Acorn Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children blossom and thrive at this exemplary nursery. Passionate staff individually greet children as they arrive. Staff thoughtfully plan an array of rich experiences, which they skilfully intertwine with children's individual curiosities and fascinations. As such, children quickly immerse themselves in play, confidently seeking out friends to share experiences with. Staff recognise the importance of children's communication skills. Interactions all children receive from staff are plentiful and of exceptionally high quality. Children delight in their own communication in a variety of ways. Babies bounce rhythmically in enjoyment as they join in with familiar songs. Older children delight in their own back-and-forth conversations, sharing their ideas and thoughts. The highly skilled staff recognise the importance of these moments and take time to extend and build on each child's experiences.

Staff are dedicated to delivering tailored care and learning, recognising the uniqueness of every child. Staff are highly responsive to children's needs, considering their personalities, life experiences and home routines. They interact with children sensitively, nurturing children's self-esteem. As a result, children demonstrate they feel safe and secure, flourishing in self-confidence, determination, and resilience.

Staff have consistently high expectations of children's behaviour. They are fantastic role models to children. For instance, they continually promote turn taking and being kind. In addition, staff actively strive to teach children the importance of being inclusive. As a result, children play harmoniously together. They show exceptional kindness to each other and a positive understanding of their own and other's differences. For example, children independently recognise when friends, some who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), need support or some extra time to learn something new.

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

• The dedicated management team create a highly effective and ambitious curriculum. This is faultlessly communicated with staff who deliver sequenced learning with expertise. As a result of the rich experiences on offer to children, their attitudes to learning are consistently positive. They are highly motivated and sustain concentration for extended periods of time. Staff provide appropriate challenge for children, who in response demonstrate perseverance to achieve new skills. This prepares them for future success and ensures all children make excellent progress in their learning.
• Families and their uniqueness are at the heart of this nursery. Staff go above and beyond to provide tailored support, guidance and advice to parents and carers. They recognise and value the fundamental role they play in families' lives and the impact this has on children. Parents share that their children make 'phenomenal progress', particularly in their language development. They highly value the support they receive. They comment that 'staff are like superheroes, always there when you need them'.
• Children with SEND receive superb support. With the support of the special educational needs coordinators, staff are particularly effective at identifying and supporting children with SEND. They expertly use their knowledge of each child to put personalised strategies in place. This ensures children get the specific support they need. In addition, staff work in collaboration with a wide range of other professionals. Children with SEND, as well as those from families in challenging situations, blossom and succeed alongside their friends.
• Management place an exceptional focus on staff's well-being, ensuring they are supported, mentored and feel valued. Staff have plentiful opportunities to pursue their passion in early years. They benefit from tailored training and visits to other settings which ignite their enthusiasm for the work they do. They cascade new knowledge to other staff members. They continuously strive to provide the best opportunities for children. In turn, this enables the children who attend to make the greatest possible start in life.
• Communication and language are promoted exceptionally well. Staff model back- and-forth communication with babies, listening to their babbles and responding with spoken words. Babies use simple signs to communicate their needs and wants. They attempt to pronounce new words they hear, such as 'cucumber'. Young children hear new words throughout their explorations, such as 'balance' 'heavier' and 'lighter'. Children confidently engage in conversations during all aspects of their play. Those whose spoken language has not yet developed, are supported with visual prompts to ensure their needs and wants are heard. These strong foundations in communication and language ensure children are confident communicators.
• Mealtimes are seen as teachable moments for children of all ages. Staff promote children's independence. For instance, children choose their own fruit and pour their own drinks. Children have opportunities to safely observe and feel foods in their whole or raw form. For example, babies hold and explore whole apples and oranges as they tuck into their prepared snack. Older children observe and feel real grains of rice as they eat cooked rice during lunch. This sparks children's curiosity about where food comes from and the differences in food's various forms. These thought-provoking opportunities help children experience awe and wonder as they investigate the world around them.
• Children have an abundance of opportunities to develop their physical skills. Staff support babies to crawl, pull themselves up and practise early climbing skills on physical play equipment. Babies giggle excitedly and squeal in delight as they achieve those early steps. Older children delight in climbing, negotiating space and sliding. Children have opportunities to develop their small muscle skills. Babies make large marks with chalks. Older children explore play dough, rolling and squeezing it into various shapes, as well as writing their own early 'letters'. These activities support children's hand-eye coordination and prepare children to develop early writing skills.