Blue Willow Day Nursery Ltd

Inspection of Blue Willow Day Nursery Ltd 84 Bath Road, Slough SL1 3SR

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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 are warmly welcomed by a friendly, nurturing staff team. Children develop trusting relationships with staff, who care for them well. Children accept hugs and reassurance when needed. They show that they feel safe and secure in the homely environment.

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The provision is good

Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills in the large outside area throughout the day. Children enjoy having their snacks and lunch in groups in the garden. They sit with their friends and the staff, animatedly chatting about their day and what they have done at home. Parents comment on how their children have developed their social skills as they have learned to mix with children of all ages. Staff encourage children to develop their early writing in fun ways. For example, staff set out resources to encourage children to make patterns and shapes in the indoor sandpit and spontaneously paint with various brushes and resources.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. They learn to share toys from a young age. Staff are positive role models. They use clear instructions that help children understand what is expected of them.

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need to do better?

n The leaders are highly motivated to provide a welcoming, nurturing, high-quality learning environment. Leaders work hard to support staff in their roles. They provide regular opportunities for informal conversations and one-to-one meetings to discuss professional development. Staff say that they very much enjoy working at the Nursery, and they put the children at the centre of all they do. This is evident throughout the Nursery. Staff are happy, and children are curious and keen to learn and develop their skills. n Practitioners frequently enhance children's communication and language skills. They speak to children about what they are doing to promote routine conversational skills. Leaders have also implemented 'family books', which include photos from children's lives away from the setting. Practitioners use these as talking points for children to discuss in groups throughout the day. Children build a broad vocabulary and learn about the ways in which they are

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need to do better?

different to one another. n Leaders review the strengths and areas to be developed in the Nursery regularly. They set goals to build ongoing improvement. For instance, recent developments have enabled children to learn about nature as they explore natural resources and learn about nature around them. Staff encourage children to listen to and watch aeroplanes as they fly over and identify the sound a magpie makes.

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need to do better?

27 July 2023 n Overall, parents speak highly of the Nursery and comment on how happy their children are. Staff are available to speak to parents at the start and end of the day, as well as communicating through an online system. However, staff do not always provide parents with more information about their children's progress and development in all areas of learning to enable them to complement the learning at home. n The Nursery's leaders and special educational needs coordinator are experienced in their roles and knowledgeable about the children who attend that require additional support. Strategies to identify any potential delays in development are quickly identified, and targeted interventions are put in place. n There is a very strong partnership with the local school. Leaders place a high priority on providing opportunities for children to experience school life as they become ready to move on. For example, children talk about which school they

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need to do better?

will be going to and how they are feeling about the change. n Generally, staff interact with children effectively to support their understanding of numbers and counting. However, at times, staff do not use opportunities effectively to enable children to develop their thinking skills, particularly in their use of questioning during play. n Older children develop their independence effectively. Pre-school children serve their own meals and clear away afterwards, and toddlers learn to feed themselves from an early age. Children develop a good awareness of healthy lifestyles. For example, they learn to recognise that they might need a drink after physical activity. Overall, staff promote children's good health consistently well, such as regular handwashing and oral health.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders ensure that all staff complete training in safeguarding, including 'Prevent' duty and how to escalate a concern about colleagues or leaders. Staff have a good understanding of what to do if they have concerns about a child's safety or well- being and who to report this to. The designated safeguarding leads have a clear understanding of the procedures to follow and who to contact if they have concerns about a child or an adult. Staff understand the importance of carrying out regular risk assessments in the environment to ensure that children are always kept safe, particularly in the outdoor area.

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should:

n strengthen partnerships with parents and share more information about their child's developmental progress and learning n develop staff's interactive skills to further develop children's knowledge and

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should:

27 July 2023 understanding of numbers and counting during play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494390 Local authority Slough Inspection number 10286800 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 89 Number of children on roll 84 Name of registered person Blue Willow Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01753 517505 Date of previous inspection 13 February 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Blue Willow Day Nursery registered in 2015. It is located in Slough, Berkshire. The Nursery is open each weekday between 7.30am and 6pm, all year round. It is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. There are 19 staff working with the children, one of whom holds an appropriate qualification at level 5, nine of whom hold appropriate qualifications at level 3. Three staff are qualified at level 2, and there are four apprentices.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n A joint observation was completed by the leaders and the inspector outdoors during a focused activity. n The inspector held a discussion with leaders in relation to the leadership and management of the Nursery. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of recruitment, staff's qualifications and their suitability to work with children. n The inspector spoke to parents, children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection.

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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

27 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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