The Old Station Nursery –Northfield

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement Staff provide a kind and caring approach when they welcome children into the nursery. They sing soothingly to help children settle. This helps to reassure them that they are safe and gives them the confidence to find activities they want to play with.

However, staff do not implement a coherent and well-sequenced curriculum. At times, children often wander between activities. This is because staff do not provide them with enough challenge in their curriculum.

Staff are not always confident in their teaching techniques to help children remain engaged in their learning and to build or extend their knowledge and understanding.... That said, management has identified this and have started to work with staff on raising the quality.Staff role model respectful relationships with children.

They come down to children's eye level to ask them if they can change their nappies or wipe their noses. Staff encourage older children to wipe their own noses. This helps to develop their self-care skills.

There are inconsistencies in the way that staff manage children's behaviour. That said, children do follow simple instructions, and some children are beginning to share and take turns. Staff work together to ensure children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) access the support they need to help them with their development.

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

There have been some changes in staffing, and, as a result, the quality of teaching is not yet consistent. For example, children show some curiosity as they explore picture books about birds. Staff engage in conversation with them as they identify what they can see in the pictures.

However, staff do not adapt their teaching to extend children's knowledge beyond what they already know. This means not all children make good progress in their learning.Despite weaknesses in the quality of education, children generally do enjoy their time at the nursery.

They explore the activities available to them. However, staff's lack of consideration with how they implement a challenging curriculum, means children quickly lose focus and interest in their learning and often wander around not engaging effectively.Children form friendships.

They encourage their friends to join them as they play chasing games in the garden. Children enjoy balancing and climbing safely on the equipment set out for them. Staff deploy themselves close by to provide support when needed, to keep children safe.

Children listen to sounds in the garden and look out for different species of birds. Staff talk to children about what they see and can hear. This helps children to become aware of the world around them.

Staff manage children's behaviours inconsistently and because of this, children test boundaries. For instance, when children wave toys around, staff tell them to stop. However, there is no explanation as to why this is not safe and that they may hurt others.

Staff deploy themselves effectively to meet children's needs during mealtimes. They support children to wash their hands in preparation for eating. Children enjoy a varied menu and share that they like the food.

There are effective allergy management procedures in place to ensure that any children who have dietary requirements are given the correct food.Parents do not receive sufficiently clear information to inform them about their children's learning and how they can support this at home. This means they are less informed than they could be.

That said, parents do share that staff are caring and that their children enjoy their time at nursery.Leaders and managers have been working with staff to build morale and well-being. Managers have worked closely with staff to help them understand their roles and responsibilities, through training and support.

Staff comment that they feel these changes are positive and support is there when they require it.Older children sit with staff to read stories together. They contribute their ideas of what might happen in the story as staff read to them about a rat on a horse.

Younger children giggle with delight as they join in with a singing session and clap along as staff sing familiar songs to them. This helps children develop their vocabulary as they hear the words.

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 and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date provide more support for staff so they are clear with how they implement a coherent and well-sequenced curriculum that provides enough challenge to help children make good progress in their learning 05/03/2025 ensure teaching is consistent and effective in helping children to build and extend on their knowledge and understanding 05/03/2025 support staff to consistently implement expectations of behaviours to enable children to learn how to manage these and to understand how their behaviour may affect others.12/02/2025 To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nencourage staff to consistently share clear information with parents about how children are progressing in their learning and how they can support their child's learning at home.