Cedars @ Boot Farm Day Nursery & Pre-School

Inspection of Cedars @ Boot Farm Day Nursery & Pre-School Boot Farm, Wasing Back Lane, Brimpton Common, Reading, Berkshire RG7 4RG

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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 develop confidence, independence and good communication skills at this well-organised and welcoming nursery. Staff get to know children well from the very start. They form caring bonds and readily provide effective emotional support to children. This helps children settle quickly and feel safe.

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The provision is good

Leaders and staff provide a stimulating environment of rich learning experiences, where all children can follow their own interests. Children's natural curiosity is greatly enhanced as they explore, investigate and lead their own learning. They also initiate and happily engage with staff in their play, such as designing and making crowns together out of willow branches. This shows that staff readily value all children's ideas.

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The provision is good

All staff show consistent expectations for children's behaviour and children regularly follow the positive examples set by staff. For example, younger children happily share song props with their friends and respond with smiles to staff's praise. Staff, across the nursery, support all children to recognise, understand and manage their emotions in an age appropriate way. They check on children's well-being throughout the day and frequently respond with cuddles and reassurance. For instance, at the start of the day pre-school staff ask older children how they feel. If some say they feel sad, staff consult the other children to consider ways to make their friends feel happier.

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need to do better?

n The company's experienced and competent senior leaders support the manager and her staff well. They guide the manager to accurately identify and address areas for development. For example, they recognise that keeping parents fully informed of their children's progress is key in providing a shared approach to children's development. Staff share detailed information with photographs about their child's day in a variety of ways, such as through an online application. Parents state how excited their children are to talk about the photographs of them once they get home. This helps children to recall their previous learning with their parents. n Senior leaders help the manager and staff design an ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum across the nursery. Staff use their ongoing observations and assessments of children to help inform their individual next steps in learning. They plan and implement a variety of activities which build on children's

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need to do better?

development. The capable manager supports staff to develop a clear understanding of how children learn language and how to extend their speech further. For instance, staff model key words as children plant seeds in the garden, such as 'soil', 'stone' and 'bumpy'. Older children talk proudly about their

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need to do better?

21 May 2024 home experiences, competently taking turns to listen and then respond appropriately. Staff give children opportunities throughout the day to practise and learn mathematical language, such as when they help older children correctly count their jumps during exercise. n Staff effectively support all children's physical development. They provide ample opportunities for children to enjoy and explore being active outdoors. For example, babies hold a member of staff's hand and try hard to balance on slightly raised wooden planks. Older children build on staff's help and confidently adjust equipment to make an obstacle course. They balance on wooden ramps with impressive control, without adult support. These activities help to build children's core strength and stamina, as well as raising children's understanding of their own capabilities. n The manager shows a clear vision and a keenness to drive improvement, such

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need to do better?

as working to raise staff's teaching to the highest quality. She observes staff's practice and provides constructive feedback to improve their knowledge and skills further. These details help to inform personalised programmes of professional development for each member of staff. Overall, this is effective. However, on occasions, some staff interrupt children's independent play unnecessarily and do not always allow them the opportunity to work through their ideas themselves. At these times, children's concentration and their ability to critically think is reduced. n Leaders and staff help children follow a healthy lifestyle, such as managing their own hygiene routines. This includes, washing hands before mealtimes or when they cough or sneeze into them. All children thoroughly enjoy the home-cooked, nutritious meals on offer. However, staff do not consistently use opportunities to teach children about the importance of exercise, good hygiene practices and

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need to do better?

healthy food choices. This does not help children fully understand the positive impact these important activities have on their bodies.

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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 support all staff to recognise when to allow children to continue with their play without interruption, and when to intervene with more purpose n help staff further to provide consistent messages to help children learn about the benefits of adopting a healthy lifestyle.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY219924 Local authority West Berkshire Inspection number 10346967 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 40 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person H A B Kindergarten Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01189 816619 Date of previous inspection 30 August 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Cedars @ Boot Farm Day Nursery & Pre-School registered in 2023. It operates near the village of Brimpton, in West Berkshire. It opens five days a week, all year round from 8am to 6pm. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two years. It is also eligible for this funding for children aged three and four years. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at 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 leaders and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum on offer. 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 carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector talked to children, staff and parents 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.

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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

21 May 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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