Acorn Day Nursery Burton Latimer

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this exceptional setting. Leaders and staff work together to develop strong and respectful relationships with parents when children first start. This impacts positively on the trusting relationships and secure attachment that babies and children develop with staff. A robust and highly effective key-person system ensures the emotional well-being of children. Skilful and highly responsive communication creates a sense of connection and belonging for all children across the setting. These feelings of well-being support children to access the ambitious curriculum developed by leaders. Children settle quickly and are keen to explore the interesting learning environment.

Children develop as curious and resilient learners. With skilful support from staff, they are keen to try new activities. Children confidently engage in adventurous play that provides them with challenge. Staff are close at hand to offer simple instructions, skilful teaching and emotional support. Staff consistently celebrate children's efforts and achievements. Children are excited to have a go at a whole range of experiences. For example, on a windy day, they delight in trying to fly a kite. Staff model how to get the kite off the ground. They engage children in making and then flying their own kites. Children learn about the power of the wind as they persevere with getting their kites in the air.

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

• Leaders are inspirational. They have developed a highly ambitious and creative curriculum that underpins teaching and learning across the setting. Staff expertly implement this curriculum across all areas of the nursery, which contributes to an ethos of excellence.
• Leaders have high expectations for all children. Staff plan investigative learning opportunities to ensure that children experience awe and wonder every day. Staff closely observe and respond skilfully to children's fascinations. This helps children to stay interested and motivated to learn. They remain highly focused and extremely engaged throughout the day.
• Children are excited to learn about the world around them. They are eager to develop eco-friendly habits across the setting. Staff lead an eco-committee in which children are highly involved. They meet together to explore and decide how they will look after the planet and save energy. For example, children learn about the damage that waste can do when discarded in the ocean. They are keen to share this knowledge with their parents.
• Staff demonstrate exceptional teaching skills as they support children to develop their independence. They use simple instructions, modelling and encouragement to enable children to persevere with tricky tasks. Children are eager to do things for themselves and get involved in daily routines. For example, they chop and prepare food. They also serve their lunch, scrape their plates, fill the jugs with water and pour their own drinks. All of these skills enable children to become self-sufficient individuals.
• Babies explore the nurturing and interesting learning environment. They demonstrate fascination with a range of sensory experiences such as with sand, water and dough. Staff are exceptionally skilled play partners. Children demonstrate joy as they play with staff and with their peers. For example, babies giggle and copy actions as staff create bubbles, splash and pour water into their hands. Babies develop as curious and interested learners.
• Staff support children to develop their understanding of how things work. They skilfully teach them to confidently use tools and resources. Children access woodworking opportunities in the well-equipped workshop. Older children take part in exciting forest school sessions. Younger children are eager to use a range of construction materials. For example, they are fascinated by unrolling and tearing the masking tape to fix pictures to the wall.
• Staff consistently support children's emotional awareness. They skilfully model the language of feelings and respectful interaction. This helps children develop their understanding of the needs of others. Children demonstrate kindness and compassion as they cooperate with their peers. Their behaviour is exemplary.
• Staff expertly use books, stories and songs throughout the day. They place relevant and interesting books in each area to further extend children's learning. Staff skilfully share stories in a way that creates anticipation and joy. Children delight in joining in with familiar words and phrases. This helps them to develop superb listening and attention skills.
• Staff have high expectations of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders take prompt action to ensure that children with SEND receive the support they need to reach their potential. Staff work in excellent partnership with parents, who report how delighted they are with the strong progress children make.
• Parents are, without exception, delighted with the setting. They appreciate the nurturing and friendly approach of leaders and staff. They are thrilled with the life skills their children develop. Parents receive detailed feedback and have numerous opportunities to discuss their child's progress with their key person. They are extremely appreciative of the learning links between home and nursery. They also enjoy the time they are invited to spend in the setting.