Chapelfield Children's Day Nursery Ltd

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children settle quickly into this warm and nurturing nursery. Staff have an effective key-person system in place. Children have developed warm and trusting relationships with staff. This helps them to feel secure and confident as they begin their day. Children behave well. They respond positively and quickly to instructions given to them by staff. Older children enjoy being a class 'helper' and carrying out tasks with staff throughout the day, such as setting up the table for lunch and helping with the daily routine. This helps develop children's confidence and supports them in feeling valued and appreciated.

Children demonstrate that they are enthusiastic and eager to learn. They benefit from a wide range of resources and carefully planned activities that are tailored to their individual needs and interests. For instance, children eagerly learn about fire safety as they discuss what to do in the event of a fire and excitedly put out a pretend fire in the garden with water. Staff help children to become increasingly independent. They encourage them to wipe their own noses at the 'snuffle station' while observing themselves in the mirror. Children learn how to change their clothes and confidently pour their own drinks at mealtimes. Staff promote equality and diversity through everyday practice. They encourage children to learn about different cultures, beliefs and celebrations, which supports them to feel valued and prepares them for life in modern Britain.

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

• Leaders have constructed a clear and ambitious curriculum that reflects the ethos of the nursery. They communicate this clearly to staff, which contributes to a shared vision across the team. Leaders and staff work together effectively to meet children's individual learning needs. Staff complete regular observations and assessments of children's development and quickly put support into place when needed.
• The nursery understands the importance of supporting children's communication and language development across all areas of the nursery. Staff engage in meaningful conversations and give children time to think and respond to questions and introduce new language into their play.
• Staff plan engaging and stimulating activities that are closely linked to children's interests. For example, children recently enjoyed a visit from a scientist who demonstrated a variety of exciting experiments. Following this, the children conducted their own science experiment, mixing ingredients to create a chemical reaction that caused a balloon to self-inflate. Staff actively participate in the experiment, showing genuine awe and wonder alongside the children. This shared sense of excitement enhances children's curiosity and enthusiasm as they eagerly predict that their mixture is going to 'explode'.
• Staff support children to have a strong understanding of healthy lifestyles. They are provided with home-cooked, nutritious meals that are cooked on site. Children are encouraged to take safe, measured risks within their play and have ample opportunities to explore the large outside environment and do 'wake up, shake up' exercises every day to support their physical development.
• Children's early literacy skills are well supported throughout the nursery. Staff have a core book of the month, which is weaved through their practice and activities. For instance, children explore a sensory tray linked to the book 'Commotion in the Ocean'. They recall what happened throughout the story and re-enact this throughout their play. At times, some members of staff do not always consider effective ways to further extend children's learning and consistently build on their knowledge.
• Parents speak highly about the nursery and comment how their children flourish throughout their time here. They discuss that the nursery is very nurturing and feels like an extension of their family with highly skilled staff who cater to their children's individual needs. Parents are very involved in their children's learning, and they have opportunities to attend workshops to support their children's learning and development at home. For instance, parents have recently attended school readiness workshops in preparation for their children going to school.
• Leaders are passionate about providing every child with the best start to their early education and have a strong management team in place to support staff, children and families. They place a high priority on supporting staff's professional development and complete regular supervision and appraisals of them. As a result, staff feel valued in their roles and consistently express how much they enjoy working at the nursery. This results in a motivated team that works well together to provide high-quality care and education.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff further to recognise and extend learning opportunities to fully engage children and help them make the best possible progress.