1st Safari - Genesis (Rochdale)

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy in this welcoming nursery. They arrive with smiles on their faces, ready to learn as they play. Children and staff celebrate their own cultural heritage and that of their friends. Children learn familiar words in different languages and meaningfully celebrate significant cultural events. This helps to prepare them well for life in modern Britain. Children take responsibility for the care of herbs that they grow from seed and learn what plants need to survive. Their successes are used in meals that are served in the nursery, helping children to learn where the food on their plate comes from. The focus on care and consideration extends to the nursery's pet guinea pigs. Children embrace the responsibility of feeding and brushing the animals, and handle them kindly. Children thrive on the education that they receive.

From a young age, children develop impressive physical skills. They learn to balance on and manoeuvre wheeled toys, and to clamber up challenging climbing frames. Children focus on learning for extended periods of time because staff plan activities in response to their interests. This helps to keep them engaged. Older children learn how to take turns, for example, when they play memory games with staff. They show strong regulation of their emotions when they do not win, and they kindly congratulate the winner. Young children squeal with delight as they explore the cold feeling of ice on a hot day. They build on their working memory as they recognise the flowers preserved in the ice from previous activities. Children make good progress in all areas of learning.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

• The nursery manager has a precise understanding of what they want children to learn and why. This is informed by meaningful observations of staff practice and analysis of the progress that children make in their time at the nursery. The curriculum provides children with a wide range of experiences and opportunities that they might not otherwise have. Children receive a broad and balanced education that supports their continued development.
• Overall, the education that children receive in relation to their communication and language is positive. Staff help children to develop a love of books and being read to. Children enjoy singing and talking with staff, which helps to develop their confidence and vocabulary. However, occasionally, some young children spend extended periods of time with a dummy in their mouth and some staff do not repeat words correctly if children mispronounce them. Some staff do not realise that some of their practice does not support speech, language and communication development in the best ways possible.
• Parents are complimentary about the nursery. For example, they comment about how staff have worked with them to implement consistent approaches
• Inspection report: 1st Safari - Genesis (Rochdale) 31 May 2023 2 that have improved children's behaviour both in nursery and at home. They explain how this close working with key staff ensures that the nursery 'recognises children's uniqueness, meaning they always come home happy'.
• Staff talk about the positive working culture in the nursery. Experienced staff praise the support for their well-being from leaders, and the encouragement for ongoing professional development. New and less-qualified staff talk about the constructive feedback that they receive to improve their practice. This helps to raise outcomes for children.
• The nursery manager ensures that all children receive an education that is tailored to their needs. For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, or for children on the pathway to diagnosis, skilled support is sought from the outset. The nursery works closely with partner agencies and parents to provide targeted support in and out of the setting. Staff working directly with these children receive the training and development needed to help them progress. This helps children to make the best progress they can.
• Preparation for children's eventual move to school is the golden thread through the education provided. Children's learning is built sequentially. For example, babies learn to drink from open beakers, and toddlers learn to wash their hands and go to the toilet independently. By the time that they are in the pre-school room, children confidently serve their own food, put on their own coats and shoes, and play considerately with their friends. Staff at the nursery help children to learn these important personal and social skills, making the transition to school as smooth as possible.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help all staff to consistently understand and implement robust ways to support children's communication and language development.
• Inspection report: 1st Safari - Genesis (Rochdale) 31 May 2023 3