Children 1st @ Oakwood

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children first is the ethos that runs through everything in this exceptional setting. As the children arrive at this well-organised, high-quality nursery, they are excited that their day is going to be full of fun.

Children become deeply engrossed in a wealth of captivating and highly challenging activities and experiences. Older children show high levels of concentration as they retell a familiar story about going to the moon. They dress up in space suits and build a rocket with the large construction materials.

Children demonstrate their extensive and very impressive language skills as they problem solve how t...o build the rocket. 'This plank needs to go diagonally', 'This block can hold it upright', they say as they work together harmoniously, holding each other as they balance safely. When they succeed, they stand proudly and shout, 'We will not be defeated', using new vocabulary recently introduced by staff.

Toddlers are enthralled and fascinated by the natural world as they search for a bear in the vast woodland area. They are encouraged by staff to tiptoe quietly as they use their senses and observational skills to look for clues. They listen for leaves rustling and look for trees moving as they confidently move over uneven ground.

Babies enjoy the warmth and comfort of the staff's observant and gentle approach. Babies form strong bonds with staff, helping to establish positive social skills. Children show that they feel safe and secure in the nursery.

They are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage in their learning and eager for more adventures.

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

Leaders are highly motivated, inspiring and passionate about providing all children with the very best start. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and they have worked tirelessly to build a staff team that shares their vision.

Staff morale is high, and staff comment that they love coming to work every day.Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities thrive at the nursery. The experienced special educational needs coordinator has high aspirations for all children.

She works closely with children and their families, key people and other professionals. All children have a wonderful connection to their key person. Staff working with babies have enhanced their practice with specific training on bottle feeding and sleeping.

This ensures that attachments are formed and that babies' unique needs are consistently met.Staff are excellent role models. They are calm and show genuine respect and interest when engaging in conversation with children.

These positive behaviours are reflected in the way children socially interact with one another. All children show kindness and consideration towards their friends. In pre-school, children explore their feelings during circle time activities.

They talk to the inspector about their rules and explain how they like to be kind to each other. They link their feelings to a popular story, saying, 'I am calm like the trees swaying in the wind.' Partnerships with parents and other professionals are exceptionally strong.

Parents comment that the care provided is fantastic and that the nursery is regarded as an extension of their family. They highly praise the regular feedback they receive through the online parent app and say they feel involved in their child's learning journey.Children have extensive opportunities to learn about the world around them.

On site, they grow their own vegetables in the large nursery allotment. They learn how to care for living things, and they tend to the nursery ducks, birds, rabbits and guinea pigs in the many garden areas.Staff teach children to understand differences.

Staff reflect on each child's uniqueness through books and visual images. For example, as they share family photographs with each other, they compare the places they live and learn about each other's important home celebrations. Older children take part in 'nursery council' meetings, where they share their views on matters that impact their lives.

For example, they voted to adapt the menus. Some days, the two-course lunch consists of a starter followed by a main meal rather than including a pudding. They are developing a secure understanding of adopting healthy lifestyles.

Staff are excellent role models to children, encouraging their clear, engaging speech, skilfully aimed at extending children's vocabulary. Babies and toddlers develop a sense of the rhythm of speech when, for example, they accompany the nursery rhymes and songs they choose for themselves with musical instruments. Older children love to experiment and use new words staff introduce them to.

For example, children know the names of the different food groups. At lunchtime, children ponder, 'I wonder if we will have any carbohydrates today?' After looking at the menu, they agree, 'It is pasta, and pasta is a carbohydrate.'

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff have a secure understanding of their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. They have an excellent awareness of the signs and symptoms of possible abuse and are very confident in how to report their concerns. Leaders ensure that staff keep their knowledge up to date with regular online and in-house training, which helps to strengthen their knowledge of local safeguarding concerns, such as online safety and county lines.

Effective supervision and robust risk assessments ensure children's safety when, for example, staff take children into the woodland or on outings into the community. The suitability of staff is determined through thorough recruitment processes. The ongoing suitability of staff is regularly reviewed.