ACE Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The babies and toddlers that attend this setting receive a wealth of excellent learning experiences. This means they are extremely well prepared for the next chapter of their education when they move to a pre-school setting. Children form exceptionally strong bonds with the adults that care for them, helping them to feel safe and secure. This also supports them to have the confidence and desire to explore their environment independently. Staff go to exceptional lengths to ensure new children settle in at their own pace and receive excellent support and reassurance.

Children move very confidently between play areas and make their own play choices from the interesting variety of activities on offer. They are curious and excited to explore the resources and show excellent levels of engagement for their age. For example, children independently fetch water from the water butt to use in a variety of ways. They fill their buckets to water plants or tip out the water to make puddles for jumping in. Babies squeal in excitement when they throw a ball in a bucket and the water splashes them.

Children are supported to begin building strong friendships from an early age. Sharing and turn taking is consistently reinforced and strategies, such as a sand timer, help children to clearly understand this. Children beam and enjoy the praise they receive when they complete tasks independently. For example, when they expertly scrape their left over food from their plate to the bin.

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

• The manager, committee and staff positively share and promote the clear ethos and vision for the nursery. There is a sharp focus on continually evolving and supporting staff to maintain the high quality of education children receive during their time in the nursery. Staff say they are extremely well supported, they enjoy working here and their well-being is a high priority.
• Children benefit greatly from the outstanding focus placed on meeting and developing their personal, social, and emotional needs. The key-person system works exceptionally well to ensure that new children and their families receive tailored support to help them settle. For example, staff send photographs to parents of the room set up before children arrive. This helps children to visually know what to expect and provides reassurance.
• Staff know the children they care for extremely well. They demonstrate a deep understanding of children's learning needs and consistently deliver high-quality interactions that effectively build on what children know. Children react very positively to staff during their play and show high levels of engagement for their young age.
• Staff provide a rich curriculum, both in and away from the nursery. For example, children spend time in the community at local meadows, where they can explore a natural environment. They engage in exciting and challenging activities, such as den building, bark rubbing and blackberry picking. Staff use this time to teach children of how to be aware of their own safety when they are in the meadow.
• Staff are highly skilled at supporting children's communication and language development from an early age. Staff speak warmly and clearly to children. Toddlers are beginning to think critically, and they are confident to ask questions. Children's vocabulary rapidly expands as they are introduced to new words, such as soil and moist. Staff consistently repeat the words they use for reinforcement. Staff are competent in sign language, which they use effectively as additional communication for children.
• Parents receive excellent communication from staff about their children's time in the nursery. Staff listen to parents and value their input. They give them constant support and ideas of how to complement their children's learning at home. Parents appreciate the weekly updates, photographs, and online meetings they are offered, especially as they are not yet spending time in the nursery due to the COVID 19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
• The excellent nursery cook provides children with freshly cooked, homemade meals each day. A well thought out menu ensures that children receive a very healthy and well-balanced diet. Children are often involved in the preparation of meals and other small tasks that replicate home life. For example, they help to make a fruit salad or hang the washing out to dry. This helps to continually foster their independence and self-esteem.