Blue Orkids @ Wootton Community Nursery

Inspection of Blue Orkids @ Wootton Community Nursery Wootton Community Nursery, Innovation Way, Wootton, Bedford MK43 9SP

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 Not applicable

p.1

The provision is good

Staff greet children on arrival at the nursery, which helps children to feel reassured and safe. Children quickly become engaged in their chosen activity, make friends with their peers and show a positive attitude to their learning. For example, older children pretend to be dentists and patients, confidently talking about their roles and the importance of cleaning their teeth. Staff support children to manage their feelings and emotions.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff are responsive to the children's care needs and join in their play. They encourage babies to develop their hand-eye coordination skills as they spoon coloured oats into containers. They skilfully introduce new words, such as 'scoop, pour' and 'sprinkle'. Staff support younger children to make dough. They learn to count scoops of flour and how to pour water from a jug before kneading the mixture together. Older children confidently use tools to roll out dough and scissors to cut herbs to decorate their pretend dough pizzas. They describe their culinary creations and discussions with staff leads to the children demonstrating their knowledge of what are healthy and unhealthy food options. Staff develop children's understanding of numbers. Older children find the corresponding number of pretend fish in the water. They know how many fish they have if they add one more.

p.2

need to do better?

n The proactive management team has worked hard to develop the nursery. They continually reflect and evaluate, looking at ways to enhance the nursery environment and opportunities for children. This includes seeking the views of staff and parents. They have recently redesigned the layout of the rooms and made additional room available for younger children to develop their play and ideas. Furthermore, management recognises the importance of ongoing training to ensure staff continue to build their knowledge and skills. n The management and staff team structure and sequence the curriculum to cover all areas of a child's development. They know the children well and ensure daily routines reflect their needs. Staff complete ongoing observations of the children to monitor their progress and well-being. This assists staff to understand each child's personality, interests, and learning needs. Overall, staff offer a variety of

p.2

need to do better?

learning experiences that support children's development across different areas. However, during certain activities, both planned and free play, they do not always adjust their interactions effectively to maximise children's learning outcomes. n The management team and staff have high ambitions for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They understand the importance of early intervention. Staff involve parents in discussions and

p.2

need to do better?

9 July 2025 decision-making about their child, initiating referral procedures if required. Additionally, management and staff support families to access available funding. They use their knowledge of the children and their families to determine how to best use the funding. For example, funding has been used to purchase sensory resources and to enable specialist speech and language and physical activities. n Management and staff welcome parents into the nursery. Helpful information and advice are displayed in the welcoming entrance area. Parents are invited to stay-and-play sessions, graduation ceremonies and Mother's Day celebrations. Staff implement effective settling-in sessions, ensuring a smooth transition for children. Parents are kept well informed about their child's day through daily conversations and receive updates on their child's progress via an app. n The nursery chef provides healthy, freshly cooked meals and snacks. Children

p.2

need to do better?

learn good hygiene practices, such as washing their hands before eating. They are encouraged from a young age to feed themselves with cutlery, helping to develop their independence. Clear procedures are in place to ensure children's dietary requirements and preferences are met. n Babies and younger children are constantly spoken to and introduced to rhymes and songs, particularly enjoying those with actions, such as 'The wheels on the bus'. Older children successfully use language to talk about what they are doing and recall past events. They thoroughly enjoy sharing story and non-fiction books about animals with staff. This leads to children recalling their visits to the zoo and talking about their pets. n Children are provided with opportunities to increase their knowledge and sense of the world around them. For example, staff take children to a local shop to buy cooking ingredients. Additionally, children have opportunities to choose books

p.3

need to do better?

from the visiting library bus and enjoy visiting a local wooded area, where they explore their surroundings.

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 staff skills to adapt their interactions to fully support children's learning, during children's free play and some planned activities.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2733406 Local authority Bedford Inspection number 10398152 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 60 Number of children on roll 109 Name of registered person Blue Orkids Ltd

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01234420222 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Blue Orkids @ Wootton Community Nursery registered in April 2023 and operates in Wootton, Bedford. The setting employs 13 members of childcare staff. Eight members of staff hold appropriate early years qualifications, ranging from level 3 to level 6. The setting opens Monday to Friday, all year round from 8am until 6pm. The provider offers government funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed staff's interactions with the children during indoor and outdoor activities, and assessed the impact this has on the children's progress and achievements. n The provider, operations manager, manager, staff and children engaged in discussions with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and discussed the children's progress and achievements. n A sample of the nursery documents was reviewed by the inspector. This included evidence of staff suitability and training. n The inspector took account of the views of parents by speaking to them.

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

9 July 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