Old School Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are confident, happy and emotionally secure in this friendly club. They receive a warm welcome from the caring staff team, which helps them to settle in quickly.

Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their imagination. For instance, children are engrossed as they create 3D structures with bricks representing their own ideas. Staff interactions are purposeful and support children with their play ideas.

This gives children great ownership over their play choices.Staff and the children share their ideas. This helps children develop positive relationships with each other.

Staff plan a range of phys...ical games for the children, both inside and outside. For instance, they thoroughly enjoy playing badminton and football with the staff. Furthermore, children create their own playground game.

There are ample opportunities for children to develop their large-muscle skills. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They have developed the routines of the club to meet the needs of the children.

For example, they have moved mealtimes to later in the session. This allows children to relax and play after a busy day at school. Children behave very well.

They respect each other's opinions when they play together.

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

The manager plans a welcoming club environment for the children. They make full use of the areas within the school to give children a mixture of play activities.

Staff ensure that all areas are safe for children to play in. They deploy themselves well to help children as they play. Staff communicate effectively as a team, ensuring children are always supported by a familiar adult.

Children know the staff who care for them. This helps children to develop positive relationships.Staff plan regular activities to broaden children's play.

For example, weekly cooking sessions help children to learn about the different foods and the risks of too much sugar in their diets. Children say the flap jacks they make are 'yummy'. This supports children to make healthy choices in later life.

Staff support children well to further develop their independence. They encourage children to wash their hands before eating and to drink plenty of water after playing active games. Staff gently remind children to take responsibility for their own belongings.

Children choose to complete their homework independently. They demonstrate a positive attitude to their school work.Staff are positive role models.

They encourage good manners and are respectful of the children's choices. This supports children's good behaviour. Children are thoughtful and show care for their club environment.

For example, after they finish their activities, they tidy them away. Mealtimes are social occasions. Staff sit with children talking about their day at school.

Children are confident members of this club.Staff gather information from parents about their children. For example, they find out about children's likes and dislikes, family members and any medical needs.

This provides continuity in meeting children's additional needs. Staff recognise the importance of developing strong partnerships with parents.Partnership with parents is strong.

Staff share a wealth of information with parents. Parents are complimentary about the consistency of the staff and how they know their children well. They report that their children thoroughly enjoy the different activities that they take part in and often ask to come on days they are not booked in for.

The manager ensures there are rigorous recruitment procedures in place. This helps to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. The manager works alongside staff, supporting practice.

Staff say that they feel valued by the management team, and they enjoy working at the club.The manager continuously reflects on the quality of her provision. Although staff complete mandatory training, for example first aid, their training is not always tailored to their professional development goals.

This means staff do not always have the opportunity to gain new knowledge to further support children in their play.

Safeguarding

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

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