Abacus Day Nursery and Pre-School

Inspection of Abacus Day Nursery and Pre-School Westside, Oxford Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 1XB

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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 show they are excited and happy at the nursery. Effective key-person arrangements are in place to ensure children are well supported. Children separate from their parents at the door with ease and happily go to their base rooms. Staff are kind and attentive to the children. They provide them with a wide range of activities that support their interests and help them to build on their prior knowledge and skills. For example, in the baby room, babies enjoy water activities on table-top surfaces, which encourages them to stand to build the muscles in their legs. Older children have many opportunities to expand their dexterity in their hands ready for writing as they enjoy exploring with media and materials, such as dough and sand.

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The provision is good

Children behave well and they are learning how to be kind and considerate to each other. Staff support children's self-confidence successfully as they praise children for sharing, listening and turn-taking. Overall, staff support children's communication and language purposefully. They sing songs together and encourage children to develop a love of stories. This helps children to build on their vocabulary and understanding as they hear words used in a variety of contexts.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff work well together to create a welcoming environment for the children. Since their last inspection, they have re-created the curriculum to ensure the main focus is to build on what children know and can do. Staff set up inviting play spaces and activities for the children, which they enjoy. Plenty of opportunities are also available for children to make independent choices about what they would like to do. n Staff understand how children learn. They are confident with the areas of learning and adapt their teaching when supporting children to incorporate as many of these as they can to support learning. Overall, staff communicate with children effectively to support their language. However, at times, some staff do not use the correct pronunciation when naming animals, and too often children are not given time to think and respond to questions they have been asked by staff. This somewhat limits children's opportunities to explore ideas and

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need to do better?

understanding. n Staff utilise the indoor and outside spaces well to ensure that all children's needs are catered for. Children benefit from a wealth of outdoor experiences planned to enhance their knowledge, education and curiosity. For example, they go for walks in the community and enjoy visits to the pantomime. Children have many opportunities to learn about people who help us and about festivals through planned activities and events. n Staff have a good awareness of the importance of ensuring children's health.

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need to do better?

30 July 2024 They ensure the toys, resources and environment are safe, clean and suitable for children to play. Children are supported to maintain healthy practices well. For instance, all are reminded to wash their hands before eating. Children are encouraged to stay hydrated, and all enjoy the nutritious meals and snacks offered to them. Staff are effective at promoting children's independence. n Leaders are ambitious and passionate about the nursery. They are reflective and work with the staff to model practice. Staff benefit from team meetings, supervision sessions and training opportunities. However, systems used for the coaching and mentoring of staff practice are not targeted accurately enough to help improve staff practice. Nevertheless, staff comment that they are happy and feel supported. n The special educational needs coordinator has a good awareness of her responsibility to support and guide staff to create targeted plans to help all

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need to do better?

children to achieve. She works closely with parents and other professionals to enable children with special educational needs and/or disabilities to make good progress. Additional funding is used effectively to close any gaps in children's learning. n Parents have a good amount of information available to them. They have access to an online app that provides them with information about how their children are developing and about the children's day. Parents speak highly of staff and praise them for their support.

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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 staff to strengthen their understanding of how to support children's early language development and broaden their vocabulary n develop further the systems for coaching and mentoring of staff to raise the quality of education.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 511192 Local authority West Berkshire Inspection number 10346963 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 70 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Kingsclere Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01635 550134 Date of previous inspection 30 August 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Abacus Day Nursery and Pre-School registered in 1992. It is located in Newbury, Berkshire. It operates between Monday and Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, for 52 weeks of the year, with the exception of bank holidays and the period between Christmas and New Year. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 18 members of staff employed to work with the children, 13 of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications between level 2 and 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager explained the nursery curriculum during a learning walk with the inspector. n The manager and the inspector completed a joint observation of an activity together and discussed the quality of teaching and learning afterwards. n Children spoke to the inspector about the activities they took part in. n Parents shared their views on the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

30 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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