Charing Cross Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy in this nurturing home-from-home environment. The nursery staff ensure that they build secure relationships with families through their thorough induction processes and ongoing communication during the year. This supports staff in planning a personalised curriculum for each child. Staff are on hand to greet children and their parents daily, and children have plenty of opportunities to discuss how they are feeling each day. This ensures that children feel emotionally secure.

Children behave well and understand the clear nursery routines. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and remind them of these at every opportunity, for example, when encouraging children to tidy up and sit for circle time. Staff act as role models and support children to develop their sharing and turn-taking skills.

Staff understand the importance of children having a range of opportunities to be physically active. Babies use low-level furniture to support them to begin cruising as they move from crawling to walking. All children are supported by the well-differentiated play equipment, which allows them to practise their climbing and balancing skills. In addition, the nursery offers a vast range of adult-led sessions, which include, dance, yoga, multi-skills sports and tennis.

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

• Children are well supported in developing their small-muscle skills. Babies enjoy using glue sticks to stick down leaves for autumnal collages. Older children practise using their pincer grip to make pictures using sequins and stickers, and thread shapes onto string. Pre-schoolers enjoy the challenge of manipulating clay and using matchsticks to make hedgehogs. These activities help children as they move towards mark making and writing.
• Children understand the importance of healthy eating. Staff encourage them to try a range of fruits at snack time. They engage in discussions with children about what the different fruits taste like and which ones they like and why. Children talk positively about the fruits on offer, which are 'creamy, crunchy and yummy.' Children learn about where their food comes from through caring for the sunflowers and tomatoes in their garden area. Staff talk to children about what plants need to grow and the effect that the different seasons have on their growth.
• Children show a positive attitude to learning and this is reflected in their behaviour. For example, babies clap, nod and wave props to the sung story of 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', demonstrating their enjoyment and engagement. Older children stop and follow instructions for lining up and taking turns to serve themselves food at lunchtime. All staff model their expectations for good manners and saying 'please' and 'thank you'.
• Staff model language well through engagement with children during free play, as well as during group sessions such as circle time. They show passion for continually introducing new vocabulary to children through a variety of activities. They enthusiastically share a range of stories with children and ask questions to support their understanding and sequencing skills. Children show enthusiasm for all these activities, but, at times, staff do not always give children time to respond to their questioning or to practise the new vocabulary they have learned. Allowing children more time to process new language and respond to questions would further enhance outcomes in their communication and language.
• Parents are extremely happy with the nursery. They describe the nursery as an extension of their families and express their huge appreciation for the care and nurture the nursery provides for their children. They feel fully involved in their children's learning and say that the day-to-day communication and regular parents' meetings ensure that they are fully informed about their children's development. They value staff's professional advice about speech and language, potty training and behaviour matters.
• Leaders show passion, enthusiasm and dedication to their roles. The experienced leaders are excellent role models to staff and children. They are passionate about ensuring that all staff are supported both professionally and emotionally. Staff attend high-quality training and have opportunities to gain recognised early years qualifications. Leaders and the team work in partnership with the trust, the local authority, and a range of external agencies to ensure that they are providing the best possible care for children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff further to ensure that their planned activities allow time for children to respond to questions and practise new vocabulary to extend their communication and language skills.