Anker Bridge Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff warmly welcome children into the nursery. Children arrive smiling and confidently separate from their parents. They quickly settle, choosing what they would like to play with. Staff offer children frequent reassurance and plenty of cuddles. This helps children who are new to the nursery build bonds with staff. Staff have high expectations for children's good behaviour. They offer children gentle and age-appropriate reminders. As a result, children learn the rules of the setting. Staff help children to understand their emotions. This helps children to learn how to self-regulate their feelings and gives them strategies when they become overwhelmed or upset.

Staff provide children with a good range of activities and experiences. Babies show excitement and enthusiasm as they join in with playing the various musical instruments. Older children enjoy exploring the garden, searching for bugs and insects. They develop their physical skills as they use the climbing frame and ride on wheeled toys, negotiating space. Children learn to recognise their name, finding their own place mat at the dinner table. Children are making good progress in their learning. They are gaining the skills they need to help build on their future learning, including with regard to their eventual move to school.

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

• The provider, who is also the manager, has a clear vision for continual improvement. She provides staff with ongoing support and professional development opportunities. Staff have regular supervision and staff meetings. This has a positive impact on staff's knowledge and skills. The manager recognises the need to continue with this support to further build on staff's already good teaching skills.
• The quality of teaching is good. Staff use their observations and assessments to plan activities that interest children. Children benefit from a well-planned curriculum that builds on what they already know and can do. This helps all children make good progress in their learning and development.
• Staff support children's communication and language skills well. Staff working with babies sing nursery rhymes and songs throughout the day. Older children enjoy listening to stories. Staff engage children in meaningful conversations and discussions. Children confidently chat to visitors. Children who speak English as an additional language are supported well because staff take the time to get to know some words in their home language and use these to aid communication.
• Parents are happy with the nursery. They express how happy their children are to attend. Parents comment on how friendly and caring the staff are. They say that their children are making good progress in their learning. However, parents are not always given enough information about the plans for children's future learning needs to enable them to fully support this at home.
• Staff promote children's good health effectively. They follow good hygiene routines, such as reminding children of the importance of washing hands before mealtimes. They share information with parents about the necessary exclusion times for childhood illnesses and infections. The environment is clean and suitable. Children are provided with freshly prepared meals and snacks that are in line with their individual dietary needs.
• Children's behaviour is good. They are polite, use good manners and are kind to their friends. Staff act as good role models, offering children praise and encouragement for their good behaviours.
• Staff promote children's independence well. Older children are encouraged to manage their own self-care needs, such as toileting and dressing themselves ready for outdoor play. They confidently serve their own meals and snacks. Babies are encouraged to learn to feed themselves.
• Secure relationships are built between children and staff. Staff take the time to get to know children and their families to find out as much information as possible. Staff working with babies ensure their home routine is followed to help them settle and feel secure.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• provide parents with more information about the plans for children's future learning needs to enable them to extend this further at home
• build on staff's already good teaching skills to enhance children's learning even further.