Colourbox Red Lodge

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children's needs are of paramount importance to all of those involved in running the nursery. Children thrive there. They learn at their own pace as they keenly follow their own interests.

Children are excited to start their day. They enjoy the company of their peers as well as time playing and learning on their own. Older children show exceedingly high levels of self-control and respect for others. Young babies and toddlers play alongside one another harmoniously.

The play and learning opportunities that children have are excellently matched to their individual stage of development. All children learn to concentrate well as they experiment with using the Montessori resources. Children calmly and quietly persevere towards the goals that they set themselves. For example, they continue to try, several times, to open a container until they succeed. Children are proud to show adults their artistic creations.

Children develop strong communication skills. Where they need extra help to promote their communication and language skills, the attentive staff work closely with parents to support this. Staff help children to learn to use signs and gestures to aid their communication. Children learn to communicate their needs and wishes. They learn how to have boundaries with others, respect for their own and each other's bodies and their right to decline physical touch from others.

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

• The dedicated leaders and managers use their extensive knowledge and skills to lead staff in achieving the highest standards. This includes the provision of compassionate and fully inclusive practice to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders monitor and evaluate every aspect of the nursery's provision to ensure that it remains highly effective.
• Each aspect of the experiences that children have is meticulously planned indoors and out. This gives them the opportunities they need to succeed, progress and develop the skills they need to become lifelong learners. Leaders, managers and staff plan to ensure that all aspects of the children's day have purpose and learning value. This helps children to become highly independent.
• The arrangements that support staff are extensive. The leadership team works to ensure that staff look forward to coming to work. Staff appreciate how valued leaders make them feel. They are very proud of the outcomes that children achieve, across all areas of their learning, as a result of staff's work. Leaders deliver bespoke training plans to every member of staff to improve their knowledge and skills.
• The senior management team spends time working directly with the children. This helps the team to maintain strong relationships with parents and children. The senior management team leads staff to deliver high-quality teaching. Leaders listen to, and are highly responsive to, the views of children, parents and staff.
• Children show their sense of responsibility in the way they care for their environment, the resources and each other. They develop strong self-care skills, such as competently washing their own hands, serving their own nutritious food and clearing away afterwards.
• All children develop strong bonds with the staff, who focus on their individual routines and needs. Young babies gaze contentedly at the staff as they drink their milk. They enjoy the exchange of facial expressions through this close and warm contact. This helps to foster their feelings of safety and security.
• Leaders appreciate the varied backgrounds and experiences of staff and children. Staff plan engaging, high-quality experiences to help children learn about the diverse world in which we live. Meaningful learning takes place to support children to understand the different ways of living across the globe. For example, children learn how the nursery organisation supports the education of children in other countries.
• Staff teach children how to take pleasure from simple activities of living. Children are captivated as the staff deliver new information to them. For example, staff demonstrate to them how they can develop their skills, such as slicing an apple or carefully pouring from a jug.
• Staff are extremely positive during their interactions with children. The staff model exemplary social skills at all times. They show that they value children's ideas and contributions and involve them in decision-making. This helps children to have a strong sense of belonging.