Bright Futures Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are full of excitement as they arrive at this nurturing setting. They hold their parents' hands, eagerly pulling them towards the entrance. Children who are anxious are immediately reassured as they see their key adults. They run towards them and jump up into their arms. Children have formed positive relationships with the adults who care for them.

Children enjoy developing their physical skills in the well-resourced indoor and outdoor environments. Babies gain confidence with walking as adults encourage them to take steps towards the things that interest them. Children enjoy dipping vegetables in the paint to make marks on the paper. They recall how they swing from trees during their regular trips to the forest. Children's physical skills are developing well.

Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. Children follow adults' instructions and respond positively to the rules and routines. They calmly line up to wash their hands and sing songs as they wait patiently for their dinner to be served. Children show care and consideration for their friends. For example, babies help each other to pick things up when they fall on the floor. Children are developing their understanding of how their behaviour has an impact on others.

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

• Staff provide a broad range of experiences that excite children and promote communication. For example, children enthusiastically describe the moment they saw the chick's beak appear as the egg cracked open. They carefully hold the chicks in their hands and say, 'His wings are flapping, he is trying to fly'. Babies pay close attention to the water outside and listen intently as staff introduce the words 'dripping' and 'cold'. These experiences support children's language development.
• Children enjoy exploring books. They recall previous stories they have read and talk about their favourite characters. Children happily select books from the lending library to share with their families at home. This supports children to develop a love of reading.
• Staff teach children early mathematical concepts through carefully planned activities. For example, staff use a card matching game to help children to recognise numbers and count accurately. Children's mathematical knowledge is developing well.
• Parents are extremely positive about the quality of the care and education provided by the nursery. They particularly value the focus that the nursery placed on supporting children's social and emotional needs following the COVID- 19 pandemic. Parents feel that staff know their children well and are confident that they are happy and safe.
• The nursery provides children with a broad range of healthy foods. Children with allergies or other dietary requirements are catered for to ensure that their personal needs are met. Staff encourage children to try new foods and teach them about the importance of eating vegetables. Children are developing their understanding of a healthy diet.
• Leaders support staff to undertake their roles and to manage their workload. They ensure that staff can access the help they need. Staff morale is high and their well-being is actively promoted.
• Leaders ensure that staff build on their knowledge through accessing regular training. However, coaching and mentoring does not focus enough on what staff need to do to improve the quality of their teaching, particularly for less-experienced staff. This means that not all staff are confident to adapt their teaching to enhance the quality of the learning experiences for children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen coaching and mentoring, so that all staff are clear about how to adapt their teaching to enhance the quality of the learning experiences for children.