Benington Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children clearly feel safe, happy and secure in this high-quality, child-orientated nursery. They confidently leave their parents at the door and excitedly enter the nursery in anticipation of their day. Children make their own choices and the inspiring outdoor area is hugely popular with them. Children are active explorers and know where to look for bugs. They encourage each other to handle them carefully and explain to visitors why we should all look after bees. At story times, children continue to demonstrate their superb knowledge of environmental issues. For example, they talk about the danger of plastic in the sea, as this chokes the creatures that live there.

Top priority is given to children's emotional health and well-being. Staff help children to understand their feelings and emotions. When children feel angry, staff sit alongside them and calmly acknowledge how they are feeling. These skilful interactions enable children to find their own ways to deal with their emotions and they are very soon back engaged in effective play and learning. Children work together exceptionally well, such as to build an obstacle course. They take turns as they work out how to negotiate ways to move around the course. Children's behaviour is excellent.

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

• The passionate, ambitious manager and her dedicated team have a strong and clear vision for the nursery. They provide an excellent, broad curriculum, where learning opportunities are meticulously planned around children's needs and interests. The impact of this is very clearly demonstrated as children absorb themselves in play and exploration. Children are superbly prepared for their next stage in learning and for moving on to school.
• Children's highly motivated key persons have a deep knowledge and understanding of children's individual needs. They use precise and accurate assessments of children's development and understanding of their interests, to encourage rapid progress. Any delays in children's development are identified very early and parents are involved in identifying what children need to learn next.
• The manager and staff have truly reflected on how they can support children though the COVID-19 pandemic. They have wholeheartedly committed to research and training to build their knowledge, such as on how to support children through trauma and to develop their speech and language skills. Staff report how this has helped to transform how they manage children's behaviour and emotions. Their high-quality skills are evident in practice. Staff calmly support children and provide them with emotional tools to enable them to understand their bodily reactions, such as to anger, and learn how to self- regulate.
• Children have numerous opportunities to build and practise skills which prepare them for reading and writing at school. Staff strategically place books all around the nursery. Children spontaneously use books to gain information from, which helps them to further develop their knowledge. Staff provide many opportunities for children to draw and write. Children are proud to show how they can write their names with skill and precision.
• Partnerships with parents are very strong. Parents have the utmost praise for the staff and speak highly of the continuous improvements the provider makes. They say that they are very well informed about their children's progress and next steps in learning. Staff listen to parents, value their input and see them as partners. They give them constant support and ideas of how to complement their children's learning at home.
• Leadership and management of the nursery is extremely strong. The well-qualified staff team commit to regular training and share what they learn with each other through discussions at staff meetings. Managers have effective engagement with staff through supervisions and focused actions for professional development. Staff benefit from regular constructive feedback about their practice and receive encouragement and coaching that further inspires them. Staff say that they feel highly valued and supported in their role by the provider and other colleagues.