Alphabet Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are very well settled, happy and engaged in their chosen activities. They show that they feel safe and secure. Children form strong bonds with staff. Babies smile broadly, showing familiarity with their key person and the staff team. Older children seek staff out to share conversations and their discoveries. Children benefit from staff's consistent and respectful approach. They listen and follow instructions. Children build good levels of self-esteem and show consideration and respect towards each other and to staff.

From the start, staff build strong partnership working with parents. They gather information from parents that helps them understand children's routines and what they know and can do. Staff place priority on supporting children's well-being and communication and language skills. They value each child and plan well to support their individual interests and stage of development. Children learn to share and take turns as they play games with staff and when they make play dough. Babies enjoy cuddles as they look at books with staff. They receive lots of encouragement as they explore their mobility, such as when they start to stand and take steps.

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

• Since the last inspection, the management team at the nursery has worked hard to drive improvements. The management team has worked closely with the local authority to deliver significant change, support and training to improve children's experiences. Staff are enthusiastic in their roles, and they are confident to deliver the curriculum.
• Leaders have established a clear curriculum that helps children gain the skills they need for the next stage in their education and for life. There is a strong focus on developing secure relationships with children and their families, and on helping children build good communication and language skills. Staff understand the curriculum aims and deliver it well.
• Parents are very positive about the changes made and say they would recommend the nursery. They say that they feel listened to and that action is taken when needed. Parents say they feel well informed about what their child needs to learn next and how to support ongoing learning at home. This helps to provide children with consistency in their learning and to build on what they know.
• Staff working with children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well trained. They liaise closely with parents to understand their child's precise needs and support parents to seek help from other professionals. Staff adapt their teaching and the resources on offer to support each child. They implement interventions and regularly review the impact of them and the progress children make.
• The staff work together very well. Staff say that they enjoy their work and that their workload is manageable. They say that they feel supported by the management team. Staff receive regular supervision meetings that help to identify further training and coaching to support their professional development further, as well as recognition for the work they do.
• The management team supports parents to access funding that they may be entitled to, such as early years pupil premium. The team liaises with parents and children's key person to ensure children's specific needs are supported. Some examples include purchasing resources to support specific communication and language skills or games to promote sharing and turn taking.
• Staff talk to children as they play and narrate their actions. This starts with babies and is a key focus to build on as children progress through the nursery. Staff introduce words as children play and frequently read stories and sing songs. Children make links to the stories and what they know. For example, staff working with babies encourage them to find their ears or nose when they see facial images in books. Older children spontaneously sing songs and use words and phrases from familiar stories.
• Staff are focused on how to help all children make the most of their time at the nursery. They know the children well and adapt well. However, sometimes staff do not help children to think more deeply so they develop their knowledge and ideas further.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help staff build on teaching skills further to support children's deeper thinking skills.