Roots for Life Nursery

Inspection of Roots for Life Nursery 46b North Street, Thame OX9 3BH

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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 arrive happy at this welcoming nursery, ready to start their day playing with their friends. On arrival, they are greeted by friendly staff, who know the children well. An effective key-person system ensures that all children are well supported and their individual needs are met. This helps children to feel safe and secure and gives them a strong sense of belonging. Leaders and staff have a clear vision of what they want children to learn and can explain how they put this into practice. For instance, they plan a curriculum based on children's interest and stages of development to support their individual needs. As a result, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, show positive attitudes to their learning and make good progress from their starting point.

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The provision is good

Staff ensure that children have fresh air and exercise daily. Children enjoy outdoor play and have many opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, they squeal with joy as they play in the nursery garden. They practise their coordination and balancing skills on beams and climbing frames. This contributes positively towards children's small- and large-muscle development.

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The provision is good

Staff support children's personal, social and emotional well-being very well. They engage children in books about different emotions and support children to talk about their own feelings. Additionally, staff use effective methods to promote children's good behaviour and to encourage them to be kind.

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need to do better?

n Staff speak positively of the provider and manager and report that they are well supported. Regular supervisions and team meetings help staff to feel valued and content in their role. Staff work well together in their own rooms and across the nursery. This helps to promote consistency and supports children's transition as they move up to the next room. n The provider and manager work together collaboratively with the local schools, the local authority and other professionals to support the children in their care further. Staff take good account of children's needs when using additional funding. For instance, they obtain resources and provide additional hours to further support individual children and their families. n Staff work in partnership with parents to provide continuity in children's care routines and development. Staff act swiftly in identifying children that need additional support and work together with parents and relevant agencies.

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need to do better?

Parents report that their children thoroughly enjoy attending the setting. They appreciate the many learning experiences that staff plan and provide for the children. Additionally, parents come into the nursery to read to the children in their home language.

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need to do better?

26 June 2024 n Staff provide resources and activities that they know children will enjoy. They successfully engage children in meaningful activities throughout the day. For example, children enthusiastically explore art and craft materials, engage in physical activities and take part in music lessons. Children also learn sign language and have lessons in Chinese Mandarin. However, on occasion, some activities are so popular that they become overcrowded. At these times, children do not fully benefit from the intended learning and sometimes squabble over resources. n Overall, staff teach children about the importance of eating a healthy diet and explain to them why it is important to do so. However, during mealtimes not all staff model this consistently well. Although, they talk to the children about leading a healthy lifestyle, they do not demonstrate this actively through their own choices when sitting with the children at lunchtime. This means, that

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need to do better?

children are receiving conflicting messages and do not gain a solid understanding of how to make healthy choices. n Staff skilfully encourage children's mathematical learning across the nursery. For example, young children show high levels of concentration as they measure and pour water into cups, pretending to make smoothies. Furthermore, all children learn about different shapes during activities and feel utter pride when naming them correctly. This promotes children's sequenced mathematical learning superbly. n Staff promote children's literacy, as well as their speech and language development, effectively. For instance, they sing with the children and read to them every day. Staff engage children in the stories they read to them. They ask them question and encourage children to contribute with their own ideas. Children relish the praise they continually receive from attentive staff and thoroughly enjoy taking part in group sessions, ready for their move on to

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need to do better?

school. n Staff plan enriching experiences for the children to help them learn about the world they are growing up in. For example, they visit the local market where children can chose their own fruit and vegetables. Furthermore, children benefit from special visitors, such as the fire brigade, dentists and farm animals. These valuable learning experiences further promote children's personal development superbly.

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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:

26 June 2024 n support staff to more effectively plan group activities to include all children who want to take part n provide more consistent messages to children about the importance of making healthy choices in relation to food.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2677324 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10350656 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 78 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person Little Roots Nursery School Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07788211928 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Roots for Life Nursery is located in Thame. The nursery provides care for children Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm, during term time only. The provider holds level 6 qualified teacher status. There are 13 staff working directly with the children. Of these, one holds a level 6 qualified teacher status and six hold relevant early years qualification at level 3. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two-, three- and four-years-old.

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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 her evaluation of the provider. n Staff talked to the inspector about how they plan activities and what they do to support children's learning and development. They also explained the procedures that they follow to keep children safe. n A joint observation of an activity was carried out by the inspector and the manager. n The inspector went on a learning walk with room leaders to look at how the curriculum is planned and delivered. n The inspector spoke to children and viewed their activities. n The inspector spoke to parents and considered their views.

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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

26 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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