Oak House Nursery

Inspection of Oak House Nursery 127 Station Road, Mickleover, Derby, Derbyshire DE3 9FN

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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 receive the highest levels of care and support from a skilled and dedicated staff team. Children are happy and secure as they form strong attachments to their key person. Staff tailor the stimulating and engaging curriculum around children's individual needs, and as a result, all children thrive and make exceptional progress in their learning and development. They show excitement and curiosity, as they confidently explore the broad range of activities and experiences available to them. For example, in the forest school area, older children delight in using their senses and observational skills when searching for patterns and minibeasts. On discovering a snail trail a child exclaims, 'this might be a clue, the trail might lead us to other creatures'. The group remain enthralled and fascinated in the awe and wonder by the natural world as they continue their search.

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The provision is outstanding

The calm and well-organised environment draws children in and encourages them to actively engage in their learning. Children learn from an early age to be independent as they are fully encouraged to make choices and are given time to explore and practise key skills. For example, when engaging in sensory play, babies smile and gurgle as they select and explore different brushes. Responsive staff engage babies in purposeful play to develop their physical skills and support their communication development. They say and repeat words clearly to develop early vocabulary, model actions such as hair brushing that the babies copy and spontaneously include games and songs to further enhance their enjoyment. Excellent foundations are laid to ensure each child's future success.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers are passionate about their work. They are highly effective in implementing an ambitious curriculum throughout the nursery, where all children are supported and challenged to achieve the best outcomes. Managers work tirelessly to build a staff team that shares this vision. Individual skills are valued and nurtured, and robust performance management systems ensure that ongoing training and development are a priority. Staff training is specifically focused on the developmental needs of children. For example, staff have been involved in a range of initiatives to support children's speech and language skills, such as Elklan and Early Talk. This ensures that staff have high aspirations and each child receives excellent support to become a skilful communicator. n Children have excellent opportunities to learn about and embed their understanding of good hygiene routines. Older children independently wash their

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need to do better?

hands at appropriate times and remember to cover their mouths when coughing. Staff regularly plan 'mystery visitor' events, which children enthusiastically recall.

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need to do better?

11 January 2023 These included a visit to a local dentist and a talk by the hygienist 'fairy'. Staff skilfully extend children's awareness of the importance of good oral hygiene through meaningful activities, such as role play and storytelling. n Staff place a strong focus on providing all children with the appropriate challenge to ensure they remain motivated and enthused about their learning. This helps children move on to the next stage in their learning; for older children, this ensures they develop the skills they will need for school. Children learn about technology from an early age, as they explore how to make things work by pressing buttons and switches. In pre-school, children are keen to learn how to use programmable toys. They listen carefully to instructions and persevere in learning how to sequence commands. Children use language accurately to describe movements, such as forwards, backwards, left and right.

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need to do better?

These stimulating experiences undoubtedly help children to develop important skills for their future lives. n Staff are excellent role models. They are calm and show genuine respect and interest when engaging in conversation with children. These positive behaviours are reflected in the way children socially interact with one another. All children behave exceptionally well and show kindness and consideration towards their friends. For example, when looking at books, children politely ask if their friend has finished before taking a book. They eagerly invite others to come and join them to read a story together, thereby ensuring everyone feels included in the activity and enhancing the enjoyment for everyone. n The partnerships with parents and other professionals are exceptionally strong. Parents comment that the care provided is 'fantastic' and that the nursery is regarded as an 'extension of our own family'. Staff work collaboratively with a

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need to do better?

child's health visitor when completing the progress checks for children aged between two and three years. This means if there are any concerns regarding a child's development or health they are quickly identified and appropriate support is discussed and swiftly implemented. As a result, all children are extremely well supported to reach their full potential.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a secure understanding of their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. They have an excellent awareness of the signs and symptoms of possible abuse and are very confident in how to report their concerns. The management team ensure that staff keep their knowledge up to date with regular online and in- house training, which helps to strengthen their knowledge of local safeguarding concerns, such as online safety and county lines. Effective supervision and robust risk assessments ensure children's safety, for example, when staff take children on outings into the community. The suitability of staff is determined through thorough recruitment processes. The ongoing suitability of staff is regularly reviewed.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY304261 Local authority Derby Inspection number 10266921 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 55 Number of children on roll 88 Name of registered person Oak House Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01332 512484 Date of previous inspection 20 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Oak House Nursery registered in 2005. It is located in Mickleover, Derby. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7.45am until 5.45pm, all year round, except for a week between Christmas and New Year, a week in August and on bank holidays. The nursery employs 20 members of staff, 15 of whom hold an early years qualification at level 2 or above. There are two members of staff who are qualified teachers. 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 owner, manager and the inspector had a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children confidently communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, both indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the provider of children and staff playing outside. n The inspector spoke to three parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector read a number of written comments from parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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 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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