Willows Day Nursery

Inspection of Willows Day Nursery 137 Worting Road, Basingstoke RG22 6NN

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

All children are settled and enjoy their time at the nursery. Babies benefit from the care and attention from consistent and familiar staff, who know their needs well. Older children develop strong friendships. They eagerly wait for their friends to arrive at the nursery and show kindness and consideration to each other as they play.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy a wide range of motivating activities that capture their attention well. Staff expertly follow children's lead and use incidental opportunities to good effect to support children's learning. For example, a group of older children work together to empty a large tub of water. Staff support children's understanding of quantity and measure as they fill containers with water. They compare how heavy the containers become when full and help children to think about why this has happened. Babies are equally well supported as they explore the outdoor area with curiosity and excitement. They squeal in delight as they splash their hands in paint and make patterns on paper.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. Staff create opportunities for children to collaborate on tasks, such as when playing number games together. They provide sensitive support when children need help to understand how to wait for their turn. Children show high levels of confidence in recognising and naming their own emotions. They learn how to manage their feelings. Therefore, when minor disagreements arise, children can manage these for themselves.

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need to do better?

n The provider holds effective oversight of the quality in the nursery. They ensure that managers and staff are well trained and that staffing arrangements meet ratio requirements and the needs of the children. The team of staff benefit from regular supervision and feedback to improve their effectiveness. Morale is high and staff report favourably on opportunities to develop in their roles, including working towards recognised qualifications. Managers work in close partnership with their local linked nursery and share expertise, which supports continuous improvement. n Staff design an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum that supports children's good progress overall. They support children well through joining in their play and asking questions that help them to think. Staff in the baby room demonstrate a secure understanding of child development, and they support the youngest children to reach typical milestones quickly. However, sometimes,

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need to do better?

teaching, particularly for older children, is not focused sharply enough on what children need to learn next. At times, children's attention wanders as they are not sufficiently challenged, and they move to another activity.

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need to do better?

7 July 2023 n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit from an inclusive nursery that meets their individual needs well. The special educational needs coordinator implements strategies advised by professionals effectively. However, not all staff are confident with children's individual plans to ensure that there is consistency for children with SEND. Additional funding is used to good effect to fund one-to-one staffing that benefits children's learning. n Across the nursery, staff support children's communication and listening skills well. Children develop a love for reading. They show good recall of popular stories and hold an impressive vocabulary. Older children make good attempts at sounding out letters in their names and writing these on artwork. Children gain an expert knowledge of interesting topics, such as outer space, through access to a wide range of non-fiction books. Babies participate in energetic rhyme times

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need to do better?

and jiggle or dance to popular songs. Staff support young children's early attempts at communicating well, through repetition of familiar words, supplemented by simple hand signs. n Staff have high regard to supporting children's emotional well-being and promoting healthy lifestyles. They boost children's self-esteem effectively and support them to become confident, resilient learners. Children develop competence in their physical skills. For example, they create a challenging obstacle course and show good agility as they balance safely on wooden planks. Staff support children's independence well, in readiness for their move on to school. For example, children take responsibility and pour their own drinks and lay the tables for lunch. Children enjoy a wide range of healthy and nutritious meals. n Partnerships with parents are effective. A regular two-way flow of daily information ensures that parents are kept up to date. The provider ensures that

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need to do better?

parental feedback is acted on and improvements are made, where necessary. Parents report positively on the daily handover and the information they receive via online communications. Staff use information on children's achievements and interests from home to successfully build on their learning at the nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The provider and designated safeguarding leads are knowledgeable on safeguarding matters. They demonstrate a secure understanding of routes of referral and when to refer a concern. The provider implements robust recruitment procedures, including additional checks for overseas staff. Staff are well trained on whistle-blowing procedures. They know when and how to refer a concern about an adult. Staff maintain accurate records of any accidents that occur and inform parents, as required. Effective deployment of staff ensures that young children are well supervised at mealtimes. Children learn about keeping themselves safe. For example, they jump carefully from a safe height and dig safely in the sandpit.

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should:

n support all staff to have the knowledge and confidence they need to provide the tailored support some children with SEND need, to ensure consistency throughout the day n strengthen staff knowledge of intent so that the curriculum is focused more precisely on what staff want children to learn next.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2642756 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10299884 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 50 Number of children on roll 62

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Name of registered person

The Willows Day Nursery (Basingstoke) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01256331147 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Willows Day Nursery re-registered under new company ownership in 2021. It is situated in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery employs 11 members of staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate childcare qualifications at level 2 or above. The manager holds a qualification at level 6. The team includes a qualified chef. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 nursery. n The manager and the inspector had a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n A meeting was held with the nominated individual. n A joint observation was carried out and evaluated by the manager and the inspector. n The inspector talked to parents and staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to children about what they like doing at 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

7 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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