Finchampstead Day Nursery and Preschool

Inspection of Finchampstead Day Nursery and Preschool 430 Finchampstead Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3RB

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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

Attentive and dedicated staff provide children with sensitive and consistent care. This helps to create a supportive environment where children feel safe, secure and content. Routines flow seamlessly with the children's needs, which helps to ensure their physical and emotional well-being is supported very well. Babies happily explore their surroundings, which shows trust in the nurturing and responsive staff. Older children show high levels of self-assurance, as they introduce themselves to new visitors and happily chat about their experiences at nursery.

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The provision is good

The atmosphere at the nursery is joyful, filled with laughter and smiles. Staff respond to children's evolving interests and plan engaging activities that spark enthusiasm and invite participation. Babies wiggle with delight to the staff's singing. Toddlers eagerly make marks on clipboards and proudly show others. Older children focus intently while making shadow images on the walls with their hands. Across all ages, children are curious and eager learners.

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The provision is good

Strong relationships between staff and children reflect a culture of compassion and mutual care. Children display impressive social skills, taking their friends by the hand to join them in their play. Staff consistently model positive behaviours. They clearly communicate high expectations, helping children to understand boundaries and distinguish right from wrong. Courtesy is embedded in the nursery. This is evident when children politely say 'excuse me please' before speaking to staff.

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need to do better?

n Experienced leaders complete regular supervisions and observations to identify staff's strengths and areas for development. They prioritise staff's well-being and create a positive and supportive work environment. Staff feel valued and are empowered to contribute to ongoing improvements. For instance, leaders supported staff in redesigning the indoor learning environment to provide children with more space to construct larger scale models. These remain in place throughout the day, allowing children to revisit, adapt and refine their creations. This approach helps to nurture children's critical thinking skills. n A key strength of the nursery is its strong focus on developing and enriching children's vocabulary. Staff skilfully model new language during children's play and daily routines. For example, they repeat simple words with babies during handwashing, such as 'rub, rub', and pre-school children learn words such as

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need to do better?

'boulder' as they shape play dough landscapes. In addition, staff enthusiastically read a range of books to children, who pick up certain phrases. For instance, toddlers independently explore stories, correctly naming pictures and echoing familiar phrases they hear, such as 'shall we find out?' before turning the page. This reflects children's growing language skills and engagement with storytelling.

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need to do better?

30 July 2025 n Leaders have designed a well-sequenced and ambitious curriculum that aims to meet the needs of all children. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of children's learning and development needs and work closely as a team to observe and assess what each child needs to learn next. Regular staff meetings provide opportunities to share ideas for interesting activities to support children's progress. However, some staff's knowledge of aspects of the curriculum intent is not always clear or precise enough for each child to consistently develop the knowledge and skills they want children to achieve from all experiences. n Children's personal, social and emotional development is given the utmost importance. Staff place a strong and consistent focus on this area, which helps to give children a secure foundation for the future. For example, from an early age children's self-care skills are actively promoted. Well-established routines

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need to do better?

benefit children greatly to become increasingly independent. Without prompting, babies readily collect their water beakers when they hear it is time to go outside. Older children persevere at putting on aprons when preparing to use paint. Staff also support children to identify and manage their emotions through story props. This helps them to express how they feel and develop emotional awareness. n Leaders recognise the importance of teaching children about a wide range of cultures and beliefs. While aspects of the learning environment reflect some children's home experiences, this is not yet fully embedded across the provision. Staff plan some activities linked to cultural festivals to broaden children's awareness. However, the play environment does not fully offer children positive images or resources of the diverse world around them. As a result, children receive less opportunities to explore and meaningfully compare their own ways

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need to do better?

of life with those of others. n Parents feel highly involved in their children's early education. They welcome and value staff's guidance to support their children's learning at home and greatly appreciate how well they know their children. This collaborative approach supports children's continuity in development.

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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 knowledge of the curriculum intent to precisely identify the skills and knowledge each child needs to gain from the planned experiences n build on play opportunities for children to engage more with positive images and resources that reflect the diverse world and other cultures.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY290273 Local authority Wokingham Inspection number 10398833 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 57 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Yellow Brick Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0118 207600 Date of previous inspection 12 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Finchampstead Day Nursery and Preschool registered in 2004. It is based in Finchampstead, Berkshire. The nursery opens 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday, all year round. It receives funding for free early years education for children aged two, and is eligible for the same funding for children aged three and four years. There are five staff employed to work with children. Of these, four staff members hold a relevant qualification from level 2 to level 4.

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Inspection activities

n The manager 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 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 and the manager carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. 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

30 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.

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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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