Community Family Services Childcare Centre

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This nursery is a hub of excellence. Leaders are dedicated and passionate about providing all children with the very best start. Staff have devised a broad and varied curriculum that is highly ambitious for all children. Promoting children's communication and language skills is at the heart of this nursery. Every room of the nursery is full of energetic, lively and cheerful staff and children experience high-quality interactions at all times.

Children are enthralled to explore and investigate the endless amounts of exciting opportunities available. This ensures that they develop a passion for life-long learning from an early age. For example, older children are engrossed as they discover a large egg in their room. They confidently discuss what could be inside the egg and research how they can take care of it. Children learn about the life cycle of chickens as they watch real chicken eggs hatch within incubators. Toddlers are enthralled as they make their own play dough and join in with their daily dough gym session. Children show impressive levels of motivation and concentration in their play.

Staff have very high expectations for all children. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They are extremely kind and well behaved. Children say 'sharing is caring' as they pass a water jug to their friends at snack time. They play very well together, sharing toys and resources exceptionally well.

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

• Leaders consistently evaluate their practice and provision to ensure the best possible outcomes for children. They use highly effective supervision to set targets to continually develop staff practice. Consequently, staff are equipped with excellent skills and have a remarkable understanding of how children learn and develop.
• Staff monitor children's learning meticulously. They ensure that the opportunities they provide are focused on the individual needs of the children. All children, including those who speak English as an additional language and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, thrive in this fully inclusive environment.
• Promoting children's communication and language skills is at the heart of the nursery. For example, joyful singing permeates throughout every room. Staff ensure that children are consistently exposed to a language-rich environment. Family members surprise children as they come into the nursery to be a 'mystery reader' each week. Children choose books to take home from the lending library to share with parents. They become extremely confident communicators and gain a love of books from a young age.
• The nursery's partnership working is worthy of sharing with others. Staff work exceptionally well with a range of professionals to ensure that children's needs are met. They forge positive relationships with the schools that children transition to. Parents are actively involved with every aspect of their child's learning. They are full of praise for the outstanding service this nursery offers. Parents praise staff for their continued support, for example, with toilet training. The nursery ensures that children are fully prepared for their next stage of learning.
• Children's appreciation of healthy lifestyles are strongly developed. They choose the fruit and vegetables for the nursery each week from the fruit and vegetable van. Children confidently discuss which foods give them energy. Older children tell the inspector why it is good to spend time outdoors and which foods are good for their bodies. Children engage in activities such as yoga and meditation. This helps to support their physical development and encourages mindfulness.
• Children show tremendous levels of independence. Younger children quickly learn the routines that help them develop their independence and determination to do things for themselves. For example, children learn to serve their own food at lunchtime and pour their own drinks. They scrape any unwanted food into the containers when they have finished eating. These opportunities help to prepare children for the next stage in their learning.
• Children have copious opportunities to learn about the world. They excitedly tell the inspector about the sunflowers they recently planted for Mother's Day. Children discuss how to take care of the plants they are growing. Staff take children on outings to the local library and museums using public transport. They teach children about the different cultures of children that attend the nursery. This helps children gain an impressive understanding of the world.