Baschurch Pre-School and Nursery CIC

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this happy and nurturing setting. The experienced staff provide stimulating learning opportunities at all times of the day. The superb key-person system that is in place in this nursery provides children with a firm and enriching foundation. Each key person spends quality time getting to know children and their families in order to meticulously plan an ambitious curriculum. Staff are clear about the knowledge and skills children are expected to develop and provide carefully chosen activities and resources. This fosters children's natural curiosity about the world around them. Every achievement is celebrated and, consequently, children are confident learners who embrace new skills.

Children benefit from uniquely crafted transition opportunities. Before moving up to the next room, children get to know staff that will be caring for them. Children visit the room and explore the resources. Staff at this nursery ensure that children's experiences are a priority. The process for transition to school promotes children's personal and social well-being. Children get to know their prospective learning environments and learn about the routines that they will be following. To support this, staff teach children to lay the table with cutlery and carry and clear their own plates after lunch. Staff encourage children to develop essential skills that will get them ready for school.

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

• Promoting children's communication and language skills is a priority. Staff model sophisticated word use to promote vocabulary growth. Children are confident communicators. When playing imaginatively with toy fire engines, children talk about using the equipment for 'hydrating'. Children demonstrate curiosity when playing with resources in the water tray. They comment and ask questions as they investigate floating and sinking. The inspirational team uses its excellent knowledge of children's development to ensure that children make rapid progress from their starting points.
• Children are surrounded by inspiring literature. Staff make excellent use of books as a rich learning resource at every opportunity. Staff use books to explore children's understanding of feelings and to provoke curiosity. Singing songs and rhymes plays a key part in developing children's vocabulary and nurtures their love of reading. Children benefit from group reading times. They relish the responsibility of following the story with their own copy of book. Staff recognise the benefit of sharing children's love of books with families. The well-used lending library encourages children to choose books to take home and share with their families.
• The promotion of living healthy lifestyles is exceptional. Children indulge in daily physical activity. They access the motivating outdoor space daily to run, crawl, climb and balance on the well-resourced equipment. Staff instantly follow children's interests. When sitting on the carpet, children explore ways to move their body to balance. Staff recognise this as a learning opportunity and use prompt cards to teach new yoga poses. Children demonstrate excitement as they practise these new skills.
• Children indulge in healthy, nutritious food that staff provide. The nursery cook is conscientious about learning the children's individual dietary requirements. Subsequently, each child receives appropriately balanced meals each day. Children sit together to eat their meals. They chat with staff and peers as they eat. Children learn to make healthy choices about food and can request more food if they are still hungry. At snack times, children accept the needs of others and take turns.
• Managers prioritise the well-being of staff and children. There is an appointed mental health ambassador in the nursery, who is there to listen to and support staff at any time. This culture of nurture and affection is filtered through to the children's behaviour to one another. Children behave exceptionally well. Any instances of unkind behaviour are dealt with swiftly and staff take these opportunities to talk about feelings. Consequently, children feel safe and cared for.
• Managers have a strong ambition and encourage staff training and support through dedicated supervision activities. Staff are able to identify their training needs in order to enhance the outcomes for children. Managers routinely seek out the views of parents. Staff work in positive partnership with parents. An open line of communication ensures that parents are always aware of their child's development. Parents highly praise the nursery, stating that, 'Staff nurture children and family support is excellent.'