Julia Durbin Day Nursery

Inspection of Julia Durbin Day Nursery Old Road, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 7JU

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

All children are incredibly happy and settled at the nursery. Children build strong bonds with the staff and excellent relationships with their peers. They thrive in a happy, safe and nurturing environment. Staff are caring and nurturing towards the children. Children behave exceptionally well and develop positive attitudes to learning. Staff have an enthusiastic approach, which helps children develop a zest for learning. Children's communication skills develop rapidly in the language-rich environment created by staff. They share favourite books and stories. As children grow and develop, staff encourage them to put words together to form simple sentences.

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The provision is outstanding

Children learn and develop autonomy and decision-making skills. For example, a rolling mealtime allows children to decide when they are ready for lunch. This gives the opportunity for children to come to a natural break in their play. Young children show when they are ready to eat by moving to the sink area to wash their hands. They then move to the table where they get their own plate and cutlery before serving themselves. Children make excellent progress and enjoy sharing their achievements. They take part in planning activities that will help them in their next steps of learning. Children of all ages show high levels of confidence to explore their surroundings. They gain an excellent understanding of how to take care of themselves. Babies show high levels of confidence when moving around the nursery making choices in their play.

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need to do better?

n The provider has identified a clear and ambitious curriculum, in conjunction with staff, children, and parents. This is sequenced highly effectively to build on children's prior knowledge and skills. The provider values each staff member and supports their continued professional development. This helps the provider to retain a skilled, knowledgeable team, who provide children with exceptional care and learning experiences. n The manager and staff build extremely close relationships with other settings and professionals. For instance, they share extensive information with teachers before children move on to school. They follow this up at half term to check on how the children have settled and if there is any new learning for the setting to consider in supporting children in readiness for the transition into school. n Children make excellent progress and enjoy opportunities to research subjects of interest to them, based on what they find or see. For example, children enjoyed

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need to do better?

learning about owls after finding the remains of an owl's meal. They researched owls with staff to find out about their eating habits and habitat. This was extended to discover how owls digest their food and the children enjoyed the opportunity to dissect owl pellets.

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need to do better?

10 October 2022 n All children remain focused and engaged in their play. Staff plan a wide range of interesting, hands-on learning experiences, which build on children's natural curiosity as learners. n Young children spend long periods of time engrossed in activities, due to the skilled approach of staff. They enjoy exploring sensory experiences, such as weighted and different sounding balls and shakers. Children develop their hand- to-eye coordination and explore the changing feeling of the toys they pick up. They shake them with delight as they make different sounds. n Children behave exceptionally well. They build positive and lasting friendships with their peers as they progress through the nursery. They enjoy sharing resources and taking turns. They demonstrate this in their play as they talk to each other about what they want to do or play with. n Parents confirm they receive comprehensive feedback on their children's care

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need to do better?

and learning. Staff create positive links with home and arrange regular parent forums to engage parents in what is happening in the nursery. This also ensures parents have input into the provision for their children. n The manager makes excellent use of rigorous performance management and training. Staff feel valued and appreciated. They have excellent opportunities for progression with the support of the manager.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff demonstrate a robust knowledge of safeguarding issues with awareness of current issues within the local authority. Robust risk assessments are in place and staff encourage children to identify and assess risks in their play. Staff have a clear awareness of their roles to safeguard children. They confidently identify a wide range of indicators of abuse. They clearly understand referral procedures should they have any concerns about a child or a staff member. The environment is securely maintained. There is a culture of safeguarding running right down through the staff team from leaders, designated safeguarding leads and all staff members.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 134013 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10257276 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 164 Number of children on roll 174 Name of registered person Childbase Partnership Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01865 744448 Date of previous inspection 25 September 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Julia Durbin Day Nursery registered in 1994 and is located in the grounds of the Churchill Hospital in Headington, Oxford. The nursery is open each weekday from 7am until 6.30pm, all year round, excluding public holidays. The setting provides funded education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. In total, a team of 54 staff work at the nursery. Of these, 44 staff hold relevant qualifications equivalent to level 2, level 3 and level 4. In addition, two members of staff have Bachelor degrees in early years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The provider and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The provider and inspector carried out a joint observation during a planned activity. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, both indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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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

10 October 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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