Boys & Girls Nursery (Croxley Green) Limited

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happily at nursery and staff greet them warmly. Children confidently follow routines, listen to staff and ask for help when they need it. Their emotional needs are met well. Staff sing soothingly to babies and, when outside, siblings cuddle in the garden. Older children learn to resolve minor disagreements which helps to promote their positive behaviour.

Babies learn in a fun and playful way. They watch, excitedly waiting with anticipation, as staff 'pop' balls out of a holder. Staff count to three and say the words 'ready' and 'pop', which babies have a go at repeating. They laugh with delight as the ball flies upwards. Babies crawl after it and return the ball to the staff, indicating that they wish to continue playing the game. This helps to develop their very early concentration skills.

Staff encourage children to develop a love of reading. Children read books indoors and outside. They listen well as staff read stories with expression and excitement. Older children join in with familiar phrases and answer questions that demonstrate their understanding of the story. Children practise building control with their small hand muscles. Toddlers squish play dough, and babies press buttons on toys. Older children twist caps on and off bottles and squeeze the paint out.

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

• Members of the leadership team have high expectations of staff and children. They are clear about what they want children to be ready to learn and how they can teach this. For example, staff make the most of routine times to build on children's independence abilities. This helps give children a sound skill set to start with when they move to future settings, such as school.
• Leaders accurately evaluate the staff's teaching abilities. They have a range of training and strategies in place to help staff develop even further. For example, they provide training so that staff are confident to teach phonics.
• Staff know children well. They are tuned into their interests and needs. Staff provide an interesting range of activities for children to choose from and they know what children can learn. However, they do not always question older children during play, to challenge their thinking skills to a high level.
• Staff obtain a range of details about children before they start attending. This enables staff to provide experiences that help children settle, including when they speak English as an additional language. Staff help children to learn about different cultures, for example, by celebrating festivals from around the world. However, they do not always help children to understand their similarities and differences, to promote an even greater understanding of what makes us all unique.
• Staff help children to gain an understanding of what contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Children eat a freshly cooked, nutritious lunch. Older children learn to wipe their noses and wash their hands at appropriate times. Furthermore, staff complete a robust cleaning schedule to prevent the spread of germs.
• Children thoroughly enjoy the outdoors. Babies crawl, squat and toddle. Younger children walk on beams and jump onto stepping stones, helping them to gain control of their ability to balance. Children choose if they want to play inside or outside. They also help themselves to drinks of water when needed. This promotes their understanding of how to meet their own needs.
• Parents are happy with the information they receive daily about their children. They say that they value the relationship their child has with their key person. Staff work in partnership with parents and other professionals to help meet children's needs effectively, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help staff to develop their interactions with children so they extend older children's thinking even further
• help staff find ways to give children more opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of their similarities and differences.