Ceres Nursery Ltd, Working Mums Daycare & Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff at this nursery are calm, gentle and caring, especially in the baby room. They provide children with plenty of cuddles and soothing words, which support their emotional well-being effectively. The daily routines are well organised, which contributes to a tranquil atmosphere. This enables children to play happily. For instance, babies enjoy exploring toy dinosaurs at the sand tray in the garden. Older children engage in role play, demonstrating their strong language skills. Staff have clear expectations for children's behaviour. They teach children to share, take turns and play cooperatively with others. This approach helps children to feel safe and secure at the nursery.

Staff are fully aware of children's needs, including those who speak English as an additional language. This helps them to design a balanced and age-appropriate curriculum. Children take pleasure in listening to stories and contribute their ideas for songs. Staff follow effective hygiene practices to ensure children's health and well-being. For instance, they encourage children to wash their hands frequently to avoid the spread of germs and infectious illnesses. Children develop good hygiene habits. Additionally, staff help children to stay active through physical activities. Children enjoy participating in breathing exercises and stretching their whole bodies. They have positive attitudes towards their learning.

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

• The management team is passionate about their work with children and maintains a positive outlook. It continues to provide children, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a strong foundation in their education. This benefits children's learning and development well.
• Staff observe and assess children's learning accurately. This enables them to identify what children know and need to learn next. As part of the curriculum, staff focus on promoting children's self-care and independence skills. They encourage children to manage age-appropriate tasks, such as taking off their shoes. Older children especially enjoy setting the table for mealtimes and pouring drinks. Children gain essential skills for school and their future lives.
• Parents and carers are incredibly delighted with the service they receive. They find staff create a 'nurturing and loving' environment for their children. As a result, children enjoy coming to the nursery. Parents also praise the regular communication from staff. This keeps parents informed about their children's progress.
• Staff praise the management team for supporting their professional development and well-being. This encouragement motivates staff to give their best to children. Several staff members have developed their knowledge and skills, particularly during group activities. They use effective teaching strategies, such as giving children time to respond, to enhance their vocabulary.
• Staff help children to make good progress from their starting points in development. For example, they enhance older children's mathematical skills by teaching them to identify and compare different shapes. Children demonstrate confidence as they discuss 'hexagon' and 'oval' shapes with their peers. Staff give children a solid foundation in mathematics.
• Children are highly motivated to learn. During a group activity, for example, they listen attentively and clap their hands to express their enjoyment. Children are keen to share their thoughts and ideas. However, staff do not always seize the opportunities to extend children's learning, especially during spontaneous play. This limits staff's ability to consolidate children's knowledge.
• Staff build close relationships with children. They use songs and lullabies effectively to comfort children, especially babies. Staff teach children to behave well. This is evident such as when older children show high levels of patience while lining up for lunch. They say, thank you and yes please to show their polite manners.
• Staff generally arrange outings for children to expand their experiences of their surroundings. However, older children have fewer opportunities to take their learning outside of the nursery to deepen their experiences.
• The management team reflects on practices rigorously. Since the last inspection, it has led staff to organise the daily routines more effectively. This provides children with a relaxed and orderly atmosphere, especially at mealtimes. The management team is currently reviewing other ways to increase parental involvement. These efforts are further aimed at promoting consistency in children's education and care.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• encourage staff to take advantage of opportunities to extend children's learning, particularly during spontaneous play
• explore additional ways for older children to deepen their understanding of their surroundings.