Chessgrove Park Day Nursery Limited

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are at the heart of everything that is meticulously planned and considered at this inviting nursery. Leaders are passionate about giving children the very best start to their early years. They reflect and adapt the nursery to improve outcomes for their specific cohort of children. The vision and ethos of the nursery are woven and embedded into all staff's practice. Leaders complete thorough training, induction and regular meetings with staff. Consequently, all staff, including the newest and least experienced, have the support and foundations that help them to excel in their roles.

Staff nurture relationships with families and children from the youngest age. Strong bonds are clearly evident, and staff know the children extremely well. Staff go above and beyond to support and help families. This results in effective relationships between home and nursery.

Staff provide numerous opportunities for those children who prefer to learn outside. Children move freely outdoors. Even the youngest children explore the grounds of the on-site farm. They watch in awe as staff share thoughts and ideas about the dandelions in the field. Staff gently blow the seeds, and children smile as they watch them float away in the breeze. These high-quality interactions help to nurture children's wonder in learning. As a result, all children are inquisitive and eager to learn.

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

• Leadership at this nursery is exemplary. They are highly attuned to the needs of children, families and their staff. Staff well-being is given the highest priority. Flexible working, treat days and regular check-in meetings give staff lots of opportunities to feel valued. This results in a happy and motivated staff team, that communicates well and always puts the needs of children first.
• Leaders have a clear vision and reflective attitude towards improvements they want to make. They consider the views and feedback from parents. Leaders and staff place high value on parents' contribution and voice. They offer regular feedback and two-way communication between home and nursery is a key strength.
• Staff meticulously plan for what they want children to learn next. Inviting and exciting activities encourage children to gravitate towards the set-up resources. Children of all ages show high levels of intrigue and excitement about different topics. Even the babies enjoy feeling different textures as they look for dinosaurs in soil and watch as ice melts to reveal them in ice cubes. Staff ask well-timed and open-ended questions that inspire children to think critically. Staff nurture children's ideas and encourage them to make predictions. This harnesses the children's curiosity and thirst for learning more. As a result, children make rapid progress in all areas of learning.
• Staff are kind and considerate. They are excellent role models. They treat all children with the utmost respect. This is reflected in how well the children behave. Staff support children to be confident and resilient. They gently encourage children to resolve minor conflicts and manage relationships with their peers. This prepares them very well for their next stage in learning.
• Staff nurture children's love for books. Story time is given the highest priority. Staff teach children to treat books with care and respect. They read with enthusiasm and character that fascinates the children. This helps to develop children's listening and attention skills. As a result, children build a strong foundation of skills they need for their future learning habits.
• Children enjoy a wealth of rich learning experiences. Swimming lessons and water safety form part of their broad and varied curriculum. Staff are extremely attentive to children's safety as they move around the nursery. They complete regular head counts and always deploy themselves effectively. Risk assessments are highly successful at keeping children safe and all areas of the site are safe and secure.
• Staff make excellent use of songs and rhymes to develop children's communication and language. Singing, signing and using actions are utilised throughout the nursery. Staff sing unusual and funny songs that spark the children's interest in participating. Conversations are rich, and there is a buzz of excitement as children share their thoughts and ideas. The children are extremely confident communicators, and they use a wide and varied vocabulary.