The Nursery

Inspection of The Nursery 17 Lathbury Road, Oxford OX2 7AT

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children arrive at this inspirational nursery highly motivated and with a positive attitude to their learning. Children and their families build strong and meaningful bonds with the nursery staff. These begin before children start nursery. Through a programme of highly effective home visits and settling-in sessions, staff and children build trusting relationships. This sense of belonging continues to grow and develop, due to the care and kindness staff continue to show.

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The provision is outstanding

All children thrive at the nursery and show intense concentration in the array of fascinating learning opportunities available for them. Staff have high expectations for what children can achieve. They engage with them through thoughtful questioning that challenges children to think and use their own ideas. Staff are highly skilled in supporting children's communication and language development, including for those who speak English as an additional language. Staff provide daily small-group language activities and are consistent in engaging children in meaningful back-and-forth conversations. Staff continually introduce new words as children play. For example, when children were painting, staff introduced and explained the meaning of symmetrical, in relation to their butterfly paintings. Staff ask thought-provoking questions, allowing children plenty of time to think deeply before they respond. Staff provide excellent mathematical opportunities. They

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The provision is outstanding

include frequent counting and number recognition opportunities as part of the daily routines and older children are competent in simple adding and subtracting. For example, at snack time, children calculate how many more pieces of fruit they can take to equal the number represented on the board.

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The provision is outstanding

Older children begin to understand and recognise feelings and emotions. This is because staff support all children to learn how to regulate these emotions through their curriculum design. For example, during a story, children are able to explain how the term, 'feeling a little bit blue,' means people can, 'feel a bit sad.' Additionally, another child expresses delight during a singing activity as they declare, 'I am very good at this song now'. Children clearly demonstrate that they feel very happy and safe in the wonderful environment that has been created by the dedicated staff team.

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need to do better?

n The inspirational manager has a clear vision for the nursery's broad and highly ambitious curriculum. This is faultlessly communicated with staff who deliver sequenced learning with expertise. As a result of the rich experiences on offer to children, their attitudes to learning are consistently positive. They are highly motivated and sustain concentration for extended periods of time. Staff provide appropriate challenge for children, who in response demonstrate perseverance

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need to do better?

27 June 2024 to achieve new skills. This prepares them for future success and ensures all children make excellent progress in their learning. n The dedicated manager is committed to developing an outstanding staff team and nursery. She strongly encourages all staff to access training and personal development, and she highly motivates all staff. Leaders ensure that staff have access to excellent well-being support, and staff tell the inspector that they feel extremely valued and listened to. Highly reflective self-evaluation accurately helps target improvements and shape the outstanding service that is provided. For example, staff have daily briefings before and after the nursery day. n Staff adopt strong and extremely successful partnerships with parents and others involved in children's care and education. Parents comment how staff are invested in each individual child to reach their full potential. Staff continually

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need to do better?

share children's learning so that parents can seamlessly continue this at home. n The special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) works extremely closely with outside professionals to ensure that personalised intervention is delivered consistently across the setting. This supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. In addition, leaders have built superb partnerships with schools which children will attend. For example, teachers visit the nursery to read stories, as well as children visiting their future schools frequently. Children are more than ready for their move to school. For instance, on the day of inspection children independently dress in a range of school uniforms and proudly tell the inspector which school they will attend in September. n Children show through their demeanour, behaviour and enthusiasm that the nursery is somewhere that they feel totally safe, secure and welcome. All

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need to do better?

children are incredibly well behaved. n Key persons have an excellent knowledge of each child's learning needs and styles. They seamlessly weave what children need to learn next into every interaction. Staff have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of each and every child's development, and they use meticulous ongoing assessments to precisely identify what children need to learn next. This enables all children to make the best possible progress. n The innovative staff engage children in meaningful tasks to teach them about global factors, such as, how to care for their planet, and the role they can play in improving it. In addition, pre-school children attend a residential care home each week, offering a unique opportunity for younger and older generations to interact through planned activities. This is empowering children to make a difference and supporting them to adopt higher levels of respect, care and

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need to do better?

consideration for the world around them.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number EY537339 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10347085 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Brooks, Louise Patricia

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reference number

Telephone number 01865516636 Date of previous inspection 20 August 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The Nursery, located in North Oxford, registered under the current management in 2016 and is run by a private individual. It is open on weekdays from 8.15am until 5.00pm, throughout the year. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The provider employs nine staff and, of these, six hold relevant qualifications at levels 3, and two hold relevant qualifications at level 6.

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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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The inspector completed a learning walk with the manager through all areas of the premises used by the children. n Parents shared their views through written and verbal feedback. The inspector took these views into account. n The inspector talked to staff, the manager, the provider and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager carried out a joint observation with the inspector. n The inspector looked at a sample of the documentation. This included evidence about suitability and qualification records.

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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 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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