Beaulieu Park Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children leave their parents and carers at the front door and enter the nursery happily with the welcoming staff. Children show that they feel safe and secure, and move about the rooms with confidence. Staff provide children with a calm and positive environment. They talk to children in gentle tones and show all children respect. Staff seek children's consent before supporting their day-to-day care needs, such as changing nappies.

Children of all ages develop their physical skills and take appropriate risks as they play and explore. Children have opportunities to experiment with different textures. Two-year-old children giggle as they investigate foamy soap with their hands, and babies are keen to explore natural resources, such as rice, oats and straw, on floor trays. Outdoors, older children walk along and jump off crates. Staff are close by to provide reassurance and support children to learn about emotions. Older children begin to talk about how they feel during activities.

Children are supported to behave well. Staff gently remind them about the need to share and take turns with popular items. Children are familiar with daily routines and follow simple instructions, such as when it is time to tidy away the toys before lunchtime. Children respond well to staff's guidance and the praise that they receive for their efforts.

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

• Leaders thoughtfully monitor and reflect on the provision for children. They make positive changes to improve the environment. For example, a sensory room provides a calming space for children to benefit from, and staff take small groups of children there throughout the day. In addition, coat hooks have been lowered to within children's reach, which helps to support children's independence skills in preparation for their next stage in learning. The manager has plans in place to further develop the provision. She involves staff in changes and, consequently, staff morale is much improved. Staff are keen to implement the new initiatives and comment that they feel supported in their role.
• The provider has a good oversight of the nursery. There is a strong commitment to ongoing improvement. Leaders have systems in place to monitor staff performance. Staff are offered support and coaching to develop their practice, and have opportunities for training to build on their knowledge and skills. For example, staff working with two-year-old children now have a clearer understanding of how to support children to manage their own behaviour.
• Staff know the children well. They understand how to support children's ongoing progress, and plan and provide suitable activities to build on what children can do. Staff know the importance of supporting young children's communication and language skills. They talk to children as they play, ask questions, and use strategies such as Makaton sign language to aid children's communication. Staff ensure that children have many opportunities to hear and join in with action songs and rhymes. Older children enjoy using puppets and props to retell a familiar story. Staff add new words to help to extend children's growing vocabulary.
• Staff gain relevant information from parents and carers about their children when they first start at nursery. This includes babies' home routines, which staff aim to follow as closely as possible to ensure continuity in care. Staff communicate with parents and carers daily and share information through an online app. However, staff recognise that there is more that could be done to engage with all parents and carers. For example, there are times when staff are not fully aware of events or changes in some children's home lives and the impact they may have.
• Effective support is in place for children who are learning to speak English as an additional language, and children in receipt of additional funding.
• Mealtimes are social occasions. Children enjoy a range of healthy meals and nutritious snacks that are freshly prepared on site. Pre-school children serve their own food and learn how to use cutlery safely. The manager has implemented an effective system to ensure that children's allergies and individual dietary requirements are closely adhered to.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen partnership working with parents and carers to help to provide all children with more-consistent support between home and nursery.