Wooldale Early Care and Education Centre

Inspection of Wooldale Early Care and Education Centre Wooldale Road, Wootton, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN4 6TP

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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 have a wonderful time at Wooldale Day Nursery. They are greeted at the door by warm, friendly staff. Staff work well to meet the individual needs of children as they arrive and settle for the day. Babies are handled with great care and consideration as they separate from their parents into the care of the dedicated baby room team. Toddlers and pre-school children eagerly run to their playrooms to find their friends and explore the wide range of activities available to them. The relationships between staff and children are very positive, which helps children to feel safe.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy being active outdoors. Babies playfully explore parachute games with staff and their giggles attract pre-school children who rush to see what they are doing. Three-year olds toss balls out of cones, shouting, 'It's high in the sky.', before chasing the ball and scooping it up. Four-year olds enjoy an exercise session where they pretend to be plants, growing from the ground and finish by making the tree yoga pose.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of children and, consequently, children's behaviour is very good. Positive interactions with staff contribute to children's learning, and support babies and children to understand and manage their own behaviour. All children, including the youngest babies, are learning to be kind to their friends. Staff support them with gentle reminders about sharing, waiting and taking turns.

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need to do better?

n The manager spends time in each room and observes staff interacting with children. She uses her findings to enhance staff development, providing staff with purposeful feedback, which encourages them to become reflective practitioners. Staff comment they feel well supported by the manager. n Parents speak very highly of the staff who care for their children. They particularly value the personal approach they receive, and the time given to support children to settle. They comment that they receive verbal feedback about their child's experiences each day and more detailed feedback about children's development through a secure online app. n Staff help children to manage their own feelings and to regulate their own behaviour. An effective key-worker system is in place to support children's social and emotional development. All children, including babies, are encouraged to think about their behaviour and the impact this has on others. For instance, two-

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need to do better?

year olds show care for one another when they bump together as they play. They are keen to check in on their friend to make sure they are not hurt. n Staff plan a rich and exciting curriculum that considers the learning needs of all children. For example, children are interested in first aid and have been finding

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need to do better?

2 August 2022 out about x-ray images. Staff use books to help children understand the different jobs that doctors do, such as taking temperatures and x-raying broken bones. Children look at their own hands and teeth and compare them to x-ray images. They learn about how the chest expands when they breathe and they practise bandaging themselves and their friends. n Staff encourage children to broaden their knowledge about things that interest them. Staff promote opportunities for children to discuss what they already know, supporting them to remember key vocabulary such as lava and magma, when they create a 'volcano' outside. Children are keen to show that they know how to make the 'volcano' erupt and are quick to list the ingredients they will need. However, staff sometimes over direct activities, this means children do not always have the opportunity to experiment and explore. n Children are generally encouraged to be independent. They wash their own

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need to do better?

hands and older children manage their own toileting. At lunchtime children find their own place cards and all children, including babies, are supported to feed themselves. Staff eat with the children, they act as good role models, supporting children to develop good table manners. Children pour their own drinks and make choices about what they want to eat. Most children, serve their own meals. However, this is not consistent for all children, and some children miss the opportunity to independently serve their own lunch.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a very good understanding of safeguarding and know about the signs and symptoms of abuse. They know how to record concerns and report them to the designated safeguarding lead for the nursery. Staff are required to complete regular training to ensure their knowledge of safeguarding issues remains up to date. The manager and staff complete highly effective daily risk assessments. The premises are secure and well maintained, which contributes to keeping children safe. The manager employs a robust process to ensure all staff have been appropriately checked and vetted and remain suitable to work with children.

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should:

n give children the time and opportunity to explore how to use toys and resources to their own satisfaction n further develop children's independence skills by consistently allowing them to carry out tasks by themselves.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY293232 Local authority West Northamptonshire Inspection number 10138511 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 58 Number of children on roll 89 Name of registered person Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01604 877509 Date of previous inspection 26 February 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Wooldale Early Care and Education Centre registered in 2004. Its situated within the grounds of Caroline Chisholm School, in Wootton Fields, Northampton. The nursery employs 22 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 to 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting 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 setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. They looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to parents and read comments made by parents about the nursery during the inspection, and took account of their views.

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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

2 August 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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