Once Upon A Time - City

Inspection of Once Upon A Time - City Nottingham College, Adams Building, Stoney Street, Nottingham NG1 1NG

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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 settle into the nursery well and confidently engage with the opportunities on offer. Babies are motivated to learn as they practise new skills. For example, staff support their learning as they fill buckets with bricks. Staff model language and say 'all gone' as babies enjoy emptying them again. They giggle together. Children eagerly repeat the activity and show pride as they receive praise from staff. This helps children to thrive, feel secure and develop positive self-esteem.

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The provision is good

Older children explore and experiment as they make play dough. Staff encourage them to solve problems and think critically. For example, they prompt children to think about what will happen when they mix the ingredients together. Children enjoy using the dough to create pretend cakes and cook them in the toy oven. Staff support children in developing their small-muscle skills as they provide a range of tools to help children manipulate the play dough and create different effects. Children learn to behave well. They demonstrate their understanding of building positive relationships as they take turns and share resources. They show respect and say 'thank you' to their friends. Children learn to be independent as they complete daily routine tasks. Staff encourage them to try to do things for themselves, such as managing their personal care needs. For example, all children learn how to wash their hands, use tongs to serve themselves food and cutlery to

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need to do better?

n Staff are alert to the needs of individual children and understand how to communicate with them so that they are fully included. They support children who speak English as an additional language in a range of ways. For example, staff learn familiar words in children's home language to help them feel safe and secure. This helps children settle in quickly. During the day, staff use objects to help children understand the routines of the day. n The management team and staff work together to create an ambitious curriculum and plan activities to build on what children know. The curriculum is designed for the specific learning needs of the children. Additional funding is used effectively to meet children's individual needs and improve outcomes. For example, staff closely monitor children's progress through observations and assessments, which enable them to identify what children need to learn next. Funding is spent on resources, such as jigsaws and toys with clips and buckles

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need to do better?

to promote small-muscle skills and hand-eye coordination. n Staff plan group adult-led activities to develop children's social skills. Children are keen to join in and thoroughly enjoy moving their bodies as staff sing and clap. However, staff do not always manage group time effectively to keep younger children focused. For example, as group times go on, toddlers become

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need to do better?

16 October 2024 fidgety and disengage. Therefore, children do not fully benefit from the learning being offered. n The nursery is a language-rich environment where babbling, talking and singing are valued. The staff model language throughout children's play and activities. Babies thoroughly enjoy singing with staff as they sit together and pretend to row their boats. Staff encourage older children to share their knowledge and ideas as they look at photos from home. Children hold lively conversations about what they have been doing at the weekend. n All children, including children with special education needs and/or disabilities, make good progress in their learning and development. Staff quickly identify gaps in children's development, and appropriate support is put in place. This includes swift referrals to relevant professionals and working with parents to seek support, such as recommending children have an eye test.

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need to do better?

n Parents are informed about their children's learning through daily discussions with staff and a new online communication app. This new app allows parents to upload information about their child's learning at home. Staff make use of this information to help track children's ongoing development. Parents speak highly of the dedicated staff team and feel supported as a family. They say they are offered parental support and guidance when they need it. n The management team has a robust system in place to ensure that staff are continuously developing in their roles. The management team holds regular supervision meetings with staff to discuss areas of focus for training. Furthermore, staff attend training days as a whole team, and leaders regularly share information with staff to ensure their knowledge is up to date.

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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 staff's interactions with younger children to help engage and maintain their focus and attention during planned group times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 254626 Local authority Nottingham Inspection number 10355432 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 50 Number of children on roll 92 Name of registered person Nottingham College

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reference number

Telephone number 0115 838 0573 Date of previous inspection 29 November 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Once Upon A Time - City registered in 1999 and is located in the city of Nottingham. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery is open Monday to Thursday, from 8am to 6pm, and on Friday from 8am to 5.30pm, all year round. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The management team and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during group time. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

16 October 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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