Discovery Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure at the nursery. They arrive happy and eager to get involved in activities. Staff offer plenty of reassurance as children settle into the daily routine. Relationships between staff and babies are exceptionally close and nurturing. They cuddle together reading stories, and babies joyfully giggle as staff play peekaboo.

Leaders create an ambitious curriculum. They know what they want children to learn to prepare them for the next stage of their education. Leaders aim for staff to build on children's knowledge as they progress through the nursery. Staff plan interesting activities to develop what children know and can do. Children enjoy science experiments that broaden their understanding. For example, they learn about concepts such as floating and sinking. Children develop positive attitudes to learning and maintain interest in activities.

Children enjoy meaningful experiences and interactions throughout the day. Staff create these to inspire and motivate children's learning. Children talk about what they know and have learned. For example, when staff teach children about space and planets, children can excitedly explain that astronauts go to space in rockets.

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

• Babies receive care from highly responsive staff who know them remarkably well. They play confidently in the homely and well-organised play space. Staff frequently support babies' early language development. Babies begin to imitate sounds and words that staff repeat to them. Staff offer plenty of praise when babies practise the word 'caterpillar'. Staff build on this interest and look at real insects, which babies thoroughly enjoy. Support for communication and language is strong.
• Leaders ensure children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive high levels of support throughout their early education. Staff work closely with other professionals involved with children's development. Leaders build strong relationships with local primary schools to support children through their transition to school. This supports children to achieve the best outcomes.
• Children develop good independence skills. They sit with staff at breakfast and begin to learn how to pour their own milk. Children carefully place their bowls in the sink when they are finished. At mealtimes, staff talk to children about the importance of healthy foods and they learn about the effect of high-sugar diets on their teeth. This promotes children's understanding of good health.
• Overall, children's behaviour is good. Leaders have high expectations for how rules are promoted throughout the nursery. At times, these are not implemented consistently. This means that children do not always receive the same messages about expectations of their behaviour. This does not support children to fully understand and follow the rules effectively.
• Leaders plan effectively to make the most of the outdoor space at the nursery. Staff use a wide range of equipment to support children to develop good physical skills. Children climb and balance with ease. To enhance the curriculum further, staff plan exciting trips out to the beach and local open spaces. Children's physical development is supported well.
• Staff and leaders understand the importance of building partnerships with parents. They share information about children's activities and learning achievements. However, staff do not consistently support parents to help them extend children's learning at home. Consequently, children do not always experience a shared approach to their learning.
• Staff know how to support children's early literacy skills. They provide frequent opportunities for children to explore a range of mark making. Children have a strong interest in books. Throughout the nursery, staff enthusiastically read a range of stories. Children listen with concentration and interest as they develop a love of reading.
• Leaders are passionate about the professional development opportunities they provide for staff. They ensure training is readily available to help continue to raise teaching standards across the nursery. Staff speak highly of the positive support they receive that heightens their personal well-being. Staff feel valued and cared for in their roles.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to implement expectations consistently throughout the nursery so that children can follow rules with ease
• build further on partnerships with parents to offer them more support to continue their child's learning at home.