Chantreyland Children's Nursery LTD

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are very happy and busy in this well-run and homely nursery. Babies and new starters settle quickly to their learning with the friendly and motivated staff. Staff use their knowledge of children's interests and abilities well to systematically develop their skills and understanding. For example, babies build their fine muscle control as they handle small objects in their messy play, such as cornflakes and rice. Older children build on these skills as they make snowflake patterns in large paint trays or use different printing materials. All these skills support their later writing skills. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress overall in all areas of their learning and are well prepared for their future education.

Children are safe and well cared for. Staff make good use of information from parents to help babies feel happy away from home for the first time and to trust others. Older children learn to recognise and manage their own safety as, for example, they play balancing games on an obstacle course of planks and crates. Children learn to behave very well through their time in nursery. Parents particularly appreciate the very positive development of their children's confidence and social skills.

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

• Staff support the development of children's communication skills well overall. They help babies to listen and to look at the person who is talking to them. Older children learn to increasingly express their opinions in group activities and circle games. However, staff do not consistently reinforce and deepen language skills through all children's activities by, for example, introducing engaging and exciting words or asking questions that help children to think about and use their new learning.
• Children are strongly supported to develop their enjoyment of books and to learn more about the world. Staff make good use of carefully chosen 'books of the month' that build children's experiences. For example, young children learn about animals and colours as they handle little books and lift flaps. Older children join enthusiastically in large physical actions as they follow the story of 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'. Babies and children join in many nursery rhymes and songs. Parents enjoyed the nursery's nativity performance at a local church.
• Staff nurture and support children with SEND and other vulnerable learners well. They use their knowledge of children's development to identify potential concerns or gaps in children's learning and development at an early stage. Leaders recognise when they need to involve other professionals, such as speech and language therapists or health visitors, and work closely with parents to ensure that children progress well from their individual starting points.
• Leaders provide a clear vision for the management and development of the nursery. There are increasingly robust procedures for planning and developing the curriculum and developing staff's skills. There are good procedures to ensure that new staff and apprentices are well prepared to support children's learning well from the start. They make use of a good range of training opportunities. Staff morale is high.
• Staff strongly support children to feel good about themselves and become increasingly self-aware. Children take pride in their achievements and learn to care for themselves and be considerate towards others. For instance, they work together to tidy away as they finish activities and help each other to put on coats ready to play outside. Staff are consistently mindful of the children's immediate personal and emotional needs. They use smiles, praise and cuddles, for example, to reassure them and build relationships.
• The nursery is strongly committed to developing children's health and well-being. The children are encouraged to try a wide range of freshly prepared and nutritious meals. Staff help children progressively develop physical skills by, for example, building their balancing skills as they learn to ride increasingly challenging two- and three-wheeled vehicles or create and manoeuvre round obstacle courses.
• Parents highly recommend the nursery. They very much appreciate the warm and caring attitudes the staff show towards their children and themselves. They welcome the frequent information they receive about their children's progress and the guidance to support their learning at home.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen planning to fully support staff to reinforce and deepen children's language development through all their activities.