Better Community Nursery At Burnt Oak Leisure Centre

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children settle well in this busy and happy nursery. They have close, warm relationships with staff, who value and know each child well. Staff have warm interactions with children. For instance, they use soft tones of voice and lots of eye contact when talking to children. Staff have high expectations of each child. Children gain a good understanding about the world. For example, they go on 'hunts' in the local woods and use edible berries to make fruit drinks. Children plant and grow vegetables, and staff teach them how things grow.

Children learn to take turns and share well. For instance, during group time, they take turns to use a shaker while singing songs. Children act with care and caution. Staff teach them why it is important to wear helmets when riding on a scooter. Children know to walk indoors to reduce the risk of accidents. Children enjoy a variety of creative activities. Babies enjoy exploring paint, and some use sponges to make prints on paper. Older children enjoy mixing coloured water to make new colours. They use pipettes to carefully extract and transfer water to another container. This supports their small-muscle control well. Overall, the curriculum is broad and carefully prepared by staff. All children gain valuable skills in preparation for school.

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

• Children learn good early mathematical skills. Staff sing number rhymes and songs to secure children's counting skills. Children match correct amounts of objects to written numerals.
• Staff help children to gain good communication, language and literacy skills. For instance, they read stories, and children participate well by using props. Staff provide targeted support for children who need it, such as through a comprehensive communication, language and literacy programme.
• Staff teach children about difference. For instance, they provide food festivals that feature food from around the world. Children learn about special cultural events, such as Diwali.
• Children gain good independence skills. Older children put on their coats and shoes, and staff support younger children to gain these skills. Children prepare their own fruit snacks and pour their own drinks.
• Children learn about their emotions. Staff focus well on helping children to understand their feelings. For example, staff ask children to draw pictures of how they are feeling.
• Children behave well. Staff share their expectations with children, and children respond appropriately. When children feel upset or in need of quiet time, they spend time doing calming activities in a sensory room.
• Children have a very good awareness of oral hygiene. When staff ask children how to take care of their teeth and gums, older children respond by saying they must not eat sweets and cakes. All children take part in a variety of creative activities to support their understanding of how to brush their teeth well.
• Staff work with parents effectively and provide good opportunities for them to support their children's learning. For instance, parents borrow books from the nursery library to read to children. Staff give parents regular updates about their children's progress in flexible and effective ways.
• The management team provides good support to staff. Staff meet with the manager to discuss their work and training needs. They attend a wide range of courses, including a course on behaviour management. This has led to improvements in this area.
• The management team reflects on all aspects of the nursery and sets goals for improvement. For example, it aims to maintain the stability of the staff team after a recent period of high staff turnover.
• Children develop excellent physical skills. They take part in a comprehensive range of activities and experiences to support their development. For example, a specialised fitness instructor teaches children different types of movements. Children have use of the on-site leisure centre facilities, such as all-weather pitches, to develop their physical coordination skills.
• The nursery provides healthy, freshly prepared meals and snacks that meet special dietary needs. Staff teach children about the nutritional value of food.
• Overall, children enjoy a wide range of stimulating activities planned by staff. However, at times, some activities for children aged between two and three years are mostly led by staff. This means that sometimes, children of this age do not have consistent opportunities to initiate their own play.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• provide more opportunities for children aged between two and three years to initiate their own play.