Broadway Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are curious, independent learners. They fill the air with sounds of laughter, thoughtful questions and excitement. Older children plant flowers and vegetables. They show off their extensive knowledge by explaining that a row of pebbles is needed in each pot for water drainage. Two-year-old children beam as they anticipate their daily game of 'what's in the box?'. They patiently wait their turn, choose a teddy from the box and begin to sing the corresponding song. This supports their growing vocabulary and important social skills. Babies begin to showcase early imaginative skills by pretending to feed staff and talking on makeshift telephones. The curriculum in place is truly ambitious for every child.

All children cherish playing outdoors. Staff design enjoyable and clever activities that help to support children's growing physical skills. For example, children balance carefully and navigate tricky steps in an obstacle course outside. They thoughtfully assess this activity for risks and decide individually whether or not they would like a helping hand from staff. This supports children's growing confidence, as well as their large-muscle skills. Children know what is expected of them. Staff reinforce gentle boundaries and rules, which children happily follow. This helps to create an atmosphere of respect and kindness to all.

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

• The management team ensures that all staff understand how young children learn. Managers encourage staff to contribute their knowledge and training to the curriculum. This results in a well-thought-out, ambitious and successful curriculum for every child. Staff know precisely what each child can already do and they quickly support children to build on these skills further. Some aspects of the curriculum go above and beyond. For example, children with delays in their communication and language benefit from private speech and language support classes. This directly enhances their progress.
• Babies display impressive levels of confidence and comfort at this setting. They smiled and waved at the inspector, clearly feeling secure in the presence of the familiar staff in their rooms. Staff are quick to attend to babies' needs. They envelop babies in warm cuddles when they wake from their afternoon nap, having already prepared their warm bottles or afternoon snack. They know babies' routines very well and this helps babies to feel fully settled in their care.
• Children's communication and language skills are well supported. Children relish story time. Staff successfully build a love for reading in all children. Staff repeat key words and introduce new language seamlessly into children's play. This tactic works well and children begin to expand their vocabulary. However, at times, staff do not use proper terminology when speaking to children. For example, they say 'ta' instead of 'thank you'. This can be confusing, especially for the youngest talkers.
• The management team is passionate about supporting children's good health. Managers have invested in training and resources to help support oral health particularly. Older children brush their teeth every day and learn about the germs that live in their mouths. Food and drinks served at the setting take into account children's health and nutrition. Children have access to fresh water at all times and do not have any unhealthy drinks at the setting. However, staff do not always model these messages personally. They consume less-healthy drinks in front of children, which can undermine the lessons that they are trying to impart.
• Children behave impressively well. They know what is expected of them. They thrive under the well-known and consistent routines put in place by staff. Children know to line up and when to tidy their toys away. They listen avidly to staff and treat both staff and peers with kindness and respect.
• Partnerships with parents are a true strength of the setting. Parents feel that their views and contributions are valued and this helps them to feel involved in their children's care and education. Parents comment that 'Every child deserves to smile and every child smiles here.' They consider their children's happiness to be a key indicator that staff and the management team are 'getting things right'. The management team views parents as an asset. Managers are keen for parents to stay involved in their children's ongoing development and so encourage this. This partnership working benefits children and their progression.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• encourage staff to deliver consistent messages with regard to healthy choices
• support children's growing vocabulary further by encouraging staff to use proper terminology when speaking with children.