Compton Valley Nursery and Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this highly nurturing and welcoming setting. Staff implement a meticulously planned curriculum based on children's interests and next steps. This ensures all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak more than one language, make excellent progress.

Communication and language is particularly embedded. Babies sit snuggled in the laps of staff members listening to a story. Staff encourage them to make the sounds of the animals they see in the book. Toddlers begin to use two- and three-word sentences. Staff use their training to implement specific communication intervention plans to ensure any gaps in learning close quickly. For instance, children play 'What's in the bag?' and staff role model names of items clearly, such as 'apple'. Staff encourage toddlers to repeat the word. Staff add an additional word, such as 'red apple', and link these to children's prior knowledge, for example the apple tree in the nursery garden. Older children show excellent language skills. They are highly curious and keen to find out about visitors. They ask them specific questions, such as 'What is your name, why are you here, and what is your job?'

Children's behaviour is excellent and staff have high expectations of what children can do. Staff skilfully support older children to take turns, resulting in them resolving conflicts independently. Staff kindly and calmly help toddlers to understand the difference between right and wrong.

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

• The leadership team are highly knowledgeable and passionate in ensuring all children have outstanding experiences while at the setting. Highly qualified staff and experienced leaders continually reflect on activities and children's learning to ensure children achieve the best possible outcomes.
• All children are extremely independent. Older babies are keen to drink from open top cups and toddlers learn how to skilfully eat with a fork. Older children self-serve meals, pour their own drinks and put away their pictures in their own folders.
• Partnerships with parents are exemplary. Staff ensure parents are actively involved in all aspects of the setting, such as reviewing policies and procedures and customising these to meet different family dynamics. Parents comment that staff are 'truly invested in our little person' with 'plenty of cultural diversity'. They speak highly of how staff use the communication systems effectively to keep them very well informed, and that they know how they can support their child's learning at home.
• Children develop excellent literacy skills. Younger children benefit from many stories throughout the day. They show excitement by rocking their body back and forth and waving their hands with pleasure. Older children learn letter sounds through fun activities. For example, children build a train track together for 'Toby the Train', who delivers items that begin with 'p' and 's'. Children hear and say initial letter sounds. For those children who require more of a challenge, staff plan activities to help them form letters.
• Children relish celebrating a range of festivals throughout the year, such as Ramadan and Easter. Children learn that Easter represents new life and confidently take turns to share their own experiences, such as going to church or having an 'Easter egg hunt'. Children very effectively learn about the similarities between themselves and others.
• Staff ensure that every opportunity is a learning experience for children. When children spill water in the garden, staff talk to children about how the water soaks into the ground. They extend this to discuss the many uses of water, such as bathing, drinking, washing and agriculture.
• The setting is in a rural location where children benefit from the surrounding countryside. Outdoor play is an integral part of children's experiences, where they climb, run, balance and explore nature. On-site chefs provide children with freshly prepared meals. They work meticulously with parents to ensure they cater for children's dietary and medical needs.
• Staff meet children's care needs exceptionally well, including those with high medical needs. They use the effective communication systems to ensure parents know immediately when children have received their medication, consistently keeping them updated.