Applebees Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this exceptionally welcoming and inclusive nursery. Children are extremely motivated learners, who are exceedingly happy and settled. Staff support children to show excellent levels of confidence. For example, younger children proudly show the 'star badge' they have been awarded. They excitedly stand in front of their friends and proudly have their picture taken. Children benefit from the warm and trusting relationships they have with staff and the friendships they enjoy with their peers. Staff are fantastic role models. Children are respectful to one another and listen with great interest to what others have to say. Children demonstrate amazing social skills and behaviour.

Highly skilled staff help to embed children's learning through interesting discussions and activities that build on prior knowledge. Children are eager to explore the carefully planned and fascinating learning opportunities available. They have plenty of time to become consistently engrossed in their play. This supports high levels of concentration. Staff support children to have a strong desire to be independent. For example, children eagerly choose lunch options from the school canteen. Staff supervise children as they carefully carry trays of food extremely competently. Children beam with pride as staff praise them for their helpfulness. There is a pleasant, industrious atmosphere, where children busy themselves throughout the day. Children are exceptionally ready for the next stage in their learning.

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

• The manager, who is also the owner, is passionate about the ongoing development of the nursery. She strives to consistently deliver the highest standards of care and learning. The curriculum is exceptionally well sequenced, ambitious and unique. The intent of the curriculum is clearly understood by all staff and implemented seamlessly. All children are making outstanding progress and are confident and independent learners.
• Staff help children to develop a high level of independence and autonomy in the setting. For example, children use an established voting system to vote for their favourite outdoor game. They accept the result, enjoy the parachute game and begin to see how the voting system relates to wider society. Furthermore, children easily attend to their personal hygiene unaided. They explain why they use soap and that they have to remember to put the towel in the bin. Children learn key life skills and are well prepared for their move on to school.
• Staff promote children's communication and language remarkably well. Children are exposed to a vast vocabulary as staff expertly narrate children's play. They use interesting and striking words to capture children's interests. The children are eager to join in. They speak with fluency and have an exceptional level of confidence when speaking.
• Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is superb. Knowledgeable staff quickly identify if children require additional help. Highly targeted support plans are put in place. Staff work closely with a wide range of professionals and ensure that the child's and family's voice is heard. This helps all children to achieve their full potential.
• At every opportunity, children's thinking skills are superbly promoted. Staff ask thought-provoking questions and encourage children to speculate and solve problems. Staff respond with enthusiasm to children's ideas, igniting their imagination and motivation to know and do more. For example, children discover what happens to tin foil as it is cut, ripped and scrunched. Staff inspire curiosity in the children and encourage them to explore the foil creatively. Children's self-confidence flourishes as staff give them praise for their excellent work.
• Partnerships with parents are excellent. Parents are extremely well informed and are a huge part of their children's development and future learning. Parents are provided with a wealth of information, including specific ways they can continue learning at home. Children greatly benefit from the collaborative approach to their care and learning.
• Equality and diversity are embedded in all areas of the nursery. Staff work hard to ensure that children have experiences that help them to develop an understanding for communities that are different to their own. Children's family members visit the nursery to teach children about celebrations around the world. Staff share information about their own family structures to help children to develop an understanding of how these can differ from their own. Children speak confidently and positively about valuing each other's differences.
• Professional development of staff is highly effective. The manager offers targeted coaching to help staff to deliver high-quality teaching. For example, following training in communication and language, staff considered which areas worked as 'hot spots' for children's conversations. This impacted a change to the environment for planned activities. Staff are knowledgeable, skilled and continuously develop, which translates directly into the quality of education for children.