Cedars Day Nursery and Pre-School

Inspection of Cedars Day Nursery and Pre-School Cedars School, Church Road, Aldermaston, Reading RG7 4LR

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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

Staff implement the curriculum learning intentions successfully to help all children gain the skills and knowledge needed for the next stage of their learning. Overall, staff's teaching is consistently good. They know and understand their key children's care and learning needs securely. They follow children's interests and choices, such as reading books when asked to by children and talking to them about the pictures.

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The provision is good

There are effective settling-in processes for new children, which include visits with and without parents. Staff gain a range of useful information from parents to help them to understand and meet the needs of new children. This includes details about babies' home routines along with details of their favourite songs and activities. Children are happy and settled. All children benefit from positive relationships with the kind and supportive staff. Those caring for babies are responsive to their needs. This helps children to feel safe and secure. Children confidently explore and investigate and are appropriately supervised by staff.

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The provision is good

Staff promote children's understanding of the behaviour expectations, such as being kind and sharing toys with others. Children enjoy their time at nursery. They engage in play and activities with enthusiasm. Older children confidently share their own ideas, which are valued by staff. Staff use these skilfully, such as to support children's decision-making as a group.

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need to do better?

n The new manager has a good understanding of her roles and responsibilities. This includes her roles as the designated safeguarding lead and as the special educational needs coordinator. She works closely with other professionals, along with the staff team, to meet children's individual needs. n Staff feel well supported. The manager encourages staff to reflect on their practice. Staff receive regular individual supervision meetings, ongoing feedback from the manager and complete training. This helps to promote improvements in staff's practice and builds on the overall quality of the provision. n Staff demonstrate a good knowledge of children's progress and next steps in learning. They understand the needs of children who may need some extra support. When additional funding is in place for individual children, this is used effectively to meet their needs. Staff use children's interests to engage them in

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need to do better?

play and learning. For example, babies showed excitement when they joined in songs and rhymes using musical instruments. n Staff engage children in learning well. They weave in teaching during interactions and activities to support children's learning, such as modelling mathematical language and counting with children. Older children develop skills

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need to do better?

20 March 2024 to help them move on to school. For example, staff supported the pre-school children to make up a story together. Children used their imagination, concentrated and recalled information during the activity. n Staff build on younger children's understanding of language well, such as using actions alongside words. They repeat words back to children to promote the correct pronunciation of these. Staff working with the older children give them time to respond to questions, which helps to support their thinking skills. Staff and children engage in frequent conversations. Sometimes, staff do not build on what children say as well as possible, to help extend their language skills further. n Children gain a sense of responsibility. Older children help to tidy up and put away toys, for example. Staff encourage children to recognise and express their emotions. This was seen during the inspection, when staff explored pre-school

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need to do better?

children's feelings and drew faces to reflect these. Staff guide children appropriately about their safety. However, they do not always provide sufficient explanations to extend children's understanding about how to keep themselves and others safe. n Children develop their independence and self-care skills well. Babies make choices from the toys and resources and explore with interest. Older children learn to manage their clothing and put away their belongings. They have opportunities to serve their own food and pour their own drinks. Children gain an understanding of healthy lifestyles, such as following good hygiene routines. n The manager and staff build positive partnerships with parents. They warmly welcome parents and children on arrival. Daily updates are provided through the online app and discussions with parents. Parents speak positively about the service provided and comment that their children really enjoy attending the

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n build on staff's skills to enhance the interactions and discussions with children to extend the support for their communication and language development n extend staff's awareness of supporting children's understanding of their own and others' safety.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2676504 Local authority West Berkshire Inspection number 10335008 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 63 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Kingsclere Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01182076600 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Cedars Day Nursery and Pre-School registered in 2022. It is located in the village of Aldermaston, Berkshire. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round except for a week at Christmas. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years. There are 10 staff who work directly with the children. Of these, seven hold recognised early years qualifications between level 2 and level 5.

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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 The manager took the inspector on a learning walk and provided information about the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n A leadership and management meeting was held with the manager and area manager. n The inspector spoke to some parents during the inspection and took account of

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Inspection activities

their views. n A sample of documentation was viewed, including evidence of staff's suitability checks.

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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

20 March 2024 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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