Fundamentals Childcare

In February 2025, balancing on logs, cutting fresh herbs and waiting for homemade biscuits to bake gave Fundamentals Childcare's practical learning its character. This Bicester nursery, on Keble Road, accepts ages 6 to 60 months.

At its February 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The activities observed were engaging, although teaching needed more consistent challenge and more time for children to answer questions.

In February 2025, children of different ages played together, showing kindness and understanding the daily routine. Outdoor activity included younger children practising balance on logs and older children using scissors to cut herbs they had picked. These were concrete opportunities to practise physical control and handle materials for a purpose.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing together experiences across the areas of learning. In February 2025, staff used observations and assessments to plan children's next learning steps. Paint pens, water pouring and sensory mixtures gave children different ways to explore.

Books and puppets drew children into storytelling that month. Counting songs and conversations about the weight of water containers brought early mathematics into play. However, staff sometimes needed a clearer purpose for activities and better adaptation to children's ages; an appealing activity did not consistently provide the right challenge.

In February 2025, staff gathered information about children's routines and needs before they started, helping new children settle. Regular feedback connected parents with their child's day and development. Staff also helped children recognise feelings, using individual plans where positive interactions needed additional support.

At the February 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff worked with families and other agencies to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and that children made good progress from their starting points.

Language support that month included extending younger children's sentences and asking older children questions. The weakness was timing: adults sometimes moved on before children had enough time to think and reply. Managers observed staff practice and used individual and team meetings to identify training needs.

The address is Keble Road, Bicester, OX26 4TP. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for one week over Christmas.

In February 2025, the nursery received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. That dated participation is separate from an individual family's entitlement.

• Challenge in activities. In February 2025, staff did not consistently adapt activities precisely enough for different ages. On a visit, ask how the same activity is adjusted for younger and older children.
• Time to respond. February 2025 language support sometimes gave children too little thinking time. This matters for children who need longer to formulate an answer.

Fundamentals Childcare suits families seeking care across the year. Practical play shaped the day at its February 2025 inspection, with strengths including outdoor exploration, storytelling and relationships with parents. The decision point is teaching consistency: engaging activities need clear learning purposes, and conversations need space for children's replies.