Aristotots Nursery School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are inspired and highly motivated to learn as they fully immerse themselves in the wonderful experiences staff provide at this exceptional nursery. They access a meticulously well-designed curriculum that leaders have created to ensure every child makes the best progress in their learning and development. Staff have high expectations for what children can achieve, and they challenge children to discover and explore deeply in everything they do. For example, children examine spring flowers and look at their properties as they create paintings from still life. They make predictions and freely express their thoughts and ideas. Children discuss and consider how they can mix the paints to match the colour of the flowers. They recall previous learning and excitedly share their solutions as they remember that adding red and white will make pink.

Staff welcome children with the most nurturing and loving approach. They make sure that every child feels secure as they separate from their parents. Babies' eyes light up, and they have beaming smiles as they snuggle and share books with familiar staff. They thrive in the care of the dedicated and caring staff, who are highly attuned to their individual needs.

Children's behaviour is impeccable. They display excellent manners and are extremely considerate of others. Staff teach children rich and varied vocabulary to describe how they feel. Children confidently use these new words throughout the day, such as 'excited' or 'worried'. Staff take the time to support any child who might be unsure to quickly settle. They create an environment where children feel safe and comfortable to share their emotions.

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

• The manager is inspirational in her dedication to supporting her staff team. She prioritises their well-being and professional development. Senior staff mentor and invest their efforts in supporting less experienced staff to grow and learn in their roles. Staff undertake an extensive range of high-quality training that impacts on improvements in the setting. For instance, recent training in understanding autism in girls has helped some staff to gain more awareness of how they could identify and support children's emerging needs.
• The manager and her staff team go above and beyond to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff establish exceptional partnership with parents and external agencies to gain a precise understanding of the support they can offer. They follow targeted plans, offer one-to-one care, where needed, and work tirelessly to ensure children with SEND achieve the best possible outcomes.
• Staff ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience and learn about their local community and the wider world around them. For instance, they take children on multiple trips and outings. Children travel by train to have lunch at a different nursery and visit the theatre to see a play of a favourite book.
• The manager cares deeply about promoting well-being and mental health. Staff provide children with relaxing spaces where children can practise yoga and mindfulness techniques and unwind, listening to calming music and smelling essential oils. This helps children to self-regulate and feel rested so that they can fully concentrate and engage with their learning.
• Staff are exceptionally skilled in promoting positive behaviour. They swiftly identify when children might need some support to focus or distract from feelings of frustration. For instance, three-year olds explore a box of fidget objects to aid concentration. They share their knowledge of the nursery's golden rules and the importance of sharing as they talk about how to be kind to others.
• Staff provide extensive and exciting opportunities for children to be physically active. For example, children take part in exercise classes outside in the fresh air. They joyfully move to the music and notice the effect that exercise has on their bodies. Two-year olds delight in climbing steep slopes in the garden. They develop their core strength and agility as they persevere to get to the top.
• Staff create exceptional opportunities for children to carry out important tasks that help them to feel valued. For instance, babies and toddlers proudly show staff that they can put tissues in the bin, as they take part in their own self-care routines from a young age. Pre-school children work together to fill up large and heavy pans with water to use in their imaginative play. They take great pride in figuring out how they can carry these safely and relish the responsibility to solve problems independently.
• Partnership with parents is outstanding. Staff establish close relationships with every family and ensure they provide parents with personalised and detailed information about their child's progress and development. Parents feel valued and cared for. They access a dedicated parents' area that is filled with an impressive amount of resources and information on all aspects of child development and care. Staff ensure that parents can continue children's learning at home.