Christopher Robin Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

There is a nurturing, friendly and sociable atmosphere at this nursery. Children arrive happily, and staff greet them warmly. Staff value children as unique individuals and are immediately attentive to their needs. They know children well and provide a wide variety of resources that capture their interest and imagination. Consequently, children are curious and keen to take on challenges. For example, older children build on their stamina as they position planks of wood across tyres and crates to create an obstacle course. They practise their coordination and balancing skills as they enthusiastically make their way over the natural resources.

Staff are good role models. They are polite in their interactions with children, who in turn demonstrate the same to their peers. Children show respect to their friends and play cooperatively alongside each other. All children demonstrate a positive attitude towards learning. For example, babies roll balls to their peers and staff, which helps to build on their developing relationships with others. Toddlers excitedly collect leaves from the garden. They enthusiastically dip them in paint and show delight as they explore the marks they are making. Older children show an enjoyment of creative arts and express themselves through their drawing and artwork.

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

• Staff accurately assess children's development and know what they want children to learn. As children engage in their activities, staff in the pre-school room introduce new words in context, such as 'detergent'. Staff working with babies and toddlers model some words and provide a narrative as children play. However, not all staff working with younger children plan precisely enough to ensure they consistently focus and build on children's developing vocabulary and language skills.
• The manager has an ambitious vision for the nursery. Staff comment that they feel valued and say the manager supports them highly effectively. They appreciate opportunities to complete higher-level qualifications and value staff training days to help build on their skills and knowledge. The manager recognises that continued support and coaching for staff is required to ensure high-quality planning and that the teaching of children's vocabulary and language development is consistent across the nursery.
• Children's independence is nourished from a very early age. For example, staff encourage children to manage things for themselves, such as washing their hands and plates, pouring their own drinks and peeling their own fruit. This helps to build on the skills children need in preparation for school.
• Children are developing an understanding of healthy lifestyles. They discuss the importance of eating healthy food as they engage in pretend play. The well- resourced outdoor play area provides children of all ages with ample opportunities to enjoy regular exercise. For instance, babies dig in the sand and delight in exploring their senses. Their older peers enjoy riding balance bikes, climbing and playing games with their friends.
• Staff act as good role models for children's behaviour. They always take children's thoughts and feelings into account. Children are polite and show good manners. They use kind words, such as 'please' and 'thank you', when engaging in play with their peers.
• Staff support children to make good progress in their early mathematical skills. For example, toddlers build towers and use numbers in their play. Older children show an understanding of positional language and illustrate this as they describe how their trains are moving over and under bridges.
• Respect and individuality are rooted throughout this nursery. Staff embed children's diverse festivals and celebrations into daily activities. Children delight in looking at their family photographs with their friends. This supports their self-esteem and sense of identity highly effectively.
• Staff work closely with families and a range of health professionals to ensure that they consistently support children's care and welfare needs. Parents say they feel involved in their children's learning and value the regular information they receive about their children's ongoing progress. They comment positively on the stay-and-play sessions, which give them opportunities to share information on children's achievements and interests at home. This helps staff provide a personalised experience for all children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• continue to support staff, particularly those working with younger children, to plan, focus and build more consistently on children's developing vocabulary to help all children make the best rates of progress in their language development.