Willow Cottage Nursery (Farmoor)

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents

This provision is goodnChildren show consistently good levels of well-being.

They show that they thoroughly enjoy their time at nursery. They approach their play and learning confidently and happily.nThere are warm attachments between children and the staff who look after them.

This is especially evident with babies and very young children. For example, babies who have recently started nursery respond very well to the cuddles and smiles offered by kind and reassuring staff. This good practice helps children feel safe and secure.

nPartnerships with parents are strong. For example, staff provide parents with lots of suggestions about how they can help children prep...are for the move to school. Staff and parents work well together to make sure that children have the independence skills they will need in this new environment.

nThe manager and staff continue to review the provision in order to make ongoing improvements. For example, they have improved the learning environment for older children so that it is even more inviting. Staff use resources to good effect, indoors and outdoors, to inspire children to play purposefully and to take part in a wide range of learning experiences.

nChildren make good progress and the overall quality of teaching is good. Staff are especially effective at supporting children's social, communication and creative development. Children show especially strong skills in these areas.

On occasions, staff miss opportunities to build further on children's existing mathematical knowledge.nThe newly appointed manager is developing further systems for monitoring the quality of teaching and providing staff with feedback on their performance. However, these systems are not yet fully effective in supporting staff to raise the quality of their teaching to the highest level.