Bambino Nursery Chigwell

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Leaders and staff provide a broad curriculum and are ambitious for all children. They know that good communication skills are key to children's learning. Therefore, activities such as reading and singing form part of the daily routine, to promote children's speech and language. Staff plan and implement a good range of motivating play experiences, to help children to build firm foundations for their future learning. For instance, children have lots of opportunities to use their large and small muscles through activities they enjoy, such as scooping sand and pouring water. This helps them to develop their physical strength and coordination. Children readily transfer these useful skills to real-life situations, such as when feeding themselves and pouring their own drinking water.

Staff provide a safe and welcoming space. Key persons know their children well. They take time to understand each child's unique personality and abilities, what they enjoy doing and the routines they follow at home. This information is used effectively, to help children settle and to match the curriculum to their learning needs. As a result, children feel safe and valued, which enables them to focus on their play and learning. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They model the behaviour they expect, such as using good manners and taking turns during games. Staff also praise children often, which motivates them to do well.

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

• Staff monitor children's progress closely. They respond swiftly when they identify that children may benefit from extra help with their learning. Staff provide one- to-one support and targeted activities, which help to close any gaps in children's learning. They work closely with parents and carers and seek advice from other professionals when needed. This helps all children to make good progress from their starting points in development.
• In general, teaching is good. Staff know what they want children to learn from the planned activities. They explore and have fun alongside children and provide lots of praise, which helps children to feel confident about what they can do. However, staff do not consistently consider how to adapt activities and further extend children's learning.
• Staff concentrate on developing children's independence and confidence right from the start. Throughout the nursery, children choose the resources to play with, and staff are there to consistently encourage and support them. Staff enable children to attend to their own personal care, such as with 'nose-wiping stations', where children have access to a mirror and tissues. Children develop a 'can-do' attitude and demonstrate positive attitudes to their learning.
• Children benefit from a range of routines and learning experiences. Overall, these are planned effectively, allowing children time to exercise, rest, explore and learn from others. However, at times a lack of organisation means that children are not sure what is expected of them. For instance, staff do not always ensure that there are enough chairs for children at lunchtime. While they sort this out, children wander off to play and then become confused when they are brought back to the table.
• Staff explore a range of cultural events with children throughout the year. They value children's home languages and incorporate these into the curriculum through songs and counting. Children delight in coming together to celebrate their similarities and differences. For example, they are excited to gather round and sing 'happy birthday' to their friends in English and then in their home languages.
• There is a strong focus on supporting children's emotional well-being as they move on to school. Staff take children to visit local schools and meet with teachers to share key information. This helps to provide the consistency children require to make a happy and smooth transition to the next stage in their education.
• Leaders and staff value their partnerships with parents. They have further strengthened communication between key staff and parents, to provide more detailed daily feedback on children's learning. Leaders provide informative workshops for parents, such as on 'school readiness', to help them to support children's learning at home. They encourage parents to be involved by arranging family fun days and other special events.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen staff's interactions with children, to consistently extend children's learning during their play and activities
• help staff to improve their organisation of some routines and activities, to ensure that children understand what is expected of them throughout the day.