Blossom Grove Childcare Ltd

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Nursery leaders design a bespoke curriculum that is creative and aspirational. Staff have high expectations for all, from the babies to the children who are getting ready to move on to school. They work in close partnerships with parents to enhance children's learning opportunities between the nursery and home. Children make good progress over time and have a very positive approach to their learning. Staff are effective role models, creating an ethos that promotes caring for each other. They help children to develop strong social skills that enable them to make friends and manage their feelings appropriately. Children show much cooperation and consideration as they play together.

Staff carefully plan the environments to nurture children's well-being. The rooms are welcoming and homely, giving children a strong sense of belonging. Staff know that some children are less confident than others, especially when they first start attending nursery. They sensitively encourage and support children to explore the excellent range of resources that are well organised and accessible. Staff provide a good balance of familiar resources, as well as introducing new ones, to spark children's interest and curiosity. Children show much joy and enthusiasm as they play and explore.

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

• Nursery leaders have robust induction arrangements to support new staff in understanding the nursery's policies and procedures. They have regular supervision meetings with staff to ensure that they receive the right levels of assistance to carry out their roles. Staff report they feel very well supported by nursery leaders and value the regular checks that are made on their own well-being.
• Overall, staff's teaching is good. Staff are well deployed to support children's learning throughout the day. Nursery leaders have a training plan in place to develop the teaching skills of the staff team. However, this has not yet resulted in consistently outstanding levels of teaching across the nursery.
• Babies thrive as they are sensitively and lovingly supported by staff. They form strong attachments with their key person and actively seek them out for cuddles. Staff work closely with parents, for example, to ensure that routines and feeding requirements match those from home. They plan activities that totally engage babies in their learning.
• Staff place a high priority on helping children to become increasingly independent. They use everyday routines, such as mealtimes, to develop children's skills in using cutlery and serving their own food and drinks. Children feel empowered, which strongly nurtures their self-esteem and confidence in their abilities.
• Older children have many opportunities to be creative. They have access to media and materials to explore and use in their chosen projects. For example, they make potions in the mud kitchen and create their own unique models from cardboard boxes. Staff show a genuine interest in children's self-initiated learning. They sensitively encourage them to talk about what they are doing, which helps children to gain the confidence to express their thoughts and ideas.
• Staff promote children's health throughout the day. They plan times for children to play outside, to be physically active and enjoy the health benefits of fresh air. Staff teach children the importance of looking after their oral health and good hygiene practices, such as handwashing. The experienced nursery cook prepares healthy, balanced meals that children thoroughly enjoy.
• Parents sing the praises of the dedicated and caring nursery staff. They say that staff go above and beyond to meet the needs of children and their families. Parents comment that information shared between home and the nursery is greatly appreciated. They feel confident that their children are nurtured and enjoy their time in nursery.
• Nursery leaders value the strong partnerships they have with different professionals. They work closely with services, such as health visitors and speech and language therapists. Staff use their advice to support children who need some additional help with their care and learning needs. There are well-established links with the local schools that access the nursery's club.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• continue to support staff with their professional development, to develop and enhance their teaching skills further.