Broadstone Christian Nursery (Ltd)

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children settle easily on arrival. They form positive relationships with staff and other children. Children engage in activities with a strong interest and sustain this well. They are developing awareness of their own feelings and how to manage these. For instance, children and staff talk about pictures representing different emotions. Children are exceptionally well behaved. They are attentive, wait and take their turn to use resources. The atmosphere is calm and peaceful as children are busy and highly motivated to learn. They stand up confidently in front of others to identify numbers around the setting.

Children develop early reading skills for the future. During circle time, they learn letter names and sounds. Children eagerly find letters around the playroom, for example on game boxes and displays. They are beginning to sound out and blend letters together.

When the nursery was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff made sure that they kept in touch with children and their families. They made regular calls to parents to share ideas and extend their children's learning at home. Children and parents watched the deputy manager release butterflies that they had hatched. This helped to maintain friendships and support children's emotional well-being.

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

• Staff plan a curriculum which challenges children. They think carefully about the skills that they want children to learn. Staff understand the importance of expanding children's horizons. For example, they use additional funding children may receive to plan outings to places such as the theatre to see a show. This enables children to explore their local community and supports their understanding of diversity and the wider world.
• Staff read stories to children with enthusiasm, use props and ask questions about what might happen next. They provide opportunities for children to retell stories. Children show a love for books and reading.
• Staff encourage children to hold conversations. They question children about why things happen and give them an explanation when they do not know. However, this is not consistent practice. At times, some staff miss opportunities to increase children's vocabulary, for instance when describing how parachutes that they have made fall to the ground.
• Children develop a good understanding of healthy lifestyles. The nursery promotes healthy eating. Children have a selection of healthy snacks and freshly cooked hot meals. Staff eat with the children and support them to practise and perfect their ability to handle cutlery during mealtimes.
• Staff support children who are new to the nursery well. They cuddle and reassure children so that they feel safe and secure. Staff work to promote a smooth and confident settling-in procedure for new children. Before children begin in the nursery, staff speak with parents to gather information about children's likes, dislikes and preferences.
• Children gain good physical skills. They have numerous opportunities to develop their small-muscle skills and hand-to-eye coordination. For example, children eagerly play bat and ball with their friends and staff.
• The owner, who is also the manager, has a clear and ambitious vision for the setting. She is fully invested in supporting and encouraging every individual, both professionally and personally. Staff morale is high. Their workloads are managed effectively, and the manager ensures that staff's well-being is given the highest priority. Everyone engages in training and shares what they have learned with the rest of the team to boost their skills and knowledge.
• Staff work well as a team. They evaluate the nursery and discuss ideas together for further improvement. Since the last inspection, the manager has thought carefully about the layout of the nursery. Staff make good use of the available space. This allows children to have plenty of room to play and explore in an inviting and interesting environment.
• The manager cares about the individual needs of the children and their families. There are many opportunities throughout the year for parents to become involved with the setting and their child's learning, including family days, sports days and parents' evenings. Parents know what their children are learning and how staff are supporting them. They are very positive about the care their children receive and how well their children are progressing.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• continue to monitor staff's practice to address minor weaknesses in their teaching skills, particularly how they interact with children, to help challenge children's learning even further.