Daisy Chains

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive at this wonderful nursery. The experienced and passionate manager, together with her committed workforce, offer high-quality care to children and their families. The dedicated staff are extremely knowledgeable about their key children, what they know and what they need to learn next. Staff skilfully plan meaningful experiences to promote their learning and development, built on children's interests. This helps all children to make excellent progress in relation to their starting points, especially those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

In the baby room, staff place a high emphasis on forming meaningful relationships. This helps babies to feel safe and secure and eager to explore the rich environment. Staff support children's feelings exceptionally well. Staff acknowledge how children are feeling while still ensuring that they remember the expectations of the nursery. For example, staff recognise that some children do not want to tidy up to make space for group time. They skilfully discuss with children to find a solution.

Children are extremely motivated to take part in the stimulating and fun activities that staff have carefully considered to enhance their learning and skills. For instance, children show high levels of pleasure and concentration as they swing on the swing bar. Staff expertly use this opportunity to allow children to take calculated risks, develop their physical skills and count. Children are given time to think and express their own opinions through excellent interactions with enthusiastic staff.

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

• Children are truly at the heart of this inclusive nursery. The nursery offers home visits to parents. These, alongside settling-in sessions, are particularly beneficial to help children to settle quickly. Staff find out about each family's culture and customs. These are celebrated within the nursery, which helps foster respect for diversity and helps children to feel valued. For instance, when children arrive with henna art on their hands, children proudly show it to the interested staff and their friends.
• Remarkable staff skills, and planning, support children in developing their love of books. Staff read with enthusiasm which captures and maintains children's attention. Children become deeply engrossed and soon remember the order of all the food that a caterpillar eats in the story. Staff ensure that children have opportunities to reinforce and build on their knowledge. For example, children look at real caterpillars and leaves. Staff talk about how the caterpillars have 'munched' through the leaves and talk about 'metamorphosis'. Children say and then use these new words with excitement.
• The promotion of children's communication and language skills is a high priority throughout the nursery. These are promoted through enjoyable activities. For instance, staff make excellent use of singing to support learning and the development of language skills. In the baby room, while blowing and popping bubbles, staff sing a song about bubbles. They sing at an appropriate pace, which means children quickly learn the actions and words and eagerly join in.
• Support for children with SEND and those who speak English as an additional language is highly effective. There is a clear and common understanding of the individual needs of children. Targeted support and a shared understanding mean that all children make remarkable progress. Visual resources are used throughout the nursery to aid communication. Children feel empowered when they use words from their home language and teach these to the supportive staff and their friends.
• Children develop strong independence and self-help skills. They pull their sleeves up and wash and dry their hands. Children self-serve their food at lunchtime, attempt to cut their food and pour drinks and place their plates in a bowl when finished. They are actively encouraged to put on their own shoes and coats and develop a 'can-do' attitude. This helps to prepare children for their next steps, including starting school.
• The management team show the highest regard for staff, ensuring they feel truly appreciated. The manager is highly regarded by the team. Staff consistently comment that their well-being is a priority for leaders. They report that they receive continuous support that helps them in fulfilling their roles and developing their practice. This helps staff morale and they work exceptionally well as a team.