Willow Cottage Nursery (Eynsham)

Inspection of Willow Cottage Nursery (Eynsham) Willow Cottage Nurseries, Owls Leat, Eynsham, WITNEY, Oxfordshire OX29 4EH

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children delight in being in this welcoming, safe and well-resourced environment. They are greeted by enthusiastic and caring staff as they arrive at the setting. Staff set high expectations and are good role models. As a result, children are polite and behave well. Since the onset of COVID-19, staff have placed a sharp emphasis on supporting children to manage their feeling and emotions. For example, children are able to identify and describe feelings, such as happy, shy and angry. This is contributing towards their increased self-control and confidence.

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The provision is good

All children show a love of books. They smile with delight as staff read them their favourite stories. Staff's enthusiasm and use of intonation really capture their attention and develop their listening skills. Children benefit from a language-rich environment that builds on their communication skills. Younger children begin to link words together. Older children speak in complex sentences and recall prior learning. For example, children describe the paint and water they have squirted onto the paper. They use words in the right context, such as 'lava' and 'overflow'. Children benefit from a curriculum that is carefully considered and well planned, overall. The manager clearly identifies what she wants children to learn as they move through the nursery.

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need to do better?

n The nursery has been through a period of change. Staff benefit from regular supervision and support to develop their knowledge and skills. However, the new manager recognises that she is not yet monitoring staff practice closely enough to offer clear guidance on how to help them develop their teaching skills further. For instance, through coaching staff practice more closely. n Children are happy and engage confidently with staff, who know them well. They have formed strong attachments with their key person. For example, when the inspector asked children what their favourite thing about nursery was, special staff members were named. This helps children to feel safe and secure. n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities effectively and work well with a wide range of other professionals. They implement effective support plans to help children catch up in their learning and

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need to do better?

make progress. Staff also work very closely with teachers to help support a smooth move on to school for children. n Children are provided with healthy meals and snacks. Mealtimes are social occasions and children's independence is supported well by staff. Children pour their own water and scrape their plates when they have finished their lunch. n Staff help to broaden children's knowledge of the world around them and provide active experiences to develop an understanding of people, communities and the wider world. For example, children held a party for the Queen's Jubilee

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need to do better?

27 June 2022 with staff and families, and planted a commemorative tree in the garden. n Relationships with parents are strong. Parents praise the staff team for the care that their children receive. They speak highly of the online application to keep them updated of their children's learning. Staff made many changes to the setting throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, to offer children a homely yet stable learning environment. In addition, staff worked hard to communicate well with parents and children at this time. For example, favourite books were read and recorded for children to hear. n Staff interaction with children is positive, overall. However, during some activities, staff move away from children to complete routine tasks, such as preparing the sleep area. This results in children losing interest in the activity, and learning is interrupted. n The manager and senior leadership team place a high priority on the well-being

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need to do better?

of staff. As a result, staff feel valued and enjoy working at the nursery. n Children benefit from a range of activities, indoors and outdoors, that support their physical development. For example, very young children really enjoy learning to navigate steps and slides. Older children enjoy using balance bikes and develop ball skills. Children of all ages show lots of confidence to move in different ways. They are developing a positive attitude towards following an active lifestyle.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures that staff have a good understanding of the setting's safeguarding policy and keep their training up to date. The manager and staff recognise signs and symptoms that would cause them to be concerned for a child's welfare. They know how to identify children who may be exposed to extreme views. Staff know how to report any concerns they may have about any children or the adults they encounter. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. Staff use risk assessments to help minimise potential hazards. They are vigilant about safety and maintain correct ratios to keep children safe.

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should:

n strengthen the monitoring of staff practice so that they receive coaching support that helps them to further improve the good quality of children's care and learning n enhance opportunities for children to maintain their concentration and exploration during the times when staff leave activities to carry out routine tasks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY464144 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10245486 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 65 Number of children on roll 82 Name of registered person Willow Cottage Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01993883583 Date of previous inspection 6 December 2013

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Information about this early years setting

Willow Cottage Nursery (Eynsham) opened at this site in 1996 and re-registered in 2013. It operates in the rural area between Eynsham and Long Hanborough. The nursery is in receipt of funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years. It is open each weekday between 7.40am and 5.30pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The setting employs 26 staff, 23 of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications from level 2 to level 6. This includes one member of staff who holds early years professional status and the manager, who is a qualified teacher.

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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 had a learning walk with the manager through all areas of the premises used by the children. n Parents shared their views through written and verbal feedback. The inspector took these views into account. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership of the setting. n The manager carried out joint observations with the inspector. n The inspector looked at a sample of the documentation. This included evidence of suitability, and incident and accident records.

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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

27 June 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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