Country Pumpkins Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

All children thrive at this nurturing nursery. Staff provide a calm, stimulating environment, where all children gain high levels of confidence and independence. Staff prioritise children's emotional well-being in order for them to be physically ready to learn and make the best possible progress. Children are incredibly happy and consistently display high levels of enjoyment. For example, younger children excitedly plant runner bean seeds in soil and water them. Staff expertly scaffold children's learning through meaningful interactions to maximise the skills they learn during activities. For instance, they talk to children about the process of growing runner beans to support their understanding, encourage children to turn take and introduce vocabulary, such as 'soil', to extend their learning further.

Staff, children and families have worked collaboratively to develop an exciting and ambitious curriculum that celebrates the nursery's distinctiveness. Core focuses encourage children to love themselves, love others, love their environment and love to learn. Staff use their secure knowledge of child development and children's interests to expertly plan and deliver a vast range of activities that enable children to develop lifelong skills. Subsequently, children are incredibly well-prepared for the next stage in their learning.

Children benefit from awe-inspiring experiences that truly support them to develop a real sense of themselves and how they fit into their local community. For example, they routinely visit the nearby forest school and nature reserve, where they gain a deeper understanding about the natural world and how to take care of the environment.

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

• Staff's teaching, knowledge and skills are outstanding. Leaders ensure staff receive intrinsic support and coaching to continually develop their practice. Leaders and staff continually strive to make improvements to the nursery. Staff benefit from regular and meaningful supervision meetings and routinely carry out peer-on-peer observations. This helps them to meticulously evaluate the practice of themselves and others in order to refine the curriculum and overall quality of provision to the highest possible level.
• Staff are completely committed to narrowing gaps in children's learning. There is a huge focus on promoting children's communication, language and literacy skills to the highest level. Books are at the heart of the nursery's curriculum and are a huge part of the environment. Younger children squeal with excitement as they listen to and join in with their favourite nursery rhymes. Staff working with older children understand when and how to ask questions to further enhance children's critical-thinking skills and language development. They consistently use simple signs and visual prompts to support all children to become confident communicators.
• Children develop a strong understanding of how to keep themselves safe. Staff supervise children closely. They empower them to take safe risks and persevere if they encounter challenges. Younger children confidently navigate an obstacle course as they learn to balance. Older children learn about road safety during their regular outings. They recognise that they must wear high-visibility vests, listen to adults and hold hands with their peers. Staff provide children with lots of praise and encouragement. In turn, children are extremely responsive to staff and consistently demonstrate positive behaviours.
• The sequencing of the curriculum allows children to have autonomy and lead their own learning. Children become incredibly independent and make choices during their play. Their learning is consolidated through revisiting activities. Staff ensure children's knowledge is securely embedded. Older children create a map for their upcoming nature trail. Staff test children's understanding and encourage them to recall their past experiences of exploring the nature reserve and orchard. They expose children to more complex learning concepts, such as 'camouflage', when children discuss that it was difficult to see the rabbits in their natural habitat.
• Partnerships with parents are exceptionally strong. The nursery has highly effective strategies to ensure that all staff have detailed knowledge of children and families. This helps them to develop secure partnerships with parents and enables children to develop close relationships with their key person. Parents are kept informed about what their children are learning and appreciate the support provided to help extend their learning at home.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are expertly supported by the highly qualified and passionate staff. Staff ensure that swift support is put in place for any children with SEND and their individual needs are met. Highly successful collaborative working with parents and professionals takes place at the earliest opportunity to support best outcomes for children with SEND.
• The inspirational leadership team places a strong focus on promoting staff's well-being to the highest level. All staff express how happy they are working at the nursery. The nominated individual acts as a well-being lead who checks in regularly with staff. This genuine care and support allows staff the opportunity to share any challenges they may face, both personally and professionally.