Bellissima Nurseries

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive excited and eager to play at this exceptionally nurturing and safe nursery. All children form extremely strong bonds with staff, who welcome each child warmly with smiles. Children are incredibly content and confident. They flourish in the loving and child-centred environment, where they feel secure and successfully gain skills for their future learning. Children especially benefit from the carefully designed curriculum for communication and literacy, that builds on what they already know and can do.

Children are ready to learn. For example, babies are highly focused as they explore resources. Older children are extremely motivated and engaged. They learn about themselves and the world in a deep and meaningful way. For example, they talk about themselves and what makes them unique. Children especially benefit from the carefully designed curriculum for communication and language, that builds on what they already know and can do. For instance, the carefully chosen and familiar books help children to develop language skills quickly. Older children talk with confidence and increasing fluency. Children learn to manage risk independently. Outside, they use the climbing frame and very competently move themselves about safely.

Children behaviour is exemplary. For example, they have deep respect for each other. They learn to express their feelings incredibly well and consider the feelings of others.

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

• The manager is a highly dedicated and ambitious leader. Her vision and ethos for the nursery is extremely well defined and communicated to staff, parents, and children. Staff work as a strong and supportive team to ensure all children achieve the best outcomes. This includes children who speak English as an additional language and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• The manager and staff inspire children's learning, so they achieve their best. Their curriculum thinking is extremely clear and well sequenced. They pay meticulous attention to the development, learning styles and interests of children. This leads to an excellent balance between achievable and challenging activities to help children develop their skills to the highest level. Staff recognise any gaps in children's learning early and make swift interventions to close them.
• Children of all ages are highly confident. They make excellent progress. Younger children learn new words rapidly. Older children learn to use letter sounds to help them hear and write the letters of their name and other familiar words. Children develop mathematical language, as staff expertly thread it through their daily experiences. For example, 'higher' and 'lower' as they play the parachute game.
• Babies develop a deep love and understanding of books. They give books to staff to read, sit cosily and focus very attentively. Staff encourage their very eager participation as they turn the page. Older children easily find words, such as 'Wednesday, Today' and 'May'. They show exceptional skills for writing and drawing.
• Staff supports children's mathematical skills very effectively. They give younger children time to work out the correct amount of objects to match different numbers. Older children spontaneously know that if they take two away from six bricks, they have four left. They instinctively work out how to build structures in the garden with blocks, by making different shapes, such as squares, triangles, and rectangles.
• Children develop exceptionally healthy lifestyles and understand the importance of good food choices. They understand how food grows as they water the plants and say, 'It makes them grow higher'. They develop their physical skills as they run, climb, and carry items. Children are highly independent. They understand the routine and take themselves to the bathroom to wash their hands without reminders.
• Partnerships with parents, carers, and other professionals are exceptional. Parents praise the staff highly. They comment on their children's excellent progress since starting the nursery and commend the effective communication. Staff share information that really helps parents to support their children's learning at home.
• The manager meets regularly with staff to discuss their well-being, workload, and professional development. Staff conscientiously evaluate the curriculum to ensure it meets the needs of all children. They attend regular training to ensure their knowledge is up to date and highly support children's learning.