Community Works Nursery & Children's Centre

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The nursery places children and their families at the heart of its care. Children's emotional well-being is at the centre of everything it does. The exceptionally well-organised learning environments, both indoors and outdoors, inspire children's natural curiosity. For example, children explore pumpkins, cutting and scooping seeds while recalling their visit to see them growing in the community garden. The nursery provides a curriculum that is ambitious and builds on children's current strengths to help them move successfully on to their next stage of learning.

Staff use rich and extensive vocabulary when talking to children. This supports children to develop extremely good communication skills. Staff use a combination of home language, English and Makaton. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are fully supported and included. Children have many opportunities to experience the real world. This includes visiting local parks, taking bus trips and visits to theatre shows.

Relationships between staff, children and their peers are extremely respectful. Children are keen to take on small responsibilities, such as tidying away and getting ready for snack. Their efforts are rewarded with praise. Children show positive attitudes to their play. They consistently strive to achieve success. Children are confident to ask for help when needed. Staff are skilled at knowing when to help and when to offer verbal support. Children feel safe and secure. Staff are alert to children's emotions and behaviour. They teach children about the behaviour they expect. Staff model empathy to children and, as a result, children are kind and caring towards each other.

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

• The nursery manager leads a team of experienced and dedicated staff, who put children at the centre of their practice. The curriculum is well embedded and ambitious for all children. Children enjoy small-group activities and one-to-one learning that targets their individual needs. This enables all children to achieve exceptionally well.
• The manager holds regular supervisions and appraisal meetings. Staff feel fully supported. Their knowledge is monitored and training is given when appropriate. Reviews are carefully undertaken to assess children's development. This is done in a way so as not to cause too much workload for staff.
• Partnerships with parents are exceptionally effective. Before children start, staff spend time with families. This is used to plan effective learning experiences that meet children's individual needs. Information leaflets, meetings and secure social media all help to keep all parents well informed. Parents acknowledge that the nursery goes 'above and beyond' their expectations. They appreciate the hard work of staff to build children's confidence and get them ready for school.
• All children, including those with SEND, are superbly supported to learn and develop. Staff nurture and skilfully support every child. They communicate effectively together to ensure a consistent approach to teaching. Children benefit greatly from attentive staff who demonstrate how to use tools and resources and provide clear explanations. Staff interact with children exceptionally well, for example when encouraging colour recognition and exploring numbers and early mathematical concepts such as fractions and size.
• Staff skilfully help children to become independent. They provide children time to develop skills, such as putting on waterproofs to play outdoors. Staff ensure that children understand the benefits of healthy lifestyles, such as eating a balanced diet and taking exercise.
• Children's speech and language development are high priority. Staff allow children plenty of time to speak. They respond thoughtfully to children's ideas. Stories and songs are woven throughout the day. Children who speak English as an additional language are very well supported and make excellent progress from their starting points.
• Children develop a wonderful sense of self and know what makes them unique. Their backgrounds, interests and experiences are valued immensely and become an integral part of the setting. All children are provided with a rich and inclusive set of experiences so that everyone develops their understanding and respect for both their local, and other, communities.
• The manager is passionate about the links she has made with the local community. Dedicated staff strive to ensure that all children can access the best opportunities for early education. There is a shared vision to inspire children to be the best versions of themselves. Staff are excellent role models and consistently praise children for their efforts. Consequently, children become very positive learners.