Sparkling Minds Pre-School and Day Nursery

Inspection of Sparkling Minds Pre- School and Day Nursery Weston Park Farm, Weston-on-the-Green, BICESTER, Oxfordshire OX25 3QE

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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 thrive in this nurturing and welcoming setting. They build warm and caring attachments with staff and demonstrate they feel emotionally secure. Staff know children well and provide a stimulating learning environment for children of all ages. They identify children's individual next steps in learning and provide activities that promote these effectively. Staff place a high priority in supporting children and their families in readiness for their move on to other settings, such as school.

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The provision is good

Children are excited to explore, whether they are playing in the sand pit or demonstrating their understanding of letter sounds. They learn new skills through carefully thought-out activities. For example, staff model how to roll out play dough and make shapes. Children are delighted when they successfully make a star. Toddlers laugh with delight as they run down paths pushing walkers.

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The provision is good

Children learn to be independent from an early age. Staff provide carefully thought- out activities to help children learn new skills. For example, they support babies to feed themselves and encourage older children to manage their self-care needs. They encourage children to pour their own drinks and put on their own shoes. Mealtimes are a social occasion, where children and staff come together. Children grow in independence and take good levels of responsibility for managing aspects of their own play and learning.

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need to do better?

n The strong leadership team is experienced, knowledgeable and understand how children learn and develop. They are passionate about their setting and have a clear vision for the future of the nursery. The leadership team works closely together to continually review and develop the setting. Leaders recognise that they need to support staff working with younger children to help them consistently build on and extend children's learning. However, arrangements to address this are not fully embedded. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported effectively. Staff are proactive in seeking early help for children when needed. The special educational needs and disabilities coordinator (SENCo) works effectively with parents and professionals involved in the children's care to fully support them to achieve. This is helping to improve outcomes for these children. n Partnerships with parents are highly valued. Parents are overwhelmingly positive

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need to do better?

about the nursery. There is a wealth of opportunity for parents to be involved in their children's learning within the nursery and at home. Staff communicate with parents in a variety of ways. For example, they hold parent meetings, provide daily discussions and use an online system to share information, including photos and videos of children.

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need to do better?

16 June 2023 n Staff provide good opportunities for children to develop early literacy skills. Older children enthusiastically join in games, which enables them to recognise the sounds letters make. They listen to stories and enjoy looking at books. Staff encourage children to discuss their ideas and share their thoughts. They ask questions to extend children's learning. n Staff provide some good opportunities to develop the small muscles in children's hands. For example, toddlers confidently manipulate play dough, using tools to make shapes. Older children build with blocks outside and attempt to fix the tractor with spanners. n Children develop their physical skills through a range of stimulating experiences. For example, they practise their physical skills as they confidently manoeuvre ride-on toys around obstacles. Children spend lots of time in the outdoor area. They learn to manage their own safety, for example, when they take supervised

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need to do better?

risks climbing and balancing on equipment outside. n Staff help children to learn about healthy lifestyles. They talk to children about the benefits of exercise and why the food served at lunchtime is good for them. This helps children understand the importance of following a nutritious diet. Staff plan activities for children to learn the importance of brushing their teeth. This contributes to children's good health and physical development. n Children behave well. Staff encourage children to share and take turns, and this helps them to develop good personal and social skills. Staff manage behaviour calmly and encourage children to be sensitive towards each other. Children are polite and friendly. They learn to be tolerant, respectful and kind.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of child protection issues. They know how to take action if they are concerned about a child. They can identify signs that could indicate a child is at risk of harm. All staff receive regular safeguarding training, including the 'Prevent' duty. The leadership team ensures staff's safeguarding knowledge is kept up to date through discussions during team meetings, for example. Good recruitment procedures and background checks ensure that suitable adults care for the children. New staff are supported to understand how to keep children safe through a clear induction process. Leaders ensure that staff continue to be suitable to work with children through regular supervision and checks.

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should:

n strengthen the existing arrangements for staff supervision and provide more targeted and precise support for staff with younger children, helping them to enhance their teaching skills to the highest level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY407765 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10289342 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 58 Number of children on roll 98

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Name of registered person

Sparkling Minds Pre-School and Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01869351118 Date of previous inspection 21 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Sparkling Minds Pre-school and Day Nursery registered under the current ownership in 2010 and is located in Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire. The nursery is open on weekdays from 8am until 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. There are 20 members of staff. Of these, 14 have relevant qualifications. Two have qualified teacher status and one holds early years professional status. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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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 provision. n The manager and deputy manager completed a 'learning walk' with the inspector throughout the nursery. They discussed how the early years provision is organised and how the curriculum offered supports children's learning. n The provider and inspector carried out a joint observation of practice. n The inspector spoke to parents and carers and looked at written feedback during the inspection taking into account their views. n The inspector held discussions with staff at appropriate times during the inspection and talked to children during activities. n The leadership team had discussions with the inspector. The inspector looked at a sample of policies and procedures, staff qualifications and evidence of the

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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 June 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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