Lavender Farm Nursery

Inspection of Lavender Farm Nursery Moat Farm Childrens Centre, Brookfields Road, Oldbury, West Midlands B68 9QR

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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 arrive at nursery happy and ready to start their day. Staff are warm, kind and caring towards children. They get to know every child well, which helps children to settle in quickly. Children confidently approach new people and are keen to say 'hello', demonstrating that they feel safe and secure in the setting.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy a broad range of planned activities and experiences. Older children are eager to sit down and prepare their own snack. Staff have high expectations of children as they encourage them to learn to use knives safely and independently to cut different fruits. Children develop their coordination and small-muscle skills as they thread their fruits onto skewers to make kebabs. Babies practise their physical skills as they move themselves across different obstacles. They learn to climb steps independently. Staff count out loud as children move between steps to promote their early mathematical development.

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The provision is good

Children's communication and language skills are well supported. Staff frequently model words to children and encourage them to identify different objects in the environment. Older children demonstrate the breadth of vocabulary they have gained over time as they describe their lunch as 'delicious'.

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need to do better?

n The manager has a secure understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on children's learning and development. She has used this knowledge to identify learning intentions for children to close gaps in their learning. Staff successfully deliver this by providing ample opportunities to promote children's social and language skills. As a result, children are receiving good support to close gaps in their learning. n The setting has a dedicated coordinator for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. They are passionate about their role and are committed to providing children with the best experience. The coordinator swiftly identifies any development delays children show. She spends time observing them and provides guidance to staff to meet their needs. The coordinator understands how and when to liaise with other professionals. Consequently, children receive the help they need to reach their potential.

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need to do better?

n Parents speak extremely highly of the setting. They say they receive frequent communication from staff about their child's care and learning, which helps to provide continuity at home. Parents comment that they appreciate the sensitive approaches of staff and managers and value that they prioritise their child's best interests to meet their needs. n Staff provide some opportunities to teach children about diversity. For example, they provide resources to reflect differences in people in their community.

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need to do better?

12 August 2022 However, some practices do not yet reflect equality for all children attending and staff do not always recognise and fully appreciate children's individuality. n Staff have access to a varied range of online training courses. They have opportunities for supervision with managers and state that they feel well supported in their roles. However, managers do not yet monitor teaching closely enough to raise this to the highest level. For example, at times, some activities become overcrowded which impacts on children's levels of engagement. On occasion, staff do not recognise when to make adjustments to the routine, such as when children have been sitting for long periods, so that they remain highly engaged in their learning. n Staff have high regard for children's mathematical development. They frequently count with children and compare numbers to identify which is greater. As children play with play dough, staff provide them with moulds and cutters and

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need to do better?

guide them to identify the shapes of these. Staff extend children's learning further by helping them to make comparisons between different sizes. n Children behave well. They understand staff's expectations for their behaviour and are keen to please. Children are highly responsive when staff a ring a bell and stop their play immediately. They follow staff's instructions to help tidy up, showing respect for resources they play with. Children learn to take turns as they play board games with staff. n Children's health and well-being is promoted well by staff. Children receive a varied range of healthy snacks and meals. They develop their understanding of when they need to wash their hands. Staff support babies to become independent in wiping their own noses.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff access frequent training to keep their knowledge of safeguarding issues up to date. They are alert to signs that could indicate a child is at risk of abuse or harm. This includes signs that could suggest a child is being exposed to radical or extreme views or that a girl is at risk of abuse that is specific to females. Staff and managers know the procedures to follow to report any child protection concerns to other agencies. Managers follow a rigorous procedure when recruiting new staff which helps them to assess their suitability to work with children.

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should:

n increase awareness of equality and diversity to broaden all children's experiences and help staff to understand and appreciate what makes every child unique n look more closely at staff's teaching and practice, including the organisation of

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should:

12 August 2022 some activities and routines, so that children consistently receive high-quality teaching experiences that extend their learning to the highest level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY339394 Local authority Sandwell Inspection number 10116291 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 86 Number of children on roll 96 Name of registered person Moat Farm Infant School Governing Body

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 552 1885 Date of previous inspection 9 January 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Lavender Farm Nursery registered in 2006. It is located within the grounds of Moat Farm Infant School in Oldbury, Sandwell. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 48 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. There are 37 members of staff employed. Of these, the manager holds a qualification at level 7 and 30 members of staff hold qualifications between level 2 and level 6. 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 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 to gather information about how the provision and curriculum are organised. n One of the deputy managers and inspector carried out a joint observation to evaluate the impact of teaching on children's learning. n Parents spoke to the inspector and gave their views of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching indoors and outdoors to assess the impact of this on children's learning. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and two deputy managers and looked at relevant documentation and evidence of staff suitability.

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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

12 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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