Waverley School and Nursery

Inspection of Waverley School and Nursery Waverley School, Waverley Way, Wokingham RG40 4YD

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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

Children benefit from fun, engaging and interesting activities. These help children to develop their concentration and promote their learning well. For example, staff caring for babies count as they help children learn how to take off and put away their shoes. Toddlers develop their small physical skills effectively. They have fun as they thread pieces of spaghetti through holes in metal containers. This helps to develop their hand-to-eye coordination.

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The provision is good

Children form strong bonds with staff. Staff know their key children very well and the caring, positive relationships are evident between them. Children benefit from being cared for in small groups with consistent staff. This helps children to feel safe and secure. Toddlers and babies begin to build early friendships. For example, toddlers show kindness to each other by giving toys to their friends. Children receive age-appropriate guidance and support to help them begin to understand the behaviour expected. Staff model good manners and behaviours to the children. They provide 'calming areas' to offer children a safe space when they feel overwhelmed. This helps children to learn ways to self-regulate their feelings and behaviour.

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The provision is good

Overall, staff provide good consistent interactions and support to children. They demonstrate a secure understanding of how to promote children's learning. Staff confidently understand children's progress and development needs. This helps them to accurately understand and plan for children's next steps in learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff enjoy their work with the children. They speak positively about the support they receive from managers and leaders, such as consideration for their well- being. Staff benefit from regular individual and team meetings to support their professional development, and they have good opportunities to complete relevant training. New staff follow a secure induction process to help them understand their roles and responsibilities. n Children benefit from a well-considered environment which supports their care and learning needs effectively. They make independent choices from a range of interesting and stimulating resources and activities, which inspire their curiosity. For instance, babies explored dry rice with different tools and their hands. Children enjoy local walks in the community, helping them become aware of the world they live in. Toddlers benefit from resources that challenge their physical

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need to do better?

skills, such as learning to move themselves on balance bicycles and steer these. n Children's needs are very well considered on entry and when they move rooms. They take part in visits to their new room, and some staff also move rooms with children. In addition, children take part in activities that help them become

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need to do better?

12 July 2023 familiar with their new room and staff. For instance, staff in their existing rooms show them photos and talk to children about the staff less familiar to them. Staff provide sensitive responses to children, such as those settling in. This provides gentle and consistent reassurance and support to children. n Children receive lots of praise and encouragement from staff, such as through positive words and facial expressions. This builds children's sense of self and confidence very effectively. Children gain a particularly strong sense of belonging. They are confident to approach staff and join in activities with a strong interest. However, sometimes staff do not always manage changes in the routine as well as possible. This does not always support all children to remain consistently engaged in play and learning at these times. n Staff have a secure understanding of the curriculum and how this is organised.

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need to do better?

This results in a clear focus on what children need to learn over time. However, at times, staff do not fully extend children's learning and development during their interactions and support. For example, on occasion, not all staff model language effectively to children or extend discussions with them. In addition, although staff promote babies' developing independence very well, staff in the toddler room do not always build on this as effectively as possible. n Parent partnerships are strong and effective. There is ongoing communication with parents through the online app and in person. This helps to promote a consistent approach to meeting children's individual needs. Parents speak highly about the nursery, compliment the 'nurturing staff' and comment on the progress their children make, saying that they are 'thriving' at the nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff know how to recognise indicators that would raise their concerns about children or their colleagues. They are clear about the procedures to follow. This includes raising their concerns to the designated safeguarding leads working within the nursery and school. In addition, staff understand their responsibilities to report concerns to outside agencies should there be a need to do so. Leaders and managers follow robust recruitment processes to check staff's suitability. The premises are secure. Staff complete daily risk assessments to minimise potential hazards to children. Furthermore, there are effective procedures to protect children from risks associated with internet-enabled devices, including mobile phones.

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should:

n review how changes of routines are managed by staff and support them to engage children in more consistently purposeful play and learning during these times

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should:

12 July 2023 n reflect on the curriculum intent and implementation by staff, to identify areas to extend children's learning and development more effectively, to help them build further on their skills and knowledge.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2687234 Local authority Wokingham Inspection number 10301954 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 48 Number of children on roll 64 Name of registered person Waverley School and Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01189731121 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Waverley School and Nursery re-registered in 2022 due to a change in name and legal entity. The nursery provision is operated by an independent school of the same name. The provision for children aged two years and older is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. The provision for children aged under two is inspected by Ofsted. The nursery is open from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round, except for a week at Christmas. There are 20 staff who are employed to work with children aged under two. Of these, 16 hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3 and another staff member holds a level 2 qualification. The nursery uses the Reggio Emilia Approach to support children's learning.

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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 nursery. n Discussions and meetings were held with the manager, headteacher and staff during the inspection. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk, where the curriculum and learning intentions were discussed. n The inspector observed children's activities, routines and the interactions between staff and children. n Some parents discussed their views and provided feedback about the nursery, and the inspector reviewed some written feedback received from parents on the day of the inspection. n An activity was observed by the manager and inspector and evaluated by them. n The inspector interacted with children at appropriate times during the inspection. n A sample of relevant documentation was reviewed by the inspector, including

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Inspection activities

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

12 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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