What does Ofsted say about our Nursery?

Education & Learning through Play

……."The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding. Children make excellent progress towards the early learning goals of the Foundation Stage. This is because staff have a secure understanding of the 'Curriculum Guidance to the Foundation Stage'. They plan a broad and balanced programme of experiences, which cover the six areas of learning well".

….."Children have excellent opportunities to learn about healthy living when in this nursery. They eat freshly cooked, home made and nutritious meals daily, such as traditionally farmed meat and specially prepared vegetarian and fish dishes. Fresh vegetables always accompany main dishes, sometimes these have been grown by the proprietor in her large walled garden".

………."The provision is outstanding. Children delight in their experiences when in this nursery. They develop quickly in all areas because they are very well settled and 'at home' and therefore confident to try new experiences".

………"Children thoroughly enjoy their time in this nursery. They quickly make decisions about what to do and settle to purposeful activity. They achieve well as they learn through play. They experience a multitude of interesting, practical experiences, which support their all round development extremely well".

….."Staff plan a well chosen, varied programme of topics on which children's learning is based. These spark children's interest and imaginations. The current topic, for example, is 'Animals' and children discuss and learn about 'farm, zoo and pet animals', exploring where they live and looking at the different environments and how animals are used to help us. The children eagerly talk about the photographs of their pets at home. They hear the story of Noah's Ark , which is thoroughly enjoyed and books are displayed invitingly so children can easily find the story to peruse the pictures by themselves at leisure. There is a vet's surgery that is complete with sick toy animals and children were observed checking on their care. On the second day of the inspection all the children were out in the garden taking turns at dressing up as animals or vet/Noahs. The Noahs were encouraged to count the animals onto the Ark before setting sail, by using clipboards and tally charts to record the number. This integrated approach to learning helps them make connections across their experiences and learn about the topic from different viewpoints".

Family Run Setting- The atmosphere and care factor

………."The provision is outstanding. All children and their parents receive a warm welcome, being enveloped into the family atmosphere that permeates the nursery. All children receive a very warm welcome in this nursery".

……."The provision is outstanding. They use extremely child-friendly rooms, which are homely and most welcoming, centred around their needs. They access resources readily and these are checked regularly by staff to ensure their suitability for the children's use".

Assessment and Monitoring of the needs of our children

……."Staff know the children and their abilities extremely well. They observe them regularly and accurate assessment includes parental knowledge of what children can do, so that planning is based on what they need to learn next. Children's learning is excellent in all areas".

Birth to Three Matters

……"Staff make excellent use of the 'Birth to three matters' framework to provide a wonderful variety of play-based and child-centred experiences."

……."Staff plan these through making excellent use of the 'Birth to three matters' framework and the Guidance to the Foundation Stage, successfully integrating these with the family nursery ethos".

Meal times

"Vegetables and fruit are often served uncooked, such as carrot, pear and apples or pepper sticks, to retain their goodness. Children eat them eagerly. Children throughout the nursery eat fresh fruit several times through the day and enjoy many different cakes and bread that have been baked in their kitchen such as tea breads and organic, wholemeal bread".

"The older children have a fundamental understanding that this food is good for them".

Outdoor Play

….."Children benefit from the strong emphasis placed on being outdoors."

…… "Staff make full use of the outdoor area. They readily adapt planning to children's interests in what they see around them, so that learning is genuinely child led. This means children are very well motivated and eager to learn. Children are confident and develop excellent relationships, so that their personal, social and emotional development is promoted extremely well, being a particular strength of this nursery."

Our Management and Staff

………"The leadership and management of nursery education is outstanding. There is a clear expectation for high standards in both care and education."

……."The owner's strong views on healthy living and appropriate behaviour, determine the ethos of this nursery."

….."The manager, uses her knowledge and experience to promote a safe, stimulating, suitable and extremely homely environment for the children."

………"Together they form a highly effective senior management team and provide excellent role models for the staff".

….. "There is a clear vision for the future of the nursery. Children are supported by well-qualified, experienced staff".

Our Staff

……"Staff follow stipulated routines meticulously to keep the nursery clean, with check lists of jobs to be completed, which are signed by staff and monitored by the manager, four times through each day. These routines help protect children from possible cross-infection, maintaining their good health. Staff are thorough in their personal hygiene routines, washing their hands frequently".

……."Staff work together as an effective team, covering activities effectively and providing extremely worthwhile experiences for the children".

…….."Robust procedures are in place to appoint suitable staff who are well qualified".

………"They work as a very caring, kind and well motivated staff team".

………"Emphasis is placed on appointing well-qualified staff, with a clear expectation that training will continue".

Health & Hygiene

……. "staff follow checklists well to make sure everything is safe; this includes frequent checking of the outside area. Children using the peripatetic music teacher have a designated room space set aside for their use, which is suitably equipped".

……."Staff understand their responsibilities for safeguarding children's welfare".

Health & safety

…."Staff fully understand the principles of risk assessment. They provide children with a safe play environment both indoors and when outside".

……"Staff remain vigilant for children's safety at all times".

…….."Extremely good fire precautions are in place with smoke detectors in all rooms. The provision is on one level. Emergency evacuation procedures are well thought out, practiced regularly and recorded, although staff note which exits have been used, which ensures consistency of practice in a building with many exits".

High Standards of behaviour

…. "Staff treat all children equally and provide high levels of individual attention. Children's behaviour is excellent. They understand just what is expected of them and how the sessions run".

……"Staff intervene quickly should children begin to behave inappropriately, cleverly diverting their attention elsewhere. Children show concern for each other and for their playroom environments".

Partnership with Parents

…….."The partnership with parents and carers of children receiving nursery education funding is outstanding. It contributes significantly to the high quality of the provision".

……"Parents and carers receive regular, detailed information about their children's progress in the Foundation Stage".

…."Parents and carers of the younger children receive full information about their children's development. They receive written information about the 'Birth to three matters' framework when their children first start in the nursery school".

Theses quotes are taken from our recent inspection ( March 2007) at the Eynsham Setting. The Full Ofsted reports can be found on the Government website www.ofsted.gov.uk