Ofsted Inspection Shines a Light on Many of our Good Practices

Following the recent inspection at our Farmoor Setting, the inspector found that “Children love attending this welcoming, nurturing and calm setting.”

This is a testament to our wonderful staff who have “worked hard to develop and maintain strong, secure relationships with children and their families.”

We are so pleased that the report acknowledges how quickly children settle and the strong bonds they form with our team, seeking them out for play and cuddles.

The report highlighted many areas of strength, including:

A Rich Learning Environment: “Children benefit from a wide range of activities and really flourish from the wealth of outdoor learning opportunities.” The inspector noted how staff use children’s interests to plan fun experiences, from painting and sand play for younger children to puddle splashing, dinosaur hunts, and obstacle negotiation for older children.
Mathematical Development: We are delighted that our efforts to “teach children to use mathematical language well and to be confident in counting and recognising shapes” were recognised, including learning terms like ‘horizontal’ and ‘vertical’.
Inclusive Practice: “Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are fully included in the setting and are valued by their peers.” Our work with external agencies to support children with SEND was also commended.
Confident Communicators: The report states, “Overall, children are becoming confident communicators as they engage in conversations with their friends and staff,” and that they “show a love of books and enjoy familiar stories.”
Strong Leadership and Staff Support: Ofsted found that “Leaders are highly reflective of the quality of the care and education provided” and that “Staff’s well-being is given high priority.” This supportive environment allows our team to “create an ambitious curriculum that supports children’s curiosity, independence and understanding of the world,” leading to children making “good progress in their learning and development.”
Excellent Care for Babies: Our dedicated baby space and garden were praised, with the inspector noting that “Babies enjoy stimulating activities and staff support them well.”
Healthy Habits and Independence: The report acknowledges that “Children benefit from healthy snacks and meals” and that “Staff use mealtimes to help develop children’s independence skills.”
Strong Parental Partnerships: We are so grateful for your feedback, which contributed to Ofsted noting that “Staff have developed strong partnerships with parents. Parents are delighted with the care their children receive and appreciate how much time children spend outside.”