St Anne's College Day Nursery

Inspection of St Anne's College Day Nursery St. Anne's College, Woodstock Road, OXFORD OX2 6HS

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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

The staff at the nursery nourish children by providing them with a rich curriculum that is based on nature, the environment and their place within it. Children arrive excitedly and join activities straightaway. They show high levels of concentration and are curious to learn. The staff team is meticulous in its knowledge of all the children attending. Staff support children skilfully in daily experiences that allow children to build on their skills and knowledge over time. For example, children recall the exact recipe for play dough, and when asked what scent they should make it, they respond with 'lavender'. They independently locate the lavender in the garden and bring it back to the table to use in their creations.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are taught about fire safety, and staff enable a safe environment in which children flourish. This supports children as they feel safe, well cared for and supported to learn. Staff support children exceptionally well and behaviour is exemplary. Children have autonomy and make independent choices. Their interests are expertly understood and planned for. For example, children show a distinct interest in snails. They have built a snail house and researched food to feed snails, and their interest in them is still evolving daily. The staff team nurtures children's interests superbly and, as a result, children demonstrate incredible language and understanding. This is providing children with excellent skills for their future.

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need to do better?

n The committee is fully supportive of the curriculum and the manager's vision for the quality of the provision. Partnership working and collaboration are fundamental to the success of the nursery, and all understand their role within it. This directly supports the broad and ambitious curriculum. This has a positive influence on opportunities afforded to children, their development and achievements. n Staff are exceptionally effective early years leaders. The environment that staff create supports children's curiosity superbly. For example, children recall the names of many herbs and fruit trees. They play for extensive periods of time, such as in the sandpit. They explore mathematical concepts as they build a tripod and suspend a bag of water, discussing volume, weight and solutions to release the water. Children work collaboratively to turn the hosepipe on and gather tools with purpose. Younger children sit with caring adults. They listen to

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need to do better?

stories and rhymes, seeking comfort as they settle. n Language and communication skills are a priority. Staff use books and social stories to skilfully promote language and communication development across all age groups. Staff are expert role models in their interactions with children. They use photos of previous events to help children revisit learning that originated from their own interests. For example, children use photos to recall with

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need to do better?

11 November 2022 accurate detail times when they built complex constructions from tubing and planks. Staff explain that they use these opportunities to celebrate and embed children's interests and develop their character. This supports their emotional well-being superbly. n Staff discuss future development opportunities and extend their own learning to enrich the children's environment. For example, the staff team is learning about permaculture as a way of further developing the curriculum intent. This helps staff to enrich their teaching about sustainability and respect for the environment. n Leaders provide excellent opportunities that help children develop high levels of respect and appreciation. For example, children learn about sharing with others. They offer the produce that they grow in the garden and handmade gifts that they make to exchange with others in the nursery community. This helps children to develop links and relationships with others in a unique way.

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need to do better?

n Children's learning is revisited and embedded as part of the routine. For example, children take visitors on a guided tour of the garden, ably naming marjoram, rosemary and nasturtium plants. They differentiate superbly between spearmint and chocolate mint. By tasting herbs, they correlate and begin to make links. They describe how bay leaves remind them of cooked ham and cinnamon of an apple pie. This helps children to competently make links to the world around them.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are all expertly able to offer information about safeguarding and understand in detail about what their roles and responsibilities are to keep children safe. Staff are able to discuss the signs and symptoms of abuse, including female genital mutilation and the 'Prevent' duty. Leaders ensure that recruitment processes are robust. For example, they complete suitability checks for successful applicants, and the manager checks ongoing suitability in regular supervisions and annual appraisals. Leaders ensure that risk assessments are in place to minimise any potential hazards. These are rigorously reviewed to keep children safe.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 134022 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10234168 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 12 Number of children on roll 12 Name of registered person St Anne's College Day Nursery Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01865 274868 Date of previous inspection 21 March 2017

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Information about this early years setting

St Anne's College Day Nursery registered in 1992. It operates within the grounds of St Anne's College at the University of Oxford, Oxfordshire. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8.45am to 5.15pm, for 48 weeks of the year. The setting employs five staff. All staff have appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery receives 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 inspector conducted a learning walk with the setting manager through all areas of the setting. n Children's voices were listened to as they played and chatted alongside the inspector. n The inspector met and discussed the setting with parents. n The inspector looked at a sample of documentation, including the suitability of staff and training records. n The inspector spoke with the manager about leadership.

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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

11 November 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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