The Co-operative Childcare Walcot

Inspection of The Co-operative Childcare Walcot Shrewsbury Road, Walcot, Swindon SN3 3AH

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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 Good

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The provision is outstanding

Children flourish in this diverse nursery, which is very much part of the local community. They arrive ready to learn and eagerly take part in an exciting range of carefully planned activities. For example, older children have the opportunity to handle Brian, the giant African land snail, and find out first hand what he eats. Children form extremely close bonds with staff. For example, toddlers greet their key person with a huge hug. Children demonstrate how safe they feel at the nursery as they move around with great confidence and make independent choices about their play. Babies relish playing outside, choosing whether to look at books with a member of staff, confidently using the slide or spraying the plants they are growing. Children play exceptionally well together, sharing, taking turns and respecting each other's personal space. For example, children aged two to three enjoy playing shops together and taking turns with the new till. The nursery's

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The provision is outstanding

golden values are displayed throughout the setting, including outdoors, so that staff can refer children back to them.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff know children and their families exceptionally well. They find out as much as possible about what children can already do before they start and work extremely closely with parents to ensure that each child makes the best possible progress. This is particularly the case where families are vulnerable or children need extra help to achieve.

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need to do better?

n Staff have an excellent understanding of the curriculum. They know each child exceptionally well and carefully identify what they need to do next. They use this knowledge to skilfully extend children's learning through a varied range of exciting activities and resources that inspire children's curiosity. For example, children are growing herbs and strongly scented plants in their garden and eagerly decorate wooden spoons to make plant markers. n Staff provide exceptional support for children who have identified special needs and/or disabilities and those who need additional help. They seek professional advice and specialist training, such as de-escalation techniques. They draw up carefully considered individual plans, which focus on achievable targets to help each child make progress. They make highly effective and consistent use of strategies, such as signing and visual cards, to help children communicate. Staff

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need to do better?

and parents report rapid improvements for many children. n Parents describe strong relationships with their children's key persons, who keep them fully informed about all aspects of their child's care and learning. They report that staff give them personalised advice to support their children's learning and behaviour at home. For example, staff identified that some younger children were not eating enough solids at home or at the nursery. They have

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need to do better?

16 May 2023 worked hard to engage parents in improving this situation. Leaders and staff are committed to supporting the whole family. They have a food donation point where parents can drop off or take supplies, for example. They provide lots of useful information for parents. This includes leaflets about online safety and information about walking and talking to their children on the way to nursery instead of using their mobile phones. n Children have excellent opportunities to learn about their emotions and how to regulate them. For example, all staff wear lanyards with cards showing different emotions and use these with children to help them express their feelings. There is also a 'feelings station' in the pre-school room, where children can go to identify how they are feeling and talk to staff about it. Staff use highly effective, individually tailored strategies to support those children who need additional

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need to do better?

help managing their behaviour. n Children are extremely confident and develop great independence. For example, babies confidently make their way to the cloakrooms to wash their hands before they eat. Children are deeply engaged in their learning, spending prolonged periods at activities, such as creating a pond with collage materials or making patterns, including dinosaur footprints, in flour. n Leaders prioritise their staff's well-being, explaining that happy staff make a happy nursery. They are invested in staff's professional development and understand that staff are the pre-school's most important resource. They carefully identify targets for staff, who have easy access to training online and also benefit from in-house training. Staff are confident in their abilities and eager to share what they do with others.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have embedded a strong culture of safeguarding in the nursery. Staff are extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of protecting children and vulnerable families. They are constantly alert to the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm and understand that they have individual responsibility to protect children. They are clear that they would make referrals themselves if necessary and that they would whistle-blow if they had worries about the conduct of one of their colleagues. Staff are vigilant, ensuring that children can play and learn in a safe environment and teaching children about how to stay safe.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY275796 Local authority Swindon Inspection number 10291360 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 63 Number of children on roll 95 Name of registered person The Midcounties Co-Operative Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01793 542591 Date of previous inspection 10 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The Co-operative Childcare Walcot registered in 2004. It operates in the Walcot area of Swindon, Wiltshire. The nursery operates on weekdays, all year round, with the exception of bank holidays. Sessions run from 7.30am to 6.30pm. There are 26 members of staff. Of these, four have qualifications at level 5, one at level 4 and 18 at level 3. The nursery is in receipt of funding for free education sessions for children aged two, three and four.

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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 deputy manager, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. 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 observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. 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

16 May 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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