De Verdun Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy, busy and highly engaged throughout their time at the nursery. Skilled staff form strong bonds with each child, helping them feel safe and supported. They actively join in play, creating meaningful conversations that follow children's interests and extend learning through play. For example, during a health centre role play, staff provide props and join in play as patients, encouraging children to take the lead, practise early writing, communicate confidently and stay immersed. Staff use these moments to model vocabulary, extend conversations and support emergent writing in meaningful ways.

Children benefit from access to a well-planned outdoor area, which offers a wide range of exciting activities. They are encouraged to water flowers, make marks with chalk and climb on frames. A separate outdoor space for babies allows them to explore physical play safely. Here, babies are encouraged to balance on the see-saw, helping to develop their core muscles and coordination. The nursery environment is calm yet busy, providing a balanced atmosphere, where children can explore and learn with confidence. Staff support children's independence and curiosity, including those with additional needs, ensuring they are engaged and motivated throughout the day. Overall, the setting provides a nurturing and stimulating environment, where children's individual interests are recognised and encouraged, promoting their development and well-being.

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

• The provider is ambitious for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff are proactive in identifying children's needs early, and work effectively with external agencies and families to secure appropriate support.
• The setting has strong communication with parents, who value the support they receive and the friendly staff. This regular communication supports continuity in children's learning between home and nursery.
• Communication and language is a strength throughout the nursery. Staff use clear, expressive English when speaking, listening and reading to children, enabling them to develop their own language and vocabulary effectively. Babies are encouraged to speak when selecting fruit from a platter at snack time. Staff repeat the names of the fruits and encourage babies to say the words, supporting early speech and language development and extending their vocabulary.
• Staff help children develop an understanding of risk by reminding them not to lean back while eating or not to climb on chairs. However, they do not always explain why these actions are unsafe, which limits children's deeper understanding of how to keep themselves safe.
• Children develop a love for reading as story times are fun and expressive. During reading time, children show excitement and eagerness to explore more books. After reading about bees, a staff member challenges children to look for bugs in the bug tray, linking stories to real-world experiences and encouraging curiosity. This sparks meaningful discussions and develops children's vocabulary in context.
• Children develop a secure understanding of early mathematical concepts appropriate to their developmental needs, supporting their readiness for the next stage of learning. For example, during outdoor kitchen play with pasta and pots, staff model mathematical language, such as more, empty and less than, encouraging children to use these terms in their play.
• Staff promote healthy lifestyles by providing a nutritious diet and regular opportunities for active play indoors and outdoors. Fresh meals are cooked on site, and children are encouraged to try new foods. Staff give clear, consistent messages that help children to make healthy choices and learn to care for their bodies.
• Leaders are reflective and committed to improvement. Staff morale is high, and retention is strong. Leaders ensure regular supervision and appraisals focus on staff well-being and professional development. Training is tailored to individual and team needs and has a positive impact on practice.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help children to gain a deeper understanding of how to keep themselves safe and why some actions may be dangerous.