Dicky Birds Pre School Nurseries Ltd - Claremont Hall

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children develop very strong relationships with all staff, who know them exceptionally well. Babies enjoy cuddles and smile at familiar staff, and older children excitedly chat about their home lives. Staff follow children's individual routines meticulously, which helps children to settle well and feel safe and secure at the nursery.

Children are highly motivated to explore the interesting resources and are keen to join in with the activities which staff plan for them. For example, toddlers are curious to explore dough and use their fingers to stretch, squeeze and poke, which develops their finger muscles. Older children develop these skills even further as staff teach them how to use a knife to chop fruit to make fruit kebabs. Staff plan daily walks for children to explore nature and collect natural materials to explore back at the nursery, which extends their learning even further.

Children behave exceptionally well and are respectful of their friends. Staff sensitively remind children to share their toys. Children play very well together. Toddlers sit and giggle together on the sofa and pre-school children cooperate to plan a pizza-making activity.

Leaders and managers have a deep understanding of how children learn. The curriculum is highly ambitious for all children and is firmly embedded across the nursery. Staff plan rich learning experiences that follow children's interests and support children to build on what they already know and can do. This means that children are prepared extremely well for the next stage in their learning.

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

• Staff skilfully adapt their planning to provide meaningful learning opportunities for children. For example, when pre-school children show an interest in how toilets work, staff are responsive and quickly get resources to explore this with children, including u-bends, pipes and fixtures. This helps children to become highly engaged in their play and make excellent progress.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported extremely well. Leaders and managers implement personalised plans to support their learning needs. There are very effective strategies in place to share information with parents and other professionals. As a result, children with SEND make excellent progress from their starting points in learning.
• Staff are exceptionally skilled at supporting children's language skills. They speak slowly and clearly, and give children plenty of time to respond. Younger children gain confidence in their abilities as they enthusiastically join in with their favourite songs and rhymes. Staff ask older children questions to support their problem-solving skills and extend their thinking. As a result, children develop excellent communication and language skills.
• Children are incredibly independent and confidently manage their own care routines. For example, staff encourage older children to serve themselves and pour their own drinks at mealtimes. All children are encouraged to wash their own hands and faces and older children enjoy cleaning their own plates and cutlery. This helps children to develop skills for their future lives.
• Staff are highly attentive in supporting children's personal, social and emotional development. They know children extremely well and tailor children's care to support their welfare. For example, staff ensure that children have their comforters at sleep times, which helps them to settle calmly.
• Children develop extremely positive attitudes to their learning. For example, toddlers persevere to put their shoes on by themselves. Staff support younger children to develop their concentration skills, such as by repeatedly spinning metal bracelets, which babies find fascinating.
• Partnerships with parents are extremely good. Parents receive regular updates about their child's development and take home resource bags to continue their children's learning at home, such as learning about brushing their teeth. Staff plan a variety of social events to build relationships even further, which parents say create a strong sense of community and give children a sense of belonging.
• Leaders and managers have developed a stable and confident staff team. Staff say they feel exceptionally well supported. The manager has provided staff with excellent learning opportunities which means they have a superb knowledge of their roles and how to support children's learning and development. The entire team work effectively together to meet children's needs.
• The manager is extremely reflective and evaluates the nursery regularly. This helps her to identify areas for development and continually looks for ways to extend the quality of the experiences children have.