Bouncy Bear Childcare

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children build exceptional bonds with staff and flourish at this wonderful nursery. They arrive eager to learn and show high levels of confidence and curiosity. Staff demonstrate high-quality teaching. They build on children's interests to ensure they are keen to participate in a wide range of exciting activities. Children develop a love of books, stories and rhymes and join in enthusiastically. Babies listen intently to nursery rhymes. They babble and repeat single words. Staff offer a range of tools to support children to mark make, indoors and outdoors. They provide opportunities to strengthen children's finger muscles, which promotes their writing skills. Older children are keen to learn to write their names. They demonstrate excellent pencil control as they learn to draw a face.

Children display exemplary behaviour. Older children are able to regulate their own behaviour. Staff are role models who demonstrate the nursery's values. Children listen to each other and play extremely well together. Children are highly capable of being independent learners. For example, they are encouraged to help at mealtimes. They set the tables, pour their own drinks and help younger children with their meals. Children understand the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. They take part in yoga sessions that support their physical development and mental well-being. Menus are planned carefully to meet children's nutritional needs, and children understand the importance of healthy eating.

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

• The management team is passionate about the services it provides. The team has a strong vision to support children to be 'happy, confident and ready to tackle their next steps in education'. There is an impressive well-designed curriculum in place which was created working in collaboration with parents, teachers and staff. There is a sharp focus on developing the team's skills through continual monitoring, reflection and extensive training. This results in the whole nursery working together as a team to achieve high standards of care and learning for the children and families. All staff report that they are highly supported and valued.
• Children thrive in this nursery. Staff are passionate about children's learning. They skilfully support children to build on what they know and are interested in. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make excellent progress from their starting points. Staff work closely with other agencies and understand the importance of partnership working to achieve the best outcomes for children.
• One of the learning intentions is to develop children's communication and language. Staff provide a language-rich environment that builds on children's vocabulary and understanding. The quality of teaching is exceptional. Staff are skilled at providing opportunities to enhance children's language. They use descriptive language to narrate what is happening and ask open-ended questions to encourage conversation.
• The management team and staff have very strong links with the local community. They are highly successful at giving children rich experiences to promote their understanding of other people. For example, children enjoy regular trips to the local nursing home and visits that stimulate learning about people within the community, such as firefighters, police and farmers. The management team and staff have excellent connections with the local school. Reception children and teachers join up with the nursery children for shared experiences. They enjoy community events, such as a puppet show, and took part in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
• Children show extremely high levels of independence from a young age. They take pride in helping to tidy up and prepare for lunch. Children can put on their own coats and shoes. At mealtimes, they serve their food and clear their plates. Older children are readily available and willing to support younger children with self-care tasks. Effective hygiene practices ensure the personal needs of children are consistently met. For example, when children cough, staff praise them for 'catching their cough in their hands'.
• Partnership with parents is very strong. Parents comment that staff are 'absolutely wonderful'. They feel that their children are progressing extremely well in all areas of their development. Parents are supported with children's home learning in a range of effective ways. For example, the use of travelling bears that the children take home bridges home and nursery experiences.