Cygnet Nursery

Inspection of Cygnet Nursery 44/45 Evenlode Crescent, Kidlington OX5 1RF

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children arrive happy and ready to start their day at this welcoming, homely nursery. Leaders and staff are passionate about forming close bonds with children and their families. The key-person system is highly effective. Staff show genuine care and affection for the children. For example, new children receive sensitive support from their key person to help them settle into the nursery. This helps all children to have a sense of belonging. Children develop good friendships. For example, older children delight in 'making a birthday cake' for their friends in the role-play area. Children have strong social skills.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff expertly support children's communication and language development. They provide focused activities to assess and promote progress in this area. Children have good communication and language skills. For example, younger children readily use words such as 'more' and excitedly shout out animal sounds such as 'woof' and 'ribbit'. Older children happily tell others how 'lifeboats rescue you in the sea'. Children are developing a broad and varied vocabulary.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. For example, when children run indoors, staff gently prompt them by asking about the relevant 'golden rule'. Children respond cheerfully with 'walking inside' and adjust their behaviour accordingly. In addition, children have exemplary manners and consistently say 'please' and 'thank you'. The atmosphere is calm and nurturing, and children work collaboratively with others.

p.2

need to do better?

n Older children benefit from a well planned and carefully sequenced curriculum. For instance, staff teach mathematical concepts effectively as children complete a number puzzle. Staff encourage children to recognise numerals alongside objects representing the number. This supports good progress in children's mathematical development. However, at times, some staff are less confident in describing the key skills that they want younger children to develop. They do not fully understand what children should be learning next. For example, staff do not always plan effective activities to help children learn the most important skills. n Overall, staff use what they know about the children to help plan a range of stimulating and enjoyable experiences. For example, children giggle with glee as they take turns rolling balls down drainpipes and eagerly run to retrieve them. These activities help foster positive attitudes towards play and learning.

p.2

need to do better?

However, at times, the organisation of some staff and/or activities is not well thought out. This can affect some children's overall level of engagement, occasionally leading them to become disengaged or unsettled. n Staff recognise the importance of offering all children a wide variety of activities

p.2

need to do better?

8 May 2025 to practise their physical skills. For instance, children enjoy riding trikes, balancing on beams and climbing on slides. They confidently navigate these tasks with little support. This helps to develop their large muscle movements, ready for later learning. n Leaders and staff use additional funding effectively to ensure that disadvantaged children receive the support they need. Through regular observations, staff identify areas where some children require additional support, such as emotional development. Staff skilfully implement strategies to help these children understand and express their feelings. As a result, disadvantaged children make progress that is equal to, or even better than, that of their peers. Children in receipt of additional funding thrive in this nurturing setting. n Staff report that leaders give their well-being high priority and ensure that their workload is manageable. Leaders have effective systems in place for staff

p.2

need to do better?

training, coaching and ongoing support. They are proactive and passionate about continual professional development. For example, staff describe how recent training around children's oral health has helped them to introduce new teaching around topics such as toothbrushing and healthy snacks. This helps to improve the teaching over time. n Leaders and staff have strong partnerships with parents, who value the regular feedback they receive about their children's learning and development. They say this helps them to support their children's learning at home. For example, staff share resources with parents to assist them in preparing their child for the transition to school. Parents praise the staff highly for having close bonds with their children, which has helped them to settle quickly at nursery.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n strengthen teaching practice even further to help staff to have a clear understanding of the sequencing and priorities for learning for younger children n review routines and organisation of activities to support children and consistently display positive attitudes to play and learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY541904 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10394810 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Cygnet Nursery (Kidlington) Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01865842006 Date of previous inspection 26 September 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Cygnet Nursery is a privately owned setting that opened in 1992 and re-registered in 2017. It operates in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round. The nursery employs 12 members of staff. Of these, one holds an early years qualification at level 5, and nine hold qualifications at level 3. The nursery is in receipt of government funding for the provision of free early education.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while at 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 talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a mathematics activity. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

8 May 2025 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6