager holds a relevant qualification at level 6 and two other members of staff hold qualifications at level 3. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 the evaluation of the nursery. n The manager and the inspector had a learning walk. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation. n Parents and children shared their views with the inspector. n The inspector spoke with the manager and staff at convenient times during the inspection and looked at relevant documentation.

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

22 November 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.

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