Lord Williams's School Day Nursery

Inspection of Lord Williams's School Day Nursery Oxford Road, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 2AJ

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children are happy to be at nursery. They are greeted warmly by staff on arrival and confidently say goodbye to their parents or carers. Babies show especially warm attachments to the staff who look after them. Babies enjoy the smiles and cuddles they receive throughout the day. Children show that they feel safe in the environment and with the staff.

p.2

The provision is good

Children behave appropriately for their age. Staff recognise that, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, some children have had fewer opportunities to learn about sharing and turn taking. Overall, staff offer children effective and gentle support to develop these skills. Children are welcoming to visitors and are polite when asking and answering questions.

p.2

The provision is good

Children learn from a curriculum that focuses on their social, physical and language development. They develop many of the key skills and dispositions they need for their future learning. This includes starting school when the time comes. Babies learn to crawl, walk and communicate their needs. Older children have plenty of opportunities to hold meaningful conversations and develop the muscle strength and control they will need for later writing. All children enjoy daily story and singing times.

p.2

need to do better?

n There is an effective literacy curriculum for all children. Staff are very effective in promoting a love of books and stories. Younger children find books, crawl onto staff laps and enjoy turning the pages and looking at the pictures. Older children are very excited to choose a book to take home. They show great pride in making their selection and putting it in their 'library bag'. Children eagerly gather together to listen to stories before meals. n Children show levels of independence suitable for their age. Staff encourage them to do things for themselves when they can, such as putting on coats and scraping their plates after lunch. n Staff understand the overall intent for the curriculum. However, sometimes, their planning for specific learning experiences is not as effective as it could be. Staff are not always clear about precisely what skills or knowledge they want children to gain from some adult-led activities. At these times, teaching and learning are

p.2

need to do better?

less effective than at some other times. n Children show they are developing well into curious and inquisitive learners. This is especially evident when children are outdoors. They enjoy using the available resources to test out their own ideas and find out what happens. For example, children enjoy mixing together mud and water. They discuss how this changes the appearance and feel of the mud. They wonder what will happen if they add

p.2

need to do better?

3 May 2022 more or less water to the mixture. n Staff meet babies' care needs with great sensitivity. This good practice supports children's emotional well-being and feelings of security. Staff show babies nappies before they change them and explain what is going to happen. They make lots of eye contact and hold babies close to them as they feed them milk. n All children have ample opportunities to develop a positive view of an active lifestyle. Babies and toddlers have plenty of space to practise their crawling and early walking skills. Older children enjoy the space outside to run and play energetically. Staff encourage them to practise their climbing and balancing skills. This good practice has a positive impact on children's health and fitness. n The manager has made many improvements since she joined the nursery. She has accurately identified the strengths and weaknesses of the provision and put

p.2

need to do better?

together a clear and concise action plan. She recognises that while the quality of staff practice is good overall, there remain some inconsistencies in the effectiveness with which staff support children's learning and behaviour. She has plans to monitor this closely and put in specific support where needed. n Parents speak very highly of the staff. Parents describe staff as 'warm' and 'very caring'. Staff provided an effective programme of support for home learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. They used online communications to read to children. They provided parents with useful suggestions for activities to do at home.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The manager and staff understand their responsibilities to keep children safe. They undertake regular training to keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date. The manager discusses safeguarding with staff at supervisions and staff meetings. Staff talk confidently about how they would identify a child at risk of potential harm. They know how to share any concerns, including with professionals outside of the nursery if necessary. Staff minimise risks within the nursery and supervise children appropriately. This helps to ensure a safe environment for children.

p.3

should:

n support staff to improve how they plan activities, so they focus more precisely on what they want children to learn next n focus the monitoring of and support for staff on raising the overall quality of staff performance to a consistently high level.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 133497 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10228109 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 39 Number of children on roll 55 Name of registered person Lord Williams's School Day Nursery

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01844 260231 Date of previous inspection 24 October 2016

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Lord Williams's School Day Nursery registered in 1992. The nursery operates from the grounds of Lord Williams's Secondary School, in Thame, Oxfordshire. It is open each weekday from 8am to 5pm for 42 weeks of the year. The nursery provides funded early education for children aged three and four years. There are 16 members of staff, 11 of whom hold appropriate childcare qualifications.

p.4

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 inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n A member of the leadership team completed a joint observation with the inspector, and, together, they evaluated the quality of teaching. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager to find out about the management and leadership of the setting. n Parents shared their views, and the inspector took these into account. n The inspector looked at a sample of key documentation.

p.5

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.5

Inspection activities

3 May 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.

p.5

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.6

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.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6