Waterside Early Care and Education Centre

Inspection of Waterside Early Care and Education Centre 600 Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading, Berkshire RG6 1PT

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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 who attend this nursery are happy. They are warmly welcomed by staff as they arrive. They settle quickly because staff offer reassuring words and are attentive to their individual needs. Children build close relationships with staff, who spend time getting to know them and their families. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in their care. They explore the environments enthusiastically and access the available resources. Children behave well. They follow instructions as, for instance, they wash their hands or line up to move rooms. Children learn to be kind and considerate to others. They receive plenty of praise for their efforts. This helps to build their self-esteem.

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The provision is good

Staff work hard to ensure that what they plan for children enables them to meet the next steps in their learning. As a result, all children, including those who are funded and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress. Younger children develop their physical skills as they climb safely on the small climbing equipment. They delight in coming down the slide with support from staff. Toddlers are enthusiastic bakers. They thoroughly enjoy exploring the different cooking activities, and they learn and refine the necessary skills required. Older children delight in leading their own play. They are keen to play outside and enjoy their imaginative play as they use various resources, pretending they are going on a car journey to 'Spain'.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are committed to the development of their staff team and provide good- quality support and training. Staff feel well supported by the management team. They receive ongoing supervision, feedback and guidance and are helped to continually develop their practice and skills. The manager regularly reviews and reflects on the nursery provision. She implements action plans to drive continual improvement. For example, after staff reviewed the toddler environment, they put many natural resources into the room to widen children's curiosity and investigation skills. n Staff plan a broad curriculum that follows children's interests and builds on what they already know and what they need to learn next. Overall, staff interact well with all children and offer a narrative as they play. As a result, older children are confident communicators. However, at times, the youngest children do not consistently hear staff talking and modelling simple words, to help support their

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need to do better?

emerging language skills even further. n Staff help children in their future skills. For example, children develop well in mathematics. This is because staff skilfully weave mathematical concepts through children's play. Younger children measure cups as they make their own play dough and stretch the dough into different shapes. Older children build

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need to do better?

13 February 2023 their knowledge of more complex concepts, such as 'more', 'less' and 'full'. They predict how many cups of water it will take to fill a container. n Children demonstrate positive attitudes to their learning experiences. They thoroughly enjoy the time they spend outdoors. However, staff do not consistently make the best use of the outdoor space to support the learning and development of those children who prefer to learn outdoors. n Staff develop children's independence skills well. They teach children simple skills, such as feeding themselves from an early age, putting on their own coats, serving their meals and pouring drinks for themselves. As a result, children show good levels of independence and confidence. n Children with SEND are supported well. An experienced manager works alongside staff and other professionals to provide children with the additional help and support they need. Staff are proactive in accessing early help when

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need to do better?

required. They swiftly target and adapt activities to address any gaps in children's learning. n Partnerships with parents and other agencies are strong. Parents are particularly fond of the communication application. This supports children's learning at home and involves parents in the life of the setting. Parents know who their child's key person is and say that their children are happy and enjoy attending the nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff have a secure knowledge of how to safeguard children. The staff team attends appropriate child protection and safeguarding training. Leaders regularly discuss all safeguarding issues and check staff's understanding, including their knowledge of extremism and radicalisation. Staff confidently explain the signs and symptoms of abuse and understand the process if a concern arises. The nursery is safe and secure. Staff identify and minimise successfully potential risks, both indoors and outdoors. Most staff hold a valid paediatric first-aid qualification, enabling them to act swiftly in the event of an emergency.

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should:

n enhance interactions during activities, providing babies with consistently rich language and challenges in their individual learning n continue to plan an effective curriculum, with particular reference to the garden, taking account of children who prefer to learn outdoors.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY368368 Local authority Wokingham Inspection number 10278555 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 120 Number of children on roll 45 Name of registered person Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0118 907 7977 Date of previous inspection 8 February 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Waterside Early Care and Education Centre registered in 2008. It is situated in Thames Valley Business Park, on the outskirts of Reading, Berkshire. The nursery is open five days a week, from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round. The provider employs 20 staff to work with the children. Of these, 14 staff hold qualifications at level 2 or above, including seven with level 3 qualifications and three staff with qualifications at level 5 or above.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting 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 observed activities in the three main base rooms and garden. She talked to staff about the progress individual children are making and what they want the children to learn. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and the manager. The inspector observed interactions between staff and the children and the impact these have on children's learning. The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children. n The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including evidence of paediatric

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Inspection activities

first-aid training. The inspector had a discussion with leaders about the evaluation of the setting and plans for improvement. n The inspector spoke to parents and children during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

13 February 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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