Shiplake Village Nursery

Inspection of Shiplake Village Nursery Shiplake Memorial Hall, Memorial Avenue, Shiplake Cross, HENLEY-ON-THAMES, Oxfordshire RG9 4DW

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

Children arrive happily at nursery. They respond well to the friendly greetings from staff. Most children confidently say goodbye to parents and carers at the door. Staff have successfully focused on this aspect of children's social and emotional development, following the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, children are now very confident to be at nursery and show they are more than ready for other learning. Staff have also identified that the national lockdowns have had an impact on some children's communication and language development. However, staff are less effective at supporting this aspect of some children's learning. Some children do not receive the consistently high-quality interactions they need to best support this area of development.

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The provision requires improvement

Overall, children behave typically for their age. Children cooperate well with routines. For example, they know what to do in preparation for snack or going outside. Staff put out resources to cover the different areas of learning. However, some groups of children do not find the resources and activities very appealing. Staff do not always provide these children with the support they need to use resources purposefully. As a result, some children spend more time than is beneficial moving between resources and activities with little purpose.

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need to do better?

n There is some clearly defined learning intent for older children. For example, staff identify the mathematical and literacy skills they want to teach children before they start school. The curriculum for younger children is less ambitious. Staff have not considered fully the capabilities of younger children to develop new skills alongside making friends and settling well into nursery life. n The support for children's communication development is mixed. Older, more confident children, who are drawn to some activities, have more opportunities to take part in conversations with staff. However, children, including younger children, who do not find some resources appealing, have fewer opportunities to hear staff modelling useful language. On the day of the inspection, staff did not consistently join in younger children's play to support this, and other aspects, of children's learning. n Older children are learning a range of skills that help them prepare for the move

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need to do better?

to school. They learn to sit and listen to stories. They learn to put their hand up before answering questions. They receive accurate teaching about letters and the sounds they represent. n Leaders acknowledge that younger children often do not settle for long at resources and activities. They consider this to be age-appropriate. They have not considered how changes to staff deployment and activities could more effectively support these children to develop further their play skills.

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need to do better?

14 June 2022 n Children show levels of independence suitable for their age. Older children manage their own toileting and handwashing. Younger children learn to butter toast. All children demonstrate polite table manners. n Staff are very kind and calm. Children show that they feel safe and secure in their care. There are warm attachments between children and staff. This is demonstrated by the comfort children new to the setting gain from the reassuring cuddles and soothing words staff offer. This effective practice is having a positive impact on children's well-being and sense of security. n Leaders observe staff's practice and provide staff with regular opportunities for confidential discussions. However, these systems are not focused enough on improving staff's knowledge of child development or improving their teaching skills. This leads to some gaps in some staff's knowledge going unrecognised. This in turn, has an impact on staff's ability to best support children's learning.

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need to do better?

This is most evident in staff's understanding and practice in regard to younger children. n Parents recognise the effective support their children have received to settle and enjoy nursery. They report that their children are more confident since starting. Parents praise the staff for their approachability and kindness.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The designated safeguarding lead and other staff understand their responsibility to keep children safe. They attend regular training to keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date. They know how to recognise and respond to any concerns about a child's well-being or safety. Staff talk confidently about what they would do if their concerns were not being taken seriously and demonstrate they would prioritise children's welfare. Recruitment procedures and checks are robust and are used effectively to ensure those employed to work with children are suitable to do so. Staff supervise children closely and ensure the premises are safe and secure.

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Due date

develop and deliver a curriculum that is suitably challenging for all children, including younger children 01/09/2022

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Due date

14 June 2022 improve the support for children's communication and language development, to help children develop their speaking and listening skills more effectively 01/09/2022

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Due date

focus staff's support on ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to deliver a highly effective curriculum. 01/09/2022

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should:

n review the learning environment to ensure resources and activities are more appealing to children and support children's focus on learning well.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2537188 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10239181 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Governors Of Shiplake Ce Primary School

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reference number

Telephone number 01189402024 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Shiplake Village Nursery operates from the Village Hall in Shiplake, Oxfordshire. The nursery operates from 9am to 3pm on Monday to Thursday and from 9am to 1pm on Friday, term time only. The provider employs five members of staff, four of whom hold relevant qualifications between level 3 and level 6. The provider is in receipt of funding to provide free early education to children aged three and four years.

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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 and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation and evaluated the quality of education. n Parents and children shared their views and the inspector took these into account. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and representatives of the provider to find out about the management and leadership of the setting.

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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

14 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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