Colourbox Nest Barrow

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive at this highly nurturing and awe-inspiring nursery. They thoroughly enjoy the activities and experiences that are on offer to them. The management team plan a coherent and sequenced curriculum that recognises children's uniqueness. Children's communication and language skills are at the heart of this nursery. The nursery is full of energetic, lively and cheerful staff. As a result, children experience high-quality interactions at all times, which motivates them to learn.

You can hear a hive of excitement while children explore the garden. Their curiosity and imagination ignite as they discover a spider in the water tray. Staff read books about spiders to arouse children's thirst for new learning. Children become completely engrossed as they learn about different spiders, their size and colour. They squeal with delight as the spider moves and they look to see how many legs it has.

Children play collaboratively together. They take turns and share as they pour the water into different containers and trays. They laugh and giggle as they watch patterns appear as they splash the water. Staff narrate children's thoughts and ideas, which promotes critical thinking. For example, they talk about how the water feels. Children call out 'hot', 'warm' and 'it's cold'. They are confident in communicating and use a rich and extensive vocabulary in relation to their age.

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

• This exceptional nursery continually strives for excellence. The management team monitors every aspect of the nursery to ensure that provision remains highly effective. Staff develop an in-depth understanding of the Montessori method of teaching. As a result, the quality of teaching across this inclusive setting is exemplary.
• The curriculum is meticulously planned and embedded across the nursery. The highly skilled staff have an exceptional understanding of how children learn. Children thrive as their experiences are consistently built on and tailored to their specific needs. The Montessori principles of learning are thoroughly embedded in practice. As a result, children become lifelong learners and make outstanding progress.
• Staff foster opportunities to promote children's understanding of personal safety. Children are beginning to understand how to keep themselves safe. For example, children know they need to wear a safety helmet when riding a bicycle. They confidently approach an adult and point to the bicycle and say, 'bicycle', and then point to the safety helmet and say, 'hat'. Once children are wearing their safety helmet, they join their friends and pedal around the garden.
• Children behave exceptionally well and have excellent manners. Younger children sign 'please' and 'thank you'. Children understand the setting's established routines and boundaries. For example, children know to tidy away their toys when they have finished playing with them and know to wash their hands before eating.
• Staff have incredibly high expectations of children. They ignite and motivate them. Staff encourage children to be resilient, have a 'can-do' attitude and be incredibly independent. For example, at mealtimes children serve themselves using large serving spoons. They confidently carry their plate back to the table and join their friends. Children put on their shoes when going outside. Younger children persevere as they put their shoes on and seek support from an adult if needed.
• Children develop a deep love of stories and books. They become enthralled as staff bring the story to life. Staff stimulate children's curiosity as they read descriptive words with enthusiasm. Children excitedly join in with repeated refrains. All children remain highly engaged and captivated throughout.
• Staff are exceedingly skilful in promoting meaningful mathematical learning throughout the daily routines. Children enjoy number rhymes and use their fingers to help them count as they sing. Staff use the Montessori resources to help develop children's understanding of positional language, such as 'next to', 'behind' and 'under'. As children play in the sensory room, they tell staff they are 'under' the mirror. Children are retaining and recall embedded knowledge.
• Parents are extremely complimentary about the nursery and staff. Parents comment that staff truly go 'above and beyond' with the support they offer them. They comment on the incredible progress their children are making in the nursery. Parents state their children regularly come home and demonstrate the new skills and vocabulary they have learned. They say that all staff are 'wonderful' and know their children really well.