Savernake Forest and Farm Nursery

Inspection of The Avenue Nursery Unit 4-5, Warren Courtyard, Savernake, Marlborough SN8 3UU

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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 eagerly arrive at the nursery. Staff greet them warmly, helping babies and children feel welcome and build strong bonds with them. Children progress their skills effectively, including those in receipt of additional funding. Staff make the most of their rural location and links to the farm. Children visit the woodlands to learn about nature. Babies avidly watch tractors pulling interesting equipment drive past. Staff take time to involve children in the routines of the day. Older children are keen to serve themselves at mealtimes, working hard to place food on their plates and are proud of their achievements.

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The provision is good

Staff form plans for children's development that are linked to children's interests and learning needs. Children explore sensory items eagerly. Babies relish the feel of dried pasta and investigate putting pieces down a long tube. Toddlers explore water, pouring it and enjoying floating little plastic ducks. Older children create at the craft table, independently choosing the resources they need. They make marks and glue items to create their desired effect. They enjoy experimenting with glitter, and staff beneficially encourage children to follow their interests. Children mix the glitter into the nearby water and sand activity, marvelling at the effects they create. They stay focused here for quite some time, testing out their ideas. They show positive attitudes to developing their skills.

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need to do better?

n The manager works closely with the owners and senior managers in their small nursery group. They have high aspirations for children and have reviewed all aspects since the nursery changed hands last year. They are working closely with the staff team, focusing on their core values to outline key aims for each age group and to enhance their curriculum. n The safeguarding of children is focused on closely. The management team is constantly assessing all areas and enhancing safety and security practices and supporting the robust implementation of procedures. It leads staff's knowledge through regular training as well as professional discussions of relevant aspects at meetings. n Staff help children manage their emotions, learn to share toys and interact with the other children. This includes those who need additional support. However, at times, staff do not offer clear explanations to children to encourage their full

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need to do better?

understanding of boundaries and to help them lead these practices independently. n Staff carefully support babies' well-being, following their individual routines. In all age groups, staff provide thoughtful designated spaces and flexibly adapt arrangements so that children get the rest they need. They liaise closely with parents to link to arrangements at home, and parents are very grateful for this.

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need to do better?

13 June 2024 n Children enjoy challenging their physical skills, moving in different ways. Pre- school children have fun in their dance session and practise hopping round the room with their friends. Toddlers' exuberant energy is channelled well as they explore their new indoor climbing frame. However, staff do not always help children understand and manage the risks that they encounter as they climb and balance to develop their skills further. n Staff use their observations of children to assess their development and outline next steps in their learning. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) works closely with staff to help children achieve their potential and be well prepared for their move on to school. This includes children who have special educational needs and/ or disabilities. n Older children's conversation skills are good, and they listen attentively to stories. Babies enjoy exploring books with staff, snuggling in happily. Toddlers

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need to do better?

confidently join in with a group song time. At snack time, staff give young children choices to encourage their communication. However, staff do not always give children enough time to respond. Additionally, sometimes staff's conversation is too lengthy for babies to clearly pick up on key words and develop their language as much as possible. n Partnerships with parents are something the new owners and management team are continuing to enhance. Parents are very positive about the new online communication app that has been introduced, and they say that they find the information staff share very useful. Regular meetings and conversations are also undertaken with parents to help contribute to the consistent approach that children receive. n Staff's professional development is integral to the new management's practice. Many staff are working towards early years qualifications, and they attend a wide range of appropriate training. The managers undertake regular

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need to do better?

observations and support of staff's practice. They recognise that these processes need further extension to help develop staff's teaching skills even further.

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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 enhance the focus on helping children learn about and understand safe practices and begin to follow these independently n extend the teaching and support staff provide for the younger children's speech n support the development of staff's teaching and help all staff interact and

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should:

13 June 2024 support children's learning to a consistently high level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2746107 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10353479 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 115 Number of children on roll 103 Name of registered person Minoa Savernake Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01672 870790 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Avenue Nursery registered under new owners in 2023. It operates from a converted barn within the Warren Courtyard complex at Savernake, near Marlborough, Wiltshire. The nursery is situated in a rural setting in the grounds of a working dairy farm. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff. Of whom, four are qualified to degree level, one has qualified teacher status, seven staff hold an appropriate qualification at level 3 and one at level 2. There is also a nursery cook that has a level 2 catering qualification. The nursery operates from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. It also has a separate club that offers older children care before and after school and in the school holidays. 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 of the setting since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and the owner and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector viewed all areas and discussed with the owner and the manager how these areas are used. n The manager and the inspector evaluated the effectiveness of an activity together. n The inspector observed the children and the staff and spoke with them at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector discussed the leadership and management of the nursery with the owner, the manager and the senior managers. n The inspector met with the SENCo and discussed how she supports the children and the staff at the nursery. n Parents shared their views of the provision with the inspector. n Relevant documentation was reviewed by the inspector, including suitability

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Inspection activities

checks and paediatric first-aid qualifications. n The owner and the manager discussed their safety and child protection procedures, and safeguarding discussions were undertaken with members of the staff team.

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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

13 June 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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