Atelier Nursery Chippenham

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this inspiring and nurturing setting. Children arrive extremely happy, and staff welcome them with smiles and warm greetings. Children eagerly leave their parents and become engrossed in purposeful play. Staff provide an inspiring environment indoors and outdoors. It allows children to be free and independent and follow their curiosities. The use of open-ended resources invites children to explore and be creative, thereby increasing their skills in all areas of the curriculum. The skilled staff were awarded a 'baby award' for the professional love and attachments that key staff offer to babies. Toddlers explore the garden room, taking care of the vegetables and fruits they planted. They learn about the world around them as part of the 'eco schools award'. Older children delight as they develop their mathematical skills while they learn to purify fruit and weigh flour to make fruit bread. Children learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, when using the electric sewing machine, they know to take care with the needles.

Staff build strong attachments with both the children and their parents, as they eagerly get to know them. They use the information gathered from parents to plan for children's individual interests and motivations. Children develop strong friendships with their peers. They demonstrate high levels of well-being as they chat happily during play. They develop a sense of connection and belonging during their time in the setting through caring interactions from staff. All children make rapid progress and are well prepared for their next stage of learning.

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

• The leadership team and staff are inspirational. They continually evaluate the impact that the environment and staff teaching have on children. Leaders have a clear vision and high expectations of the staff team. They provide coaching and mentoring to staff and ensure that there is continuous improvement in their teaching. Staff undertake extensive professional development and reflect on how training supports the children in the setting. As a result, morale is high, and staff feel extremely well supported.
• Staff across the setting have a strong understanding of the curriculum and deliver it highly effectively. Children are provided with a wealth of opportunities to explore and engage with the wider world. For example, they visit art museums and theatres to extend their understanding of the expressive arts. They go on trips to nearby churches and take part in a large group family camping festival. The setting welcomes visitors, such as people from different cultures, to talk to the children. For example, they recently celebrated Holi festival. These experiences help children to develop an understanding of different people, communities and the world around them.
• Children's behaviour is exceptional. Staff are excellent role models and ensure every interaction with children is respectful. Staff listen and respond sensitively to children's verbal and non-verbal communication. They ensure that children understand expectations. Children demonstrate kindness and compassion to their peers and respond extremely positively to staff.
• Staff prioritise communication and language development exceptionally well. They model rich vocabulary, ask purposeful questions and give children time to think and respond. Staff use sign language to support younger children and help them to express themselves with confidence. They add new words to extend vocabulary, such as 'activate' when explaining how yeast works. Children develop strong communication skills and engage in meaningful conversations with both adults and their peers.
• Staff use snack time as a valuable opportunity to promote children's social development. Children sit together in small groups, take turns serving food and use excellent manners. Staff model positive interactions and encourage meaningful conversations, helping children to develop confidence and independence. Staff actively promote healthy choices and model excellent hygiene routines. They use daily routines to help children understand how to care for their bodies and make positive decisions about their health. For example, they learn about heatstroke and the importance of wearing a hat and sun cream in the hot weather.
• Parent partnership is exemplary. Staff build highly effective partnerships with parents, especially with those families who need additional support and guidance. They share detailed information about children's progress through regular updates, workshops and reports. Staff invite parents along to connection days where they can join in with their child's play. They provide practical advice and resources to help parents extend learning at home. This consistent approach between home and nursery supports children's overall development extremely well. Parents highly commend the staff, expressing confidence that their children are safe, well supported and making significant progress.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive exceptional support. Staff work closely alongside parents and other professionals to ensure that children with SEND benefit from an inclusive and challenging curriculum.