Blue Bear Pre-School & Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Nurturing staff ensure that children thrive in this rich learning environment. Staff wholeheartedly embrace how to support children's emotional well-being. They understand the need for children to feel a strong sense of belonging. For example, children self-register and investigate feelings using mirrors and photos on display. Children show they are safe and secure as they become deeply involved in their play choices. For example, babies show immense pride, beaming with smiles as they physically move their bodies across soft play and round furniture.

Children's behaviour is impeccable. Staff are exemplary role models, showing respect to the children and each other. They use clear narratives and consistent, gentle reminders to fully embed nursery rules. Children listen attentively. They respond with immense kindness when turn-taking and sharing.

Leaders and staff plan and implement an inspirational curriculum with children at the very heart. Their precise knowledge of children's abilities enables them to adapt their strong teaching to meet children's targeted needs. For example, older children explore what happens when bones in our bodies brake. This leads to further investigation of how veins transport blood. Staff share a love of books with children as they swarm round to listen. Children are bursting with excitement to answer curious questions with extensive vocabulary. They crave to share their ideas with friends as they predict what happens next. Children are highly inquisitive and show an exceptionally positive attitude towards their learning.

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

• Parents give the utmost praise for the staff. Leaders and staff strive to involve parents in children's learning. Staff provide purposeful home learning bags for parents to build on children's learning at home. These help families with situations such as having a new baby or visiting the dentist. Highly effective partnership working promotes children's feelings of well-being.
• Leaders and staff consistently provide high-quality learning experiences for all children. They precisely identify what children know and use expert interactions to extend this. For example, babies crawl, bend and stretch safely on soft play as they move from crawling to walking. Toddlers explore building towers of various sizes while older children delve deep into how bridges are structured around the world. Children make rapid progress as they learn in the moment.
• Leaders have high aspirations for all staff. Although the setting has undertaken some staff changes in recent years, leaders have implemented an intrinsic plan for staff development. They ensure that staff have bespoke supervision that effectively provides staff with regular coaching and mentoring. Staff are extremely proud to be a part of this inspirational nursery. They beam with absolute joy when describing promotions and the excellent opportunities given to them to help master their practice. Staff truly feel well supported.
• Staff clearly focus on children's mathematics and literacy skills across all age groups. For example, babies explore size and shape as they line up empty household containers. Toddlers learn the names of shapes as they creatively place small loose items inside a moveable frame. Older children learn the value of numbers as they talk about how to weigh ingredients when cooking. Staff support children with school readiness.
• Staff prioritise that every child, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), excels in their learning. Leaders and staff work extensively with parents and professionals. They tailor an inclusive approach that celebrates the uniqueness of every child. Staff adapt teaching so that children, including those with SEND, flourish and achieve their full potential.
• Staff fully embrace children's freedom to make decisions about their learning. This allows children to take risks and test out their own ideas. For example, children climb on a chair to reach chosen resources and staff question, 'Do you feel safe? Is the chair too high?' Staff monitor and support children's decisions. Children are highly motivated and persevere in their own self-chosen challenges.
• Babies and children eagerly make choices from the nutritious menu on offer. The children have been actively involved in growing some foods on offer at mealtimes. Staff sit with children at mealtimes and promote calm but intriguing conversations. They model clear language and answer children's curious questions about why we drink milk. Staff use these sociable eating experiences to intrinsically support children's awareness of healthy lifestyles.