Cranbrook Independent Nursery and Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Throughout the nursery, children's behaviour is impeccable. Older children talk knowledgeably about the rules, such as 'walking feet', and they understand that they may hurt themselves if they run in the nursery. Staff expertly support children to manage their behaviour, and children respond positively. Children's independence skills are thoroughly embedded in their daily routines. For instance, they confidently help themselves to tissues to wipe their noses, serve their own food during mealtimes and freely access the areas of learning that interest them.

Children are deeply engaged in their learning environment. Leaders have a highly ambitious curriculum, which inspires children to explore their surroundings with awe and wonder. This is evident in the way children absorb themselves in the sensory investigation of walking through mud and jumping in puddles. When children show an eagerness to learn more about owls through books, staff introduce exciting new vocabulary, such as 'nocturnal'. This successfully extends children's knowledge and language.

Children have excellent opportunities to learn about their local community. They visit the library and buy food at the shops. Staff build on this further so that children learn about the lives and experiences of communities in other countries. Staff share pictures of their local community from their home country, and children observe the similarities and differences between them. This broadens children's understanding of the world around them.

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

• The leadership of the nursery is very strong. Leaders put children at the heart of everything they do. Their learning intent is firmly embedded in everyday practice and, as a result, children develop their personal, social and emotional skills. This sets children up to be confident and independent learners, who make exceptional progress in all areas of learning.
• Leaders and staff understand the importance of building highly effective partnerships with parents. Parents' voices are valued and included in the decisions that form their child's day, such as helping to design the menu and sharing observations. Leaders and staff are keen to impart their knowledge to support parents with their child's development at home. For instance, they organise workshops in child development and provide information leaflets for general advice, such as potty training. This enables parents to gain an excellent understanding of how they can provide consistent and effective support to enable their child to continue to make excellent progress.
• Leaders put extensive thought and consideration into supporting children to settle when they join the nursery and as they progress to each room. Leaders constantly strive to enable children to be confident in their environment so that they can fully engage in purposeful learning. Leaders begin this process by providing flexible settling-in sessions and they recognise the importance of parents being actively involved. This helps to ensure that children feel happy and secure so they benefit from the rich learning opportunities that staff provide for them. Consequently, all children flourish in their progress, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Leaders implement innovative strategies to promote children's positive sense of well-being and confidence. Children are provided with opportunities to communicate their needs or interests. For instance, children use passes to make their own choices to either access the garden or go to the toilet. This supports children to successfully and independently meet their own needs. This is particularly beneficial for children who speak English as an additional language, or children who need support to develop their communication skills.
• All staff consistently and skilfully build on children's communication and language. Staff engage in high quality interactions with children and use rich vocabulary which is clearly spoken. This exposes children to a wealth of language which effectively extends their own vocabulary. Staff further enhance children's understanding by using visual prompts when they speak to them. This reinforces children's understanding and successfully supports them to develop their communication and language skills.
• Leaders are fully committed to encouraging and enabling staff to successfully fulfil their key-person duties and their own personal development. Staff enjoy the responsibility of implementing their ideas in the nursery to enhance children's learning and development. This motivates staff to be enthusiastic and provide high-quality teaching for children.