Child First Banbury Nursery

Inspection of Child First Banbury Nursery 8 Horse Fair, BANBURY, Oxfordshire OX16 0AA

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety is not assured at this setting. Although daily risk assessments are completed, staff do not to assess the environment effectively to identify new risks to children's safety. The arrangements to promote children's safety and welfare are not effective, specifically in relation to risk assessments, staff deployment and food preparation. This does not ensure that children are adequately safeguarded.

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The provision is inadequate

Although there are sufficient staff present for the number of children attending, at times during the day, staff do not deploy themselves effectively to ensure children's safety. This includes during mealtimes, meaning children remain eating without being in sight and hearing of staff. This compromises children's safety.

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The provision is inadequate

Overall, children are happy and settled in the welcoming setting. They form close relationships with the kind, caring staff. While there is an appropriate curriculum in place, there are inconsistencies in the quality of education younger children receive. Older children benefit from more effective teaching. Children engage quickly in the wide range of activities staff plan for them. For example, older children excitedly plant seeds to grow their own flowers. They listen carefully to staff instructions and answer questions by recalling previous learning. This embeds children's knowledge and helps children to learn about nature and the world around them.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers do not have effective oversight of the nursery. They have not ensured that staff understand their roles and responsibilities to identify and manage risk. For example, rugs in the youngest children's room are not secured, posing a risk of children tripping. Exposed wood in the garden puts the children at risk of splinters and newly decorated rooms have not been effectively checked for nails in the wall. However, once these were raised with the management team, immediate action was taken to remove the risks. n Not enough consideration is given to promoting younger children's safety at mealtimes. Staff supervision of children at this time is inconsistent. At times, children are left eating without appropriate supervision. Some staff are distracted and not focused on the task of supervising children to keep them safe. Additionally, the presentation of food is inappropriate. Children are presented

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need to do better?

with large pieces of potato, chicken and fruit that have not been cut up appropriately. This poses a choking risk and does not meet food safety guidelines. n Managers have a clear and appropriate curriculum. For babies this focuses on children developing secure attachments, some independence, beginning to use simple words and possibly simple sentences. They also want children to have

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need to do better?

13 August 2025 opportunities to develop their physical and self-care skills. For example, to be able to walk, use cutlery and drink from an open cup. However, teaching for these children is inconsistent. Not all staff fully understand the curriculum and learning intents they need to focus on with individual children. Some children with emerging gaps in learning do not get the interactions they need and are not encouraged to join in with play and activities. This leads to them just observing or wandering aimlessly. This does not support children's learning effectively or help them to make the progress they are capable of. n Overall, parents are happy with the support their children receive and the progress they make. Staff work closely with parents to ensure that they have up- to-date information to inform children's individual health care plans. However, staff do not make all parents aware of who their child's key person is or what

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need to do better?

the planned next steps are for their child. In addition, staff do not always follow up on concerns parents raise, meaning parents are unsure of the next steps they need to take. n Children behave well and know what is expected of them. Staff plan activities for the older children to help them learn to share and take turns. For example, children wait patiently for their turn when playing group games, they encourage and support their friends as they have their turn. n Overall, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well. Staff work closely with parents and other agencies to ensure that children get the targeted support they need. Staff adapt their communication methods to meet children's individual needs. For example, they use simple signing to help children communicate. However, at times, communication with parents is not fully effective and they are unsure of any next steps to be taken to support their

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

implement and monitor rigorous risk assessments to ensure all potential hazards are identified, minimised and managed effectively, to keep all areas safe for children 27/08/2025

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Due date

13 August 2025 ensure that food for the youngest of children is prepared appropriately to meet their needs and that drinking water is readily available for all children at all times 27/08/2025

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Due date

improve staff deployment to ensure that children are supervised effectively at all times, particularly during mealtimes. 27/08/2025

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should:

n support staff to understand and implement the curriculum to meet the learning needs of the youngest children n improve the arrangements to share information about children's key person with parents, to promote effective communication sharing and support.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2579605 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10412119 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 120 Number of children on roll 150 Name of registered person Bright Stars Nursery Group Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01295273743 Date of previous inspection 1 August 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Child First Banbury Nursery re-registered in 2020 and is situated in Banbury, Oxfordshire. It offers care all day, Monday to Friday, throughout the year. The provider employs 33 members of staff, of whom 19 hold recognised childcare qualifications between level 2 and level 6. The provider is in receipt of funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The deputy manager, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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 inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. 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

13 August 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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