The Avenue Children's Centre

Inspection of The Avenue Children's Centre 7 The Avenue, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 9AA

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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 flourish at this welcoming and supportive setting. Children quickly build strong, close relationships with staff. They often seek out their key person for support and to share their interests. For example, young children bring books to read with their key person. This helps children to feel emotionally safe and secure.

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The provision is good

Children show a keen interest in their learning. They fully enjoy the activities provided for them. Younger children giggle as they play peekaboo with staff, while older children focus on using a wooden spoon to scoop balls into coloured cups.

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The provision is good

Staff know children exceptionally well and focus on each child as a unique individual. Staff use this knowledge to plan meaningful activities to motivate and engage children in their learning. This supports children to become confident learners and helps them to achieve their goals and next steps.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is especially good. They learn the routines and boundaries quickly and follow these throughout the day. For example, older children sit and wait patiently for their lunch, and younger children return their bottles to the correct place after they have had a drink.

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need to do better?

n Staff have a secure knowledge of child development. They use this to construct a curriculum that is ambitious and balanced. This supports children to make good progress across all areas of learning and development. n The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) has a strong understanding of her role. She supports staff to provide individual plans for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). She engages effectively with parents and professionals to ensure that children with SEND make timely progress. n Leaders have a clear vision of the quality of care and education they aim to provide, and they share this with all staff. The manager supports staff to be reflective in their practice and to keep their training up to date. For example, staff use their recent physical development training to plan opportunities for children to be more physically active during time spent on stories and nursery

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need to do better?

rhymes. n Staff encourage children's independence. They help babies to find their own shoes and support toddlers to wash their own hands ready for lunch. However, staff miss opportunities to extend older children's independence skills, such as getting ready for mealtimes and to go outside. n Staff expertly develop and extend children's language development. Staff skilfully talk to children, narrate their play and introduce new vocabulary when

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need to do better?

17 January 2023 playing with children. For example, staff use 'till', 'scan' and 'receipt' while pretending to be shopkeepers in the role-play area. They ask appropriate questions and allow children time to think and give their response. Children learn to communicate appropriately and to express their views, needs and wants effectively. n Children are offered a varied menu of healthy, balanced and nutritious meals for lunch. Staff encourage children to try different foods and teach them how to use cutlery. However, children are not supported to understand the benefits of healthy eating and how to practise good dental hygiene. n Staff use effective assessment to review children's learning regularly. They engage in dialogue about children's achievements throughout the day. For example, staff talk enthusiastically to each other when they observe a child using verbal communication for the first time. This careful observation enables

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need to do better?

staff to look for any gaps in children's learning and plan their next steps accordingly. n Parents are highly positive about the setting. They appreciate the regular communication about what children are learning and the progress they are making. Parents comment on children 'beaming when they see staff' and how children 'practically leap through the door'. n Children benefit from the challenging opportunities staff provide for them to be physically active throughout the day. For example, babies and toddlers have space and resources to practise crawling, walking and climbing. Older children have fun as they cooperatively move plastic crates to build large structures.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding. They have a robust knowledge of the signs to be aware of that indicate a child may be at risk of harm. They are confident in the procedures to follow if they have concerns over the welfare of a child. Staff also know who to contact should they have concerns about the practice of a colleague. Security is a high priority. All internal and external doors are operated via a keypad system. Visitors are signed in at the entrance and are unable to enter the building unsupervised.

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should:

n provide regular opportunities to extend older children's independence skills n support staff to teach children about the importance of healthy lifestyles and good dental hygiene.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY294025 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10233128 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 32 Number of children on roll 51 Name of registered person Acorn Education Trust

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reference number

Telephone number 01985 214413 Date of previous inspection 14 February 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The Avenue Children's Centre is located within The Avenue School, Warminster. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7.45am to 6pm, throughout the year, except for two weeks at Christmas. There are 17 members of staff who work with the children. Of these, one holds an early years qualification at level 4, six hold a level 3 qualification, two hold a level 2 qualification and, of the five unqualified staff, three are working towards a qualification. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two 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 viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The inspector held discussions with the manager throughout the inspection and discussed how the curriculum is planned and implemented and how children's progress is monitored. n The inspector spoke to children, practitioners and parents. n The inspector observed interactions between practitioners and children. n The SENCo spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a physical development activity with the manager.

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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

17 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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