It is not often that a nursery goes from being rated by Ofsted as 'inadequate' to being praised as 'outstanding' the following year.
Kidsunlimited's Milton Park nursery in Oxfordshire is the first of the group's 54 nurseries to achieve 'outstanding' since the Early Years Foundation Stage was introduced in September 2008.
When the Ofsted inspector visited last year, the nursery, with 152 children aged between six months and five years and 44 staff, lacked a permanent manager. The report highlighted staff failing to understand the learning and development aspects of the EYFS.
Under the new management of nursery manager Charlotte Green and deputy manager Cheryl Jones, a focus was put on staff initiation and training.
'We set ourselves monthly targets, such as encouraging staff to work towards Early Years Care and Education NVQs and ensuring all staff were trained in general safeguarding,' says Ms Green. 'We also have quizzes to test staff knowledge and incentives, such as certificates and votes by parents.'
The nursery now prides itself on its teamwork. Alison Dwight, nursery administrator, says, 'Morale is really good, and that shows in the quality of care the children are getting.
'There is a better relationship between the key person and their children. We have "all about me" sheets which the parents fill out with the children regularly. So the key person knows what their needs are and it is an ongoing learning journey.'
This summer's Ofsted report praised the positive impact the changes have had on the children's learning. It said, 'All children, including those with additional needs, flourish, making quick progress and development as independent learners'.
Focusing on children with additional needs such as English as an additional language, which was previously highlighted as a weakness, is now one of the nursery's strengths.
Ms Green says, 'Each month we pick a different language spoken by one of our children and we ask their parents to bring things in from home to share. We also put words in the chosen language around the classroom, such as the word for sandpit, for us all to use.'
Preparation for the new inspection involved all the evidence of their journey. When it came to the day itself, staff were able to present these records.
'I am pleased that we worked on Ofsted's self-evaluation form as frequently as we did, as this ensured that we were constantly being reflective. It was a way of monitoring our progress as a whole,' says Ms Green.
She adds, 'Less than a week after the inspection, we started a file of our new plans! This is the perfect time to move the nursery forward even further, by enhancing what we already do and taking on board new suggestions, so we are constantly striving to offer the best childcare and workplace we possibly can.'
