Aylestone Angels Childcare

Inclusion: Strong standard

Leaders and practitioners have a clear understanding of children's individual needs and identify any emerging or changing needs quickly and accurately. They are swift in identifying barriers to learning and address these. Leaders and staff follow a well-embedded graduated approach, seeking advice from external professionals where appropriate. As a result, children's learning and wellbeing needs are met effectively.

Parents speak positively about the setting. They value the regular communication, parents' evenings and opportunities to talk through the nursery's targets for children receiving additional support. There is a strong emphasis on building positive relationships with families. Staff take time to understand each family's circumstances and offer support when challenges arise, including signposting to local services where appropriate.

The progress of all children is monitored carefully, particularly those receiving additional support. Staff demonstrate strong skills in adapting their teaching during activities and through careful 'in-the-moment' planning. Leaders carefully consider how additional funding is used to benefit children. They review children's needs regularly and include parents' views when making decisions. For example, a newly created focus room provides a quieter sensory space, where small groups of children play games and sing songs, helping them hear language more clearly and develop concentration.

Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard

Leaders have designed a curriculum that supports children's development across all areas of learning, but recognise that more work is needed to further improve the curriculum for babies and young toddlers.

Staff have a secure understanding of what children already know and what they want children to be able to do next. There is a strong focus on supporting children's personal, social and emotional development, and this helps children to settle quickly, feel secure and develop their confidence.

Children have many opportunities to develop their physical skills. They use wooden beams and small tyres to create bridges and hurdles. Staff extend this by encouraging children to balance across beams and practise jumping safely. Children also strengthen their fine motor skills as they colour pictures, transfer sand and manipulate play dough. Mathematics is woven effectively throughout the teaching. Children enjoy counting during story time and think about how many items remain when one is taken away. Younger children explore size, colour and number through stacking rings and singing number songs.

Children enjoy listening to stories throughout the day and engage enthusiastically in activities that extend their understanding of books. Staff encourage discussion through thoughtful questioning and by linking activities to the events in books. This supports children's developing language skills and helps to foster a growing enjoyment of books and storytelling.

Achievement: Expected standard

Children make steady progress across the 7 areas of learning and show a positive attitude towards their learning. Older children are prepared effectively for their next stage in learning, including the move to school. Younger children develop well in the prime areas and are supported to access the same activities as older children, with staff providing appropriate differentiation. While activities allow older children to revisit and consolidate learning, younger children do not always have enough opportunities to test their own ideas independently, as they sometimes simply follow the lead of older children.

Children are becoming confident communicators, and those with emerging or additional needs are supported to use their own independent ways of communicating. Overall, children achieve well and reach age- and stage-appropriate developmental goals.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Expected standard

Leaders and practitioners generally promote high, but realistic, expectations for children. They typically have clear routines, and this supports most children to understand boundaries and behave well. Leaders recognise that routines for younger children are not yet as well established and acknowledge the need to strengthen these.

Staff act as positive role models and regularly reinforce messages about kindness and respect. When disagreements occur, staff respond quickly and sensitively. They give children time and space to express their feelings before supporting them to talk through what has happened and find a solution together. This calm and consistent approach helps children to learn how to manage their emotions and resolve conflicts. Children build warm relationships with one another and enjoy working together. For example, in the home corner, children wear chef hats and aprons as they pretend to prepare food using wooden utensils. They mix ingredients, serve food to friends and ask if they would like more milk, recreating familiar routines from snack time. This imaginative play helps to strengthen children's social and communication skills and builds a growing understanding of respect and consideration for others.

There is a clear procedure in place for recording and monitoring children's attendance. Leaders make contact with families who do not attend. This helps parents to understand the importance of regular attendance and the impact this has on attainment.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Expected standard

Leaders create a safe, welcoming environment where children form secure attachments and develop a strong sense of belonging. Children are supported to express and regulate their emotions, with access to calm, quiet spaces when needed.

Children are generally encouraged to develop independence in their self-care. They confidently pour their own drinks using the water dispenser and mostly manage their own hygiene, such as wiping noses and washing hands. However, staff do not always consistently remind children to maintain these routines before rolling snack.

Practitioners promote children's understanding of how to stay safe and healthy. During mealtimes, they discuss the benefits of foods, such as milk helping to build strong bones, and encourage children to try healthy options like cucumber. These interactions help children begin to understand the importance of healthy choices. Opportunities to explore toothbrushes and models of teeth further support children's awareness of oral health and encourage positive habits from an early age.

Leaders maintain effective communication with parents through the nursery app and workshops. They offer guidance on healthy eating, including limiting sugary drinks, which helps parents reinforce healthy habits at home and promotes consistency for children.

Leadership and governance: Expected standard

Since registration, the nursery's leadership has demonstrated significant progress in developing the provision, with a clear commitment to ongoing improvement. Leaders possess a strong, ambitious vision and have set priorities aimed at delivering the best possible outcomes for children and their families. Staff benefit from regular supervision, targeted training, and a reflective culture that encourages constructive feedback, equipping them to deliver high-quality teaching.

The setting places a strong emphasis on partnership with parents, ensuring parents remain actively involved in their children's education from initial visits through to termly reviews. Leaders are particularly dedicated to engaging all parents, including those who may be harder to reach, recognising the positive impact this has on children's progress, especially for those with higher levels of need. Parents talk highly of the communication and support they receive.

Currently, most children on roll are over 2 years old, but the setting is beginning to welcome younger children. A well-resourced baby room and some appropriately trained staff are in place, with plans for further training as the younger cohort expands. This will ensure that all children receive the support they need to achieve positive outcomes. This proactive and inclusive leadership approach underpins the nursery's commitment to high standards and continuous development.