Best Childcare Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive at this exceptional and highly stimulating nursery setting. The inclusive and engaging environment allows children to develop close and effective relationships with the nurturing staff. This enables children to develop excellent emotional stability and gain a strong sense of belonging.

Children are at the heart of everything the nursery does. They are confident and happy learners. Children freely explore the natural play environment, deeply engaged in the meaningful learning experiences on offer. Staff are highly skilled at creating an environment that sparks children's natural curiosity, and they provide a wealth of well-planned activities and experiences. For example, children sit on logs and light a fire at the outdoor fire pit. Staff create a wonderful sense of excitement as they add fire dust and watch the flames magically change colour. Children talk about using their dragon breath to make the fire bigger and brighter.

Children's behaviour and attitudes to learning are consistent and embedded across the setting. Children are highly respectful towards each other and to staff. For example, children learn to regulate their behaviour from a young age and display impeccable manners. Staff are excellent role models who have extremely high aspirations for children. They provide plenty of praise and encouragement to children. This builds children's self-esteem and confidence to the highest level.

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

• Children have access to a rich and ambitious educational programme that is based on promoting their exploration, creativity and discovery. For example, children become deeply engaged when they use real flowers and paints to create their works of art. Staff show genuine enthusiasm and passion for their work with children. They understand how children learn and follow their interests to ensure that they move on to the next steps in their learning. This means that all children thrive and make outstanding progress at this nursery.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive exceptional support. The special educational needs coordinator is extremely knowledgeable and proactive in supporting children and their families. She supports staff in recognising when children may need extra support and how to implement effective strategies. This means that children with SEND make excellent progress.
• The management team is extremely strong. It recognises the importance of valuing staff well-being. Staff report that they feel highly valued and incredibly well supported in their roles. For example, staff receive recognition awards, such as employee of the month. This results in an extremely positive environment where children are placed at the centre of everything they do.
• Staff provide excellent support for children's developing communication and language skills. They use a range of strategies to support children's language, including talking clearly and giving children plenty of time to practise speaking. Staff ensure that children are consistently exposed to new and repeated words.
• Children show increasingly high levels of independence. They make independent choices about their learning from the wide range of high-quality resources on offer. Children are determined to do things for themselves, such as wiping their noses and washing their hands before eating. Staff encourage children to self-serve at mealtimes and drink from cups without lids from an early age.
• Staff support children to have a very strong understanding of healthy lifestyles. The indoor and outdoor environments offer children exciting areas to explore and build on their physical skills and strength. Children thoroughly enjoy the setting's healthy home-cooked meals, which they help to prepare. They peel and cut vegetables, such as carrots and leeks. Staff talk to them about healthy foods. The cook uses the vegetables to make minestrone soup for their dinners.
• Parents speak extremely highly of the nursery and the outstanding experiences that their children receive. They say the nurturing staff go 'above and beyond' their expectations. Staff work in close partnership with parents and encourage them to involve themselves in the setting through 'stay and play' sessions. Parents feel listened to and valued. Staff keep parents fully informed of their children's learning. This includes daily feedback, regular newsletters and communication through an online platform.
• The management team is passionate about providing the highest quality of care and education for all children. It makes effective use of self-evaluation and consultation with staff, parents and children to make ongoing improvements. For example, a refurbishment of the outdoor areas has recently been completed. Staff receive regular supervision sessions and are observed in their practice, which helps them to deliver high-quality teaching. They access a range of training opportunities to enhance their professional development and teaching skills.