Oakland Hall Day Nursery

Inspection of Oakland Hall Day Nursery Oakland Hall, Hadleigh Road, Sproughton, IPSWICH IP8 3AS

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time at this extremely welcoming and caring nursery. They quickly become engrossed in their play and learning. Children form strong emotional bonds with their key person and staff. This helps children to feel safe and secure. Staff are attentive and swiftly tend to children's individual needs. Babies and toddlers snuggle up to their key persons and enjoy looking at picture books. Children display positive attitudes towards their learning. For example, younger children eagerly help to make play dough. Staff introduce new vocabulary when discussing the texture of the dough, using words, such as 'sticky'. Children learn about the world around them. They enjoy real-life experiences, such as feeding cucumber and leaves to the nursery's giant African snails. Children observe the snails with fascination as they graze.

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The provision is good

Staff know the children well. They plan appropriate and challenging activities to help children move on to the next stage in their learning. Children explore and immerse themselves in activities. For example, they look at differences and similarities in textures during sensory play. Children's behaviour is good. They understand and follow the routines well. They are kind and considerate to each other. Children share their favourite toys, take turns and say 'please' and 'thank you' without being prompted.

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need to do better?

n The management team leads the nursery with a strong sense of direction and dedication. They are passionate about providing the highest-quality care and learning for the children. They are continually improving the provision. The management team values the staff as the most important asset of the nursery. Staff comment that they feel valued and respected. n Staff provide activities to develop children's physical skills. For example, children ride bicycles and scooters around the garden. Children demonstrate good coordination when they catch and throw balls. They practise hand control when learning to cut up their food. These activities support the development of children's fine and gross motor skills and build their self-esteem. n The manager and staff provide children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) with a learning environment that is supportive of their needs. The manager works closely with outside agencies and parents to ensure that

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need to do better?

children receive the best support. n Staff place great focus on children's communication and language development. Staff working with babies introduce single words and model conversation. They skilfully repeat words back to children and allow them time to copy and build on their growing vocabulary. Older children learn more complex words. Staff model how to blend letter sounds together. Children are confident communicators.

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need to do better?

21 October 2022 n The nursery cook provides children with freshly cooked meals. She considers all dietary requirements or allergies children may have. This helps to ensure children have a healthy and well-balanced diet. Staff talk with children as they eat, promoting good manners and social interaction at mealtimes. However, babies do not benefit consistently from high-quality social experiences and interactions with adults and their peers. n Staff make good use of opportunities to develop and embed children's understanding of early mathematics. For example, younger children explore shapes and colours. Older children count objects, use language of size and measure and identify numbers and shapes. Staff encourage children by skilfully including elements of mathematics into all activities. As a result, children's mathematical development is well supported. n Children have access to a wide range of books and stories. Staff value children's

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need to do better?

views and opinions. For example, staff support children to vote for the stories they want to listen to during group times. Staff read enthusiastically to the children and encourage them to consider what happens next in the story. However, staff sometimes interrupt children's play to engage in conversation with each other. As a result, children cannot effectively focus on the activities. n Parents speak highly of staff and the care they offer. They comment on the high-quality communication they receive about their children's development. Parents comment the nursery is amazing and feel staff are trustworthy. Parents value the close relationships children form with staff, and how this supports their well-being.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have excellent knowledge and understanding of how to keep children safe. They are fully aware of the signs and indicators that could mean a child is at risk of harm or abuse. They know what to do if they have a concern about a child or a member of staff, and the procedures to follow. Staff complete safeguarding training and have a good knowledge of wider safeguarding issues, such as the 'Prevent' duty and female genital mutilation. Staff closely supervise children and provide a secure environment, to ensure children remain safe.

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should:

n support staff to stay focused during activities to avoid interruptions to children's learning n review the organisation of mealtimes for babies to raise the quality of their social interactions with adults and each other.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY461296 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 10236144 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 62 Number of children on roll 100 Name of registered person Oakland Hall Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0845 838 8955 Date of previous inspection 26 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Oakland Hall Day Nursery registered in 2013 and is situated in Sproughton, Ipswich. The nursery employs 21 childcare staff. Of these, 20 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, 3 or 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. 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 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 The inspector and the manager observed staff's interactions with children. They discussed the impact of these on children's learning. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The management team and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector carried out joint observations with the manager. n The inspector spoke to the special educational needs coordinator about how

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Inspection activities

they support children with SEND, and how they support children who speak English as an additional language.

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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

21 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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