The Old Station Nursery, Oxford

Inspection of The Old Station Nursery, Oxford The Sadler Building Nursery, Heatley Road, Oxford, Oxon OX4 4GE

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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 and excited to begin their day. They separate from their parents with ease as friendly staff, who know them well, welcome them inside. Staff celebrate children's achievements with great enthusiasm. For example, during a music session, pre-school children are invited to sing a scale individually, in front of their friends. Children learn that each one of them have a unique singing voice. Staff's praise helps to raise children's self-esteem and confidence.

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The provision is good

The staff have created an appealing environment, which presents a rich variety of experiences for children. As a result, children have a positive attitude to their learning and are adventurous and curious in their play. For example, staff provide oats, water and spinach for babies to explore, with a range of small world animals to find. They add texture bags for those who are more reluctant to explore the resources. Staff use these opportunities to extend their developing communication and language skills, as they model words, such as, 'crunchy,' and 'squishy.' Toddlers are delighted to explore the sandpit to explore the pretend seaside area, to find a range of sea life creatures. This enables children returning from recent holidays to chat about their experiences and build on their knowledge. Older children develop their imaginative and understanding of the world. As they explore the solar system,

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The provision is good

they name planets such as Jupiter and Venus and recall how they rotate around the sun. Through skilled teaching they recall prior learning and children pretend to be the erupting volcanoes. They count competently to 19, before the volcano erupts and describe how the lava 'splats out.'

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need to do better?

n The manager is dedicated to her role. She values the staff team and supports staff well-being effectively. Staff say that they feel valued in their roles and enjoy working at the nursery. The manager accurately evaluates the setting, seeking the views of staff, children and their families to identify areas where the nursery could develop further. n Staff receive some targeted support and training to help raise the quality of their practice and skills. For example, all staff have undertaken training on supporting children's behaviour and self-regulation, which has had a positive impact. However, there are occasions when staff do not support children fully effectively in adult led activities, such as during large group sessions or some planned adult-led learning. At times, this affects how well staff focus their teaching to build on what children already know. Current arrangements for monitoring staff

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need to do better?

practice do not always pick up these minor weaknesses in staff's skills, so they can be promptly addressed. . n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children with long-term medical needs make very good progress at the nursery. Staff are

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need to do better?

10 July 2024 proactive in working with a range of other professionals. They are highly motivated to work collaboratively with parents. There are comprehensive and effective plans in place to support children. These are known and understood by all staff, and they show genuine care for children. n Staff have a good understanding of their curriculum and how children learn. Overall, they plan a rich and varied selection of well-organised activities to encourage children to explore and build on what they already know. This helps children to make good progress. n Children with English as an additional language are supported well. For example, staff use key words, visual prompts, sign language and multilingual pens to further support their language development. n Staff build strong partnerships with parents. They share information about what children have been learning. Parents explain that children are happy and settle

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need to do better?

quickly. They discuss how their children benefit from enriching experiences, such as yoga and cooking sessions. Parents are also provided with information from staff about how to support children's learning at home. n Children enjoy a nutritious and balanced diet, and ample opportunities for physical activity indoors and outdoors. They enjoy sliding, scooping and pouring in the water tray, baking in the mud kitchen, and building in the construction area. Staff emphasise healthy choices related to food, rest, and exercise. n Key-person relationships are very effective. Interactions are kind and gentle, and children build strong relationships with the adults who care for them. This contributes to their sense of security and safety at the nursery. n Children behave well. Staff are good role models and children receive consistent boundaries from staff, which helps them to understand the expectations for their

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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 strengthen the arrangements for monitoring staff practice, to promptly identify and address any areas for improvement.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2680203 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10350663 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 77 Number of children on roll 132 Name of registered person The Old Station Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01865 777167 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Old Station Nursery, Oxford Science Park, re-registered in 2022. It operates from premises located at the Oxford Science Park, in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The nursery employs 33 members of staff. Of these, 16 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including two with a level 6 qualification. The nursery is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm, with the option of an early start at 7:30am, for 51 weeks of the year. It is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The inspector completed a learning walk with the manager and the deputy 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, leaders and managers, 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.

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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

10 July 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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