Horspath Nursery

Inspection of Horspath Nursery Blenheim Road, Horspath, OXFORD OX33 1RY

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children show that they are happy, settled and secure in the calm, friendly and welcoming nursery. They develop positive relationships with staff, who know children well and are attentive to their needs. Children are keen and curious learners. They benefit from exciting opportunities to try new things and show high levels of energy and motivation as they play. Children concentrate well and show resilience as they persevere at tasks. They try hard not to give up when faced with challenges. Children demonstrate a keenness to find out more about nature. For example, they learn about the life cycle of a frog as they go pond dipping for tadpoles or build a den from sticks.

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The provision is good

Children learn a wide range of skills in readiness for starting school. They show an impressive knowledge of the sounds that letters make and they write with skill and purpose. Staff have high expectations of children. They are strong role models for children and provide effective support for their emotional well-being. Children's behaviour is very good. They build strong friendships with their peers and relish opportunities to play together in imaginative games. Nurturing staff help children learn that their opinions matter. They sensitively support children to understand how to manage their feelings when their view differs from their friends.

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need to do better?

n The dedicated manager provides strong leadership for the staff team. She uses her expertise and professional qualifications effectively to motivate a staff team that is dedicated to providing the best possible start for all children. The manager ensures ongoing professional development for all staff, including those new to the nursery, so that they develop their skills and knowledge further. Staff successfully use the knowledge and skills they gain through training. For example, training in phonics and letter formation supports children's continued good development in literacy, in readiness for their move to school. n Children benefit from good levels of staff interaction and support. Staff creatively design a curriculum that takes into account children's preferred learning styles and which motivates children in their learning. Staff spend purposeful time with children, helping them build on what they know and can do. However, support

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need to do better?

for children during activities is not always precise enough to ensure that they are challenged to the highest level. Despite this, all children, including those in receipt of additional funding and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress overall. n Staff place a strong focus on developing children's literacy skills and love of books. They imaginatively recount familiar stories, adopting the voices of the characters. Children become enthralled as the story develops. They eagerly chant along, with a good recall of the storyline, showing a wide vocabulary.

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need to do better?

7 April 2022 n Children's good health is promoted effectively. They benefit immensely from the excellent challenges offered to them as they play outside. The well-planned range of outdoor play experiences captures the interest of groups of children effectively, such as older boys, who sustain their concentration well. Children are helped to understand how to keep themselves and others safe. They enjoy sitting in the sunshine and building towers with their friends. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents speak highly of the nursery and the support for their children. Staff ensure an effective two-way flow of information that supports children's learning well. They use a wide range of ways to get parents involved in their children's learning, including through the online system and video consultations. Staff successfully work with the on-site school to ensure consistency in their approach to their curriculum. They work

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need to do better?

effectively with other professionals to provide swift intervention and precise support when children need them. n The committee holds good oversight of the management of the nursery. It ensures effective accountability of staff's use of additional funding and ensures that children have full access to their entitlement to early education. The committee monitors the performance of staff, including the manager, to ensure the smooth day-to-day operation of the nursery. It holds staff to account if any concerns are raised and ensures matters are attended to swiftly. Staff comment that they feel supported and their workload is managed well.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The committee, the manager and staff have a very clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding children. They supervise children well and provide safe and secure premises. Staff have a secure knowledge of safeguarding matters, including the procedure to follow in the event of a concern about another member of staff. They are alert and ready to support children who may be at risk of harm. The committee follows robust recruitment procedures and carries out relevant checks for new staff and existing staff to assure their suitability.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 134332 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10207385 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 30 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person Horspath Nursery Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01865 876 750 Date of previous inspection 21 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Horspath Nursery registered in 1993. It operates from a classroom in the grounds of Horspath Primary School in the village of Horspath, in Oxfordshire. Sessions operate on weekdays during school term times from 9am until 3pm, including a lunch club. Breakfast club sessions are from 8am until 9am. After-school sessions are from 3pm until 5pm. A holiday club operates during the holidays at various times of the year. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs seven members of staff, who have relevant qualifications or experience.

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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 manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke with the chairperson of the committee about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a small-group activity with younger children. n The inspector spoke to several parents and carers during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

7 April 2022 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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