Finkley Amesbury Nursery and Pre-School

Inspection of Little Druids Nursery Minton Distribution Park, London Road, Amesbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 7RT

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

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The provision requires improvement

Children feel safe and secure. They separate from their parents happily and enjoy warm relationships with staff. They are confident to make independent choices about their play, and staff support this. For example, they give even the youngest children the choice of whether to play outdoors or not. Children explore the varied range of resources. Older children use their imaginations as they play with cardboard packaging and rolls of paper. Toddlers enjoy exploring bubbles in the water tray. Children develop good social skills, taking part in group activities and sitting with other children and staff at mealtimes. They learn about the expectations for their behaviour and respond positively to instructions.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff know children well. Staff find out about what children can already do before they start at the setting and assess what they need to learn next. However, the curriculum is not focused sharply enough on their next steps and is not fully understood by all staff. This leads to inconsistent support for children's learning. Staff effectively support children's communication skills and work with other agencies to ensure that they can help children with speech and language delays to make progress. Staff do not routinely provide the same level of support for children's mathematical skills. This limits children's opportunities to learn about number, shape and measure during their self-selected play.

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need to do better?

n The co-directors and new manager work well together and are building a clear vision for the future. They have worked hard to make improvements and have been receptive to receiving external support to improve outcomes for children. They have made many positive changes, but recognise that there are still areas for development and are keen to move forward with these. They have accurately identified weaker areas of the provision, including the curriculum and the teaching of mathematics, and are working on making improvements and embedding changes. n Children are confident communicators. Babies use sign language to communicate and staff help toddlers and older children to learn new vocabulary, such as 'spatula'. Children chat confidently to their friends, staff and visitors. They talk about what they are doing and express their needs. Staff value the home languages of those children who are bilingual or are learning to speak

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need to do better?

English as an additional language. For example, staff make a point of greeting them in their home language. n Staff know their key children well and share this knowledge with colleagues to ensure that there is a common understanding of each child's care and learning needs. For example, staff know babies' routines and which resources they are particularly interested in. Staff also work closely with parents. They share any

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need to do better?

22 February 2023 concerns about children's development and give parents ideas of how to support their child's learning at home. Parents give positive feedback about the nursery. n Children behave well. Older children have helped to draw up a list of rules. Staff clearly explain the expectations for children's behaviour and help them to learn to negotiate. Children talk about sharing and play games that involve taking turns. They play well together, with few disagreements. n The curriculum is not focussed as strongly as possible on children's next steps, and some staff do not fully understand the overall intentions for children's learning. In addition, some staff do not fully recognise what children can learn from different activities. These weaknesses limit staff's ability to support children's learning as effectively as possible. n Children develop many independence skills. At mealtimes, older children cut up

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need to do better?

their fruit and clear away their plates. Babies help themselves to cottage cheese using a spoon and then wipe their faces and hands with flannels. n Staff do not consistently help children to make the best possible progress in mathematics. They do not routinely take the opportunity to introduce all aspects of mathematics during child-led play.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff confidently describe a varied range of possible signs that children may be at risk of harm. They know what to do if they have concerns and also know what to do if the designated safeguarding lead does not take action. They understand the whistle-blowing procedures to follow if they have concerns about the conduct of a colleague. There are effective safety measures in place, such as using walkie- talkies to help to manage outdoor play safely.

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Due date

develop the curriculum to ensure that it is more sharply focused on meeting children's next steps in learning and is fully understood by all staff 22/06/2023

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Due date

improve the coaching of staff to extend the teaching of mathematics, particularly during child-led activities. 22/06/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2519685 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10277588 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 65 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Little Druids Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01980 669575 Date of previous inspection 1 September 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Little Druids Nursery registered in 2019 and is located in Amesbury, Wiltshire. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, all year round. There are 10 staff, including the manager. Of these, six hold qualifications at level 3 and one holds a qualification at level 2. Two staff are currently undertaking training at level 3. The nursery offers funded education sessions for children aged two, 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 manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual and manager about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

22 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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