Cub Wetherby

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish in this exceptionally supportive, engaging and inspirational nursery. Leaders develop an ambitious and detailed curriculum that promotes the all-round development of all children. Children benefit from a beautiful and well-resourced environment, which staff plan to support their creativity, imaginations and independence in learning. They have time to play, explore and think critically, coming up with their own ideas. Children make links to stories in their play. For example, they pretend to be fairies in the woods and carefully design giants' castles from magnetic tiles. Additionally, staff provide a range of intentionally focused activities to deepen children's experiences. Children explore the works of a variety of artists and engage in art projects that place an emphasis on children's creative processes. Younger children engage in messy play, mixing colours. Older children take exceptional care and attention as they make self-portraits using mirrors. As such, children develop into happy and confident learners. They are highly engaged in purposeful play and well-considered teaching.

Parents and carers describe how the nursery has a positive impact on their families. They feel fully valued as a key part of their children's learning. Children thrive and make rapid progress from their starting points in development. This is especially true for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, who receive highly effective and targeted interventions. Staff have been trained exceptionally well to know when to skilfully interact with children to extend their learning or wait for children to develop their own ideas. This is supported by many inspirational and exceptionally engaging environments, activities and experiences, such as the awe-inspiring woodland area.

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

• Leaders and managers have designed a unique, thorough and inspirational curriculum for all children. They clearly define what they want children to know and achieve at specific points in their journey through the nursery. The curriculum is exceptionally targeted and well sequenced to ensure that all staff know what they need to do for each child. This helps all staff to deliver the curriculum very consistently.
• The inspirational leadership team provides ongoing training and support to ensure that staff regularly improve their practice, and their well-being is looked after. Staff mention the leadership team has created an open and honest culture, where they can be themselves and feel fully valued for their uniqueness.
• Leaders and managers thoroughly and accurately evaluate staff's practice. They provide highly focused and detailed feedback to staff and deliver purposeful training. As such, staff's professional development and understanding of how children learn enhances over time. Staff reflect on receiving regular training, mentoring and coaching that is extending their knowledge and skills.
• Staff teach communication and language skills exceptionally well. They use their knowledge of child development to deliver considered and targeted interactions. Staff skilfully differentiate their interactions to meet the development needs of each child. They model rich vocabulary, ask purposeful questions and give children time to think and respond. For example, children talk about the different flora and fauna observed in the woodland.
• Staff provide a rich set of experiences that are meaningful to children. Children play and explore in the woods. They know how to take care of the environment, keep themselves safe and be respectful to others. Staff develop this consistently by setting boundaries and expectations for children to follow. Children enthusiastically recite the woodland rules at the start of each session and follow them independently throughout.
• Leaders and staff carry out excellent self-evaluation. The nursery is carefully reviewed and monitored in fine detail. Leaders and staff deliberately design and adapt routines, experiences and environments to meet the needs of the specific cohort of children. For example, they recently split mealtimes to encourage more meaningful social interactions. This approach ensures every opportunity is given for all children to experience exceptionally high-quality education and care.
• Staff place the highest priority on forming honest and trusting relationships with children and their parents. This fosters a sense of belonging and connection. Parents share valuable information with staff, knowing that it will be used effectively to support their children. Staff have a deep understanding of the children they care for and what they want them to achieve.
• Children show high levels of engagement and well-being. They are highly motivated to show what they can do and learn more. Children show a love of reading, which is supported by a range of resources and staff's interactions. Outside, older children sit in hammocks and under shades reading independently. Inside, staff read to young children on a one-to-one basis or in small groups in the quiet and calm environment. This is further enhanced by staff thoughtfully focusing on different authors.