Wattisham Airfield Childcare Centre

Inspection of Wattisham Airfield Childcare Centre 2 Valley Road, Wattisham Airfield, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7 7RE

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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 are happy and settled. They feel safe and secure in their relationships with staff. Children develop close emotional attachments, seeking out staff for reassurance and to share in their play. Older children enjoy having visitors come to the nursery. They are confident, chat to the inspector and are keen to share their artwork. Children mostly behave well. Staff use sand timers to help children understand when their turn is over. Children enjoy the 'high five' for their individual efforts and beam with delight.

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The provision is good

Those children who learn best from being outdoors can do so. Children benefit from interesting activities and resources, both indoors and in the garden. They enjoy the activities and resources provided to them and show good levels of engagement. Overall, staff are led by children's interests. For example, children take part in an activity, finding plastic bugs in a dry flour and chocolate powder mixture. The purpose of the activity is to use tweezers to pick up the bugs, supporting children's ability to make movements using the small muscles in their hands and wrists. However, children notice that when they blow the flour from their hands it makes a satisfying cloud. Staff readily move the activity on to explore textures and talk about them.

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need to do better?

n Staff know the children well. They talk confidently about where they are in their learning and what they need to do to support their continuing progress. Children learn about the wider world beyond their own experiences. The needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are met. Overall, children develop the key skills needed to be ready for school. n Staff play with the children during planned and child-initiated activities. However, they do not consistently review and adapt their teaching, to ensure that children are provided with sufficient challenge as they play and learn. Consequently, children do not always benefit from teaching that builds on what they already know and can do. Despite this, children enjoy staff's interactions with them and enjoy revisiting past activities, such as testing whether toys float or sink. n Staff respond positively to the gestures and babbles of babies, supporting their

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need to do better?

early communication skills. Older children develop the confidence to speak to others in large groups. They are encouraged to learn 'hello' in other languages and choose which language to use when greeting each other at morning registration. However, children become restless and quickly lose interest in routine whole-group activities. Staff do not organise these well enough to support children to listen and concentrate. n Children have an understanding of right and wrong. They are beginning to

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need to do better?

17 May 2022 manage their own feelings and are helped to learn about the impact of their behaviour on others. Staff use consistent 'golden rules' that children are reminded of throughout the day. They use positive reinforcement, such as reminding children to use 'kind hands' and 'listening ears'. Staff help children develop a positive sense of themselves. n Children are helped to learn about the importance of good health and hygiene routines. They manage their own personal self-care needs, relevant to their age and stage of development. Children are learning about the importance of good oral hygiene. n Staff manage children's transitions from home to the nursery well. They tailor settling-in procedures to the individual needs of each child and their family. Staff implement an effective key-person system. Each child has a named person to take responsibility for their daily well-being and plan for their learning and

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need to do better?

development. n Parents report that they are happy with the service provided. They describe staff as 'friendly' and 'caring'. Parents appreciate that the provider is flexible to their changing childcare needs. They state that communication between themselves and staff is good, promoting a shared approach to children's care and learning. n The provider and staff are committed to providing a good quality care and learning experience for children. Any complaints are managed appropriately. The provider and managers have clear, ambitious plans for the continuous improvement of the nursery. Staff well-being is fostered, and their professional development is encouraged.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's safety and well-being are given priority. Staff find out about children's individual dietary needs and follow these, to help ensure that their health needs are met. There are clear policies and procedures that staff follow when children are unwell. Staff are aware of the indicators of abuse and know how to report concerns. There are designated leads for safeguarding to ensure that concerns are managed and reported in a timely manner. All staff complete training in child protection to ensure that they are up to date with latest legislation and guidance.

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should:

n develop staff teaching skills to enable them to maintain the highest quality of teaching that builds on what children already know and can do n review and improve the organisation of routine times, when all children are sitting together, to support them to listen attentively and concentrate.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 251707 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 10238024 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 52 Number of children on roll 52

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Name of registered person

Wattisham Airfield Childcare Centre Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01449 728928 Date of previous inspection 19 September 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Wattisham Airfield Childcare Centre registered in 1993. There are 13 members of childcare staff, 11 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm for 38 weeks of the year. It also offers provision during school holidays dependent upon demand. The nursery provides funding for 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 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 completed a tour of the setting, with staff in each room, to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection and completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the provider, manager and deputy and also discussed self-evaluation. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when

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Inspection activities

they are at nursery. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector.

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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

17 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.

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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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