Willowdene at Sherfield Park

Inspection of Willowdene at Sherfield Park SHERFIELD PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE, Sunwood Drive, Hook, Hants RG27 0FP

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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 are very happy entering this calm and welcoming nursery. They are warmly greeted by the caring staff and separate from parents with ease. Children form strong relationships with staff and are comfortable approaching them. Staff ensure that children feel safe and secure, both inside and in the outside space. Staff reinforce behaviour expectations throughout the day. 'Raggy the Rabbit' helps to reinforce the nursery rules. Children enjoy talking about Raggy and recall good behaviour he looks out for. This helps children to behave well and respect the environment around them.

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The provision is good

Staff concentrate on supporting the development of children making relationships and social interactions. These have been identified as areas impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Children are encouraged to free play together. They make friends and interact well with each other. Children dress up as superheroes and defend dinosaurs. Staff support this by joining in with role play and encouraging interactions. Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language effectively. For example, they use different strategies to communicate including the use of Makaton. Children are supported to feel included and respond well to this.

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need to do better?

n Staff know children well and ensure the environment supports children's interests; they select resources and plan activities to support these, for example dinosaurs in cornflour gloop. Children have a good relationship with their key person, who knows them well. Staff take steps to ensure the nursery is inclusive for all children and use interventions, to ensure that they make good progress across all areas of learning. n Staff have identified communication and language as a focus following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, they support children's language skills well. They talk to children during story time and while outside in the garden. However, on occasion, full advantage is not taken to extend this learning. For example, at times, staff do not make full use of daily routines, such as mealtimes, to engage children in conversations and encourage them to share their ideas. n Staff promote good hygiene at snack and lunchtime, and after using the toilet.

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need to do better?

Children wash their hands, dry them and dispose of paper towels. They successfully find their coats and put them on by themselves ready to go outside. Staff promote some independence by encouraging this. However, at times, staff do not consistently support children to further extend their independence. For example, staff complete some simple tasks that children could manage themselves at snack time.

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need to do better?

10 January 2023 n Staff are well supported by the owner and the manager. They are a close-knit team and support each other's well-being. Regular meetings are held as a team once a month to discuss children's progress and activities. Staff attend supervision meetings termly with the manager. They have access to training through an online facility. Staff request additional training, such as maths, and this is fully supported by the manager. Staff are encouraged to continually develop and improve their knowledge. n Parents are very happy with staff and give complimentary feedback. They comment on the strong bond their children have with staff, and how they feel very comfortable leaving their children in the care of staff. Parents express how their child is making progress in all areas of development. This includes personal, social, and emotional development, mathematics and communication and language. n Staff work effectively in partnerships with parents and others involved in

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need to do better?

children's care. They provide regular feedback about children's development that keeps parents well informed. For instance, they talk to parents at drop off and pick up and send out emails; parents can also access an online assessment tool. Parents feel they can approach staff at any time to discuss their children's progress. Staff plan to reintroduce parents' evenings in the near future following the pandemic, to help support school transition.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a confident understanding of effective safeguarding. They have consistent knowledge of how to identify signs of neglect, radicalisation, abuse and female genital mutilation. Staff clearly understand the process to follow if they have a concern about an adult or a child. They access regular training courses online and face to face including the 'Prevent' duty. Staff often discuss safeguarding as a team and seek guidance from the designated safeguarding lead to constantly refresh their knowledge. Staff take every step to ensure children are in a safe and secure environment.

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should:

n strengthen staff's skills in recognising and making use of opportunities to enhance children's language development even further n develop a more consistent approach to encouraging children's independence and self-care skills during everyday routines.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY469484 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10264453 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 40 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Hargraves, Marilyn

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reference number

Telephone number 01256324191 Date of previous inspection 15 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Willowdene at Sherfield Park registered in 2013. The nursery operates from Sherfield Park Community Centre, near Basingstoke, in Hampshire. It is open each weekday, from 8am to 5pm, for 51 weeks of the year. It closes on bank holidays. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. There are six staff working with the children, four of whom hold appropriate qualifications at level 3 or above, and one member of staff is currently is studying for their level 3. The nursery owner is a qualified teacher.

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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 setting. n The manager took the inspector on a learning walk of the pre-school and explained the curriculum intentions. n Discussions and meetings were held with the managers and staff during the inspection. n The manager and the inspector observed and evaluated an activity together. n The inspector gained some views from parents about the pre-school. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection.

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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 January 2023 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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