Aldermaston Oaks

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the setting following their school day. They confidently arrive and know the routines to follow, such as putting their belongings away. They quickly choose from resources and activities and settle to play.

Children understand the routines and behaviour expectations well. For example, they line up sensibly to go outdoors and again when they return indoors. Staff remind children of the behaviour expected, such as being kind and playing safely around and with each other.

Children understand the expectation that they wash their hands before serving themselves their food. They make indepe...ndent choices from the healthy range of food on offer. During the inspection, children had a varied choice of fresh fruit, salad items and vegetables with pancakes, for example.

Children form positive relationships with each other and staff. Children happily mix across the age groups during self-chosen play and activities. Staff engage well with children, joining them at their play and activities.

They complement children's school learning, such as using descriptive words during discussions and encouraging counting. Staff understand the importance of providing extra support to children who may need it. This includes those who are new to the setting and children who may have additional needs.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

The setting is led and managed effectively. Staff recruitment processes are robust to check new staff's suitability to work with children. Staff feel well supported in their roles, including new staff during their well-planned induction.

Senior staff help to guide new staff successfully. This helps staff to understand their roles and responsibilities, which contributes to the setting operating smoothly and safely.Staff take part in individual and team meetings to support them in their work.

They have opportunities for training and professional development to develop their skills and knowledge. This includes gaining formal qualifications and completing training tailored to children's individual needs. This helps staff gain more understanding of how to support children.

Children make choices about their play and activities. Staff get to know children and what they like to do. They put out resources and activities that reflect children's interests.

In addition, children can ask staff for different toys and make suggestions for activities. Staff engage with children positively and support them to play together. They also plan activities linked to times of the year, such as celebrations, which reflect different cultures, religions and traditions.

The indoor play environment is set up well. Overall, staff promote children's well-being securely. They organise areas for children to be energetic and active and quiet areas, which enables them to rest and relax.

Staff provide drinking water and cups in different areas of the hall. In addition, some children use their own water bottles when they need a drink. Although drinks are easily accessible to children, staff do not always encourage all children to regularly have a drink.

Children very much enjoy being outside. They take part in plenty of physical activity, such as football and skipping games. On the day of the inspection, children mainly had physical activities outdoors to choose from.

Staff are deployed effectively to supervise children and promote their safety. They use walkie-talkies to communicate with each other. For instance, staff let each other know if children need to go indoors to use the toilet.

Children have positive attitudes to their play. They play well as a mixed-age group during appropriate activities. This helps to include all children.

Children encourage each other to have a go, such as to get over and under a skipping rope in different ways. Staff supervise and remind children about being safe while allowing them to try things out for themselves.Staff have strong partnerships with parents and the school staff.

The communication between all parties involved in children's care and education is very effective. This successfully promotes continuity in meeting children's needs. Parents speak highly about the setting and their children's time there.

They compliment the staff team and activities and state that their children really enjoy their time there.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

Also at this postcode