Nära Charlbury Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement Children demonstrate they are happy and feel safe at the setting. Newer children to the setting are given a good amount of support and comfort as they settle. All children confidently access a good range of resources independently.

Staff support children's learning well and they engage them in a curriculum that is carefully planned for them. For instance, older children develop their understanding of self-care as they enjoy learning about the importance of oral health and how to care for their teeth. Although children are not significantly at risk, there are occasions where staff do not follow agreed practice when supervising chil...dren while eating.

Staff provide opportunities for children to learn new language skills as they deliver a good narrative for their play and read a range of engaging stories to children. This, along with regular singing sessions, helps children to be confident communicators. Staff ask children a good range of questions as they play and explore.

However, at times, children are not given the time they might need to think and respond to staff's questions and share their own knowledge. Overall, children behave well. They receive a good amount of praise and encouragement from the staff, which helps to support their self-confidence skills.

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

The leadership team provides a safe and welcoming environment for the children to play and learn and ensures that the adult-to-child ratio is upheld daily. Suitable procedures are in place for moving children between the garden and nursery. However, a recent breach in staff not following these procedures resulted in a notification to Ofsted.

Nevertheless, staff have refreshed their knowledge to ensure that all children are accounted for when returning to the premises.The leadership team provides a range of training opportunities for staff to develop their professional development. This, combined with regular supervision and team meetings, helps staff to enhance their skills.

However, staff do not robustly follow required procedures expected at mealtimes to promote children's health and well-being. Although children are not put at risk, this is a breach of the requirements.Staff know the children well in their care, especially their key children.

Staff know what children need to learn next and provide a well-structured curriculum that supports children's interests. For instance, toddlers who enjoy playing with dolls and water have opportunities to wash their 'babies' to help them develop the key skills they need to care for their own health.Children have many opportunities to learn about the world around them.

They spend a good amount of time outside and enjoy walking in the community and taking part in outdoor learning sessions. Opportunities such as these allow children to learn about safe risks as they play and explore on equipment and natural resources.Children of all ages show friendly behaviour to their peers.

For example, babies and toddlers giggle as they splash water and explore with oats alongside their friends. Older children are heard calling to their friends to come and join their play as they explore with the sand and diggers. However, at times, some children do not receive consistent messages from staff to help them manage their behaviour, particularly about how their actions might affect others.

Partnerships with parents are good. Parents available at the inspection commented positively about the nursery and how their children are progressing. Staff effectively communicate with parents through a variety of ways.

For example, they hold parent meetings, use an online platform to share pictures and information about their children and have daily discussions. Parents have a good amount of information available to them to support their children's learning at home, and they benefit from the lending library for activities.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage, the provider must: Due date ensure all staff have a secure understanding of the policies and procedures to promote children's good health, particularly around mealtimes.20/12/2024 To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: give children the time they need to process their thinking skills and share their own knowledge and thoughts provide more consistent support to children to help them build on their understanding of how to manage their feelings and behaviours.