The Old Station Nursery, High Wycombe

Inspection of The Old Station Nursery, High Wycombe Manor Farm Junior School, Rose Avenue, Hazlemere, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP15 7PH

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

The quality of teaching is variable. Older children receive good support and interactions from staff. However, in the baby room, some staff do not provide children with appropriate support with their communication and language skills to meet their individual needs. This has an impact on the progress that they make. Despite this, when more capable staff enter the room, this significantly improves, as these staff engage proactively with the children and they enjoy activities such as singing.

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The provision requires improvement

Although not all of the early years foundation stage requirements are met, all staff offer comfort to the children and there is a suitable key-person system in place. This helps the children to feel secure and settle well. Children show that they are happy and feel safe. They show interest in the toys and activities available to them and these link well to the curriculum. Children demonstrate a friendly attitude towards each other. For instance, younger children smile at their friends and older children are seen to share and take turns well. When teaching is of better quality, children are motivated. For example, older children are imaginative and excited to play. They have fun as they go in the garden, where they explore in the large sandpit and hunt for bugs. Staff outside support children to learn new skills such as negotiating ramps on the obstacle course, and they interweave early mathematical

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The provision requires improvement

concepts such as counting into children's play.

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need to do better?

n The nursery currently has a covering manager on site, who started a few months ago. She has reflected well and has a suitable understanding of what is needed to improve the nursery. She has started to implement some improvements, such as supervision and coaching, however these are in their infancy in raising the quality. Nevertheless, some improvements have been instant, such as changes to the lunchtime routine for the older children. This has helped older children to develop their independence in preparation for their eventual move to school. n Staff offer a varied curriculum. For example, children have opportunities to be creative and explore with a different range of media and materials. Older children enjoy exploring vegetables and fruits in paints and younger children explore with water and foam. However, due to the inconsistency in staff interactions, teaching is not always of good quality. n Staff know their key children well and they can talk about the progress children

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need to do better?

are making. However, not all children make the progress they are capable of due to the weakness in supporting children's communication and language. Staff do not provide the necessary support for children with identified gaps in their speaking skills to help them make sufficient progress.

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need to do better?

6 July 2023 n The nursery has an appropriate outdoor play area which allows children to develop their large physical skills. There are renovation plans in place to enhance this for the coming year. However, the children in the baby room do not have opportunities to go outside or engage in outdoor activities daily, which is not conducive to their well-being. Despite this, older children enjoy the time they have outside, where they have fun being physically active. n There are good systems in place to obtain information from parents when children first start at the nursery. However, the feedback from staff both verbally and on the online app is not consistent and does not help parents to gain a full understanding of how their children have been. This does not promote continuity of care. Nevertheless, some parents comment that they have seen some changes with the new manager, although information-sharing is still not

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need to do better?

fully effective. n Children behave well. Staff support children's emotional development and health successfully. They offer children a good amount of praise and encouragement as they follow good hygiene routines. Children are offered healthy meals and snacks which they clearly enjoy. Staff encourage self-help skills well. For example, older children pour their own drinks and younger babies are given spoons to feed themselves.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Robust recruitment and vetting procedures are in place to ensure that those working with children are suitable for their role. This includes staff moving from a linked nursery. Staff, including the designated safeguarding officers, have a suitable knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. They know the signs and indicators that may mean a child is at risk and understand the action to take if they had concerns about a child's welfare or a colleague's practice. The premises are secure and sufficient risk assessments are in place to ensure children's safety.

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Due date

6 July 2023 provide staff with effective supervision and coaching to ensure they can fulfil their roles and responsibilities, particularly in regard to engaging with children and supporting their communication and language skills to help them achieve their next stage of learning 10/08/2023

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Due date

ensure all children have daily opportunities to take part in outside activities 10/08/2023

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Due date

improve the communication with parents to help them to know and understand how their children are progressing, to promote greater consistency between the home and setting. 10/08/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY550699 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10300371 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 30 Number of children on roll 52 Name of registered person DR Arora Enterprises Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01494814041 Date of previous inspection 27 August 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The Old Station Nursery, High Wycombe registered in 2017. It is based in Hazelmere, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The setting opens from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday for most weeks of the year. The nursery employs 13 staff. Of these, 10 staff hold recognised childcare qualifications at level 2 and level 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The manager explained the nursery curriculum during a learning walk with the inspector. n The manager and the inspector completed a joint observation of an activity together and discussed the quality of teaching and learning afterwards. n Children spoke to the inspector about the activities they took part in. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

6 July 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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