Bunny Park Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

All children, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak other languages at home, do well at this nursery. Leaders and staff provide a safe, family environment that is inclusive and stimulating for children. They implement a curriculum that is flexible and allows children to make progress at their own individual pace. Children are very happy. They confidently separate from their parents and quickly settle into play and learning. Staff role model good manners, positive language and kind interactions. They support children to learn about sharing in ways appropriate to their age. Children behave well and are developing a good understanding of what is expected of them. Staff support children to develop their communication and language skills well. They engage in back-and-forth conversations with children, introducing new words and sounds. Older children speak with confidence about their experiences at home and the nursery. They are eager to share their thoughts and opinions. For example, they talk about their feelings and emotions, such as 'feeling grumpy in the morning.' This helps them to appropriately develop their emotional literacy and health. Staff make good use of quiet rooms to help less-confident children practise their speaking skills in smaller groups. This helps to boost children's confidence and self-esteem. Children are making good progress and developing some of the skills they need for school.

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

• Leaders plan a well-sequenced curriculum that builds on children's existing knowledge. Most staff understand the curriculum intentions and implement them well into children's play. Ongoing monitoring of children's progress enables staff to accurately identify their next steps in development. This helps to ensure that all children are prepared for their next stage of learning.
• Staff are happy and feel well supported in their roles. Some procedures are in place for staff supervision and professional development, but these are not always fully embedded. Staff complete some training and receive general feedback on their practice. However, this is not always specific enough to improve their skills and knowledge further. Consequently, there are some inconsistencies in the quality of education across the nursery.
• Staff are kind and nurturing. They get to know children well and are alert to their individual needs and routines. Children form strong bonds with staff and seek them out for cuddles and reassurance if necessary. This helps children to feel secure at the nursery and promotes their emotional well-being.
• Staff provide lots of opportunities for children to practise their physical skills. Daily walks to the local park contribute to children's overall good health. Weekly dance lessons support their development of balance, coordination and muscle strength.
• Children enjoy playing a range of games to develop their early technological skills. They learn cause and effect as they build towers and knock them down. However, the curriculum has yet to consider how to use opportunities to support their understanding of digital safety, for both the children and their families, and where to get support should they need it.
• Children enjoy freshly prepared meals. These are made on site and take account of children's individual dietary needs, preferences and any allergies they may have. Children have free access to drinking water throughout the day. They practise their independence by pouring their drinks and self-serving their food. They wait patiently for their friends. Even young children demonstrate good feeding skills, as staff support and prompt them to use cutlery. This prepares them well for their future.
• Staff value the diverse nature of the setting and embrace a wide range of festivals and events celebrated by the children and families in their care, such as the recent festival of Diwali. They rehearse for their Christmas show, singing in a range of languages and acting with enthusiasm and gusto. Staff encourage children to discuss unique members of their family, and children love identifying their photos. This supports children to learn and value everyone's differences and promotes a mutual respect for those in the community around them.
• Overall, partnership working is strong. Staff form links and share information with local schools, and provide much needed childcare for working parents. Parents speak highly of the caring and friendly staff, praising the work of the setting with phrases such as, 'My daughter comes with a smile and leaves with a smile.' They receive newsletters and have daily discussions with staff about their children's time at the nursery and enjoy being invited to read to the group.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• enhance opportunities to support children's understanding of digital safety and where to get support should they need it
• strengthen the procedures for supervision and staff continuous professional development to help raise the quality of education to a consistently high level.