The Oxford Nursery Eynsham

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children demonstrate that they are happy and feel safe at the nursery. They confidently leave their parents at the door, due to the changes implemented from the COVID-19 pandemic. Children are warmly greeted by staff and enjoy time spent with them. Staff know the children well and can positively talk about their next steps in learning. Children build good relationships with staff and are seen to involve them in their play. For example, in the pre-school room, children excitedly call staff to play with them in the 'kitchen' area.

Children benefit from staff who interact and play with them purposefully, offering them opportunities to initiate their play. For example, babies enjoy exploring with fruits in water. This means that from a young age, children learn the concepts of floating and sinking. However, some have more fun exploring with water and others in eating the fruit. All children enjoy listening to stories and singing songs. Staff read and sing with children with enthusiasm, which helps children to hear words in different ways and to develop concentration skills. Toddlers learn the different sounds of words well, as staff say and pronounce these in their play. For example, staff talk to children about getting the 'W, W' wellingtons. Children mostly behave well and play imaginatively and collaboratively together. Staff model positive behaviour, such as using good manners.

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

• Staff are attentive and provide activities that children enjoy. Staff have a good understanding of the curriculum and the learning intentions of activities. This helps them to provide effective teaching and support for children's learning. Staff promote language well and support children in the development of their speech and language, interweaving sounds and phonic letters. This helps children to become ready for their future learning, including school.
• Overall, staff provide consistent routines to children, which offer them a good variety of play and activities during the day. However, at times, staff do not organise the lunch routine as effectively as possible. This means that, on occasion, children sit in highchairs for a long time, which reduces their engagement in play and learning. Additionally, some children are taken away from activities they are engrossed in to have their nappies changed as part of the daily routine. As a result, their purposeful play is disrupted.
• Staff support children's health and nutritional understanding well. For instance, they talk to the children about the importance of washing their hands before eating, and remind children when they need a tissue and where the 'snuffle stations' are. Children enjoy healthy meals and snacks. Staff are proactive in helping children learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles. For instance, babies are encouraged to drink water after eating to help remove food from their teeth. In addition, staff teach older children about the benefits of healthy foods and the effects on their bodies.
• Children behave well and are developing some good friendships. Children receive a good amount of praise and encouragement from the staff, for example when they say 'thank you for helping to tidy away'. However, on occasions, staff do not consistently give clear explanations to children on why they need to follow rules, such as running and standing on chairs, to help them develop a deeper understanding of the rules
• Children play in a secure environment which is well designed to meet their individual needs. The leadership team and staff have reorganised the nursery to meet children's needs. For instance, children now have a soft-play area inside where they can learn to take appropriate risks and challenge their physical skills.
• Partnerships with parents and other professionals involved with children are good. Parents comment positively about the staff and how they are supportive of their children's ongoing development. Staff communicate effectively with parents through a variety of ways to maintain continuity of care.
• Members of the leadership team work well together and have successfully addressed the last inspection findings. They have a clear vision for the future, and development plans are in place. Staff comment that they are well supported and have regular supervision and many opportunities to develop their professional knowledge.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• review and make changes to daily routines and organisation, to ensure children are consistently engaged in purposeful play, in order to further support their continued learning
• build on the good behaviour management strategies to help support children's understanding of the rules and boundaries even further.