Oxford’s British Orchard Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are happy and confident in the nursery.

They clearly enjoy their time playing with their friends and enjoy the company of the staff. Most of the areas where children play are attractively welcoming to them. For example, the base rooms provide ample toys and resources that support the curriculum well.

Children enjoy the activities available to them and they show enthusiasm and excitement as they play with the cars, build with blocks and explore in the sand.Staff are good role models for children, who behave well. Children are developing good relationships with one another and are kind and caring.

Staff... consistently offer children praise and support to meet their individual needs. Staff know all children well. They plan and provide activities that support children's interests and ongoing development.

For example, babies who like to play with dinosaurs have these accessible to them inside and outside to play with. Toddlers have great fun making faces with dough and linking this to help gain an understanding of different emotions. Pre-school children are taught to manage their own self-help skills, such as getting their own drinks and scraping their leftover food into the bin after lunch.

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

The leadership team and staff have a good understanding of what they want children to learn. They understand the curriculum well and provide adult-led activities which are supported by children's choices. Staff promote children's communication and language skills effectively.

For example, staff engage with children positively and they provide a narrative of communication to help children to hear words consistently. Furthermore, activities such as staff singing songs and reading stories help to support children's listening and speaking skills.Staff are well deployed to support children and they provide a safe environment.

Children's individual needs are well supported. They are taught and supported when using cutlery and tools such as scissors. Children know how to carry and use these correctly.

This helps to minimise any potential risk to children.Children are provided with nutritious home-made foods and access drinks freely throughout the day to remain hydrated. Children know how to keep themselves healthy.

For instance, they wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet or potty. This has a positive impact on children's good health. All children have daily opportunities to play in the fresh air.

However, some garden spaces that children use are not set up readily for the children and lack energetic play opportunities to help enhance their large physical skills.Children throughout the nursery are building good friendships with each other. Children of all ages are seen to play cooperatively with each other and share and take turns.

For example, pre-school children take turns in pouring water over the toy cars in the garden as they wash them. Staff reward children's efforts well as they consistently compliment and congratulate children on their achievements.Parents have a good amount of information available to them to help them know and understand how their child is doing in the nursery.

For instance, they receive detailed feedback at the end of the day and messages are relayed through the online system and noticeboards. Parents and carers available at the inspection comment that they are happy with the care their children receive.The leadership team and the new senior team have a clear vision of what they would like to do to enhance the quality of the nursery.

Staff receive regular individual appraisal meetings. However, these are not always targeted accurately enough on coaching and mentoring to help identify and address improvements needed to staff practice. Staff comment that they feel part of a team and that the changes being made are positive.

This, combined with monthly team meetings, helps them to feel well supported.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The owner ensures staff working with children are safe and suitable to do so by following comprehensive safer recruitment procedures.

For instance, staff are subject to employment following satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. Children benefit from a warm and welcoming nursery environment which is clean and safe and poses no hygiene concerns. Children's health and well-being are further supported, as at mealtimes, staff sit and remain with them while they are eating.

Staff are confident in their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. They understand the signs and indicators that may mean a child is at risk of harm and know the referral procedures to follow in the event of a concern.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: continue to plan an effective curriculum, with particular reference to the garden, for those children who prefer to learn outdoors provide staff with supervision that identifies and targets weaknesses in their practice to consistently support their knowledge and skills even further.