Earby Springfield Nursery and Extended Childcare Services

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The nursery creates a warm, nurturing and supportive environment where staff go above and beyond to support families. They know that this has a profound impact on children's well-being and development. By forming strong partnerships with parents, staff are able to plan effectively for each child's individual needs. Children benefit from a personalised learning plan, with staff carefully observing and assessing their needs and interests. Individual targets are set, based on what staff know about each child, ensuring that learning is tailored and meaningful. This highly personalised, ambitious curriculum helps to ensure that every child is supported to make good progress, regardless of their individual starting points. Leaders and managers build strong links with external services to maximise support for children who may need additional help. They ensure that children receive timely interventions where necessary.

The nursery is viewed as part of the wider school family, with nurture at its heart. This approach allows children to settle quickly into the nursery, where they feel safe, secure and ready to learn. The strong home-nursery partnership allows staff to have realistic expectations of behaviour, ensuring a compassionate and individualised approach. Staff maintain a deep understanding of the child's wider world, which informs how they provide consistent care and guidance.

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

• The staff at this nursery demonstrate a deep commitment to supporting children's literacy development. They use books to help children talk about feelings and as a starting point for learning something new. As a result, children are able to listen to familiar stories and discuss what they notice in pictures.
• Children are able to wash their hands and feed themselves independently. Staff promote independence further by supporting children to cut fruit when preparing their own snack. Children are taught how to hold equipment correctly and safely. This results in children competently cutting all types of fruit. They are taught to keep on trying when things are difficult. This leads to them becoming resilient and self-reliant learners.
• Staff support children to develop strong physical skills. They arrange climbing equipment and balancing beams to enhance children's abilities. Children build their confidence as they climb, jump and balance. Staff adapt their support, depending on children's level of ability. Children develop good decision-making skills, such as when they learn to manage risks for themselves.
• Staff ask questions to encourage children to think and talk. They focus on extending children's vocabulary by speaking to them clearly. Staff introduce new words during children's activities. For example, they discuss what avocados and courgettes are. Staff skilfully encourage quieter children to speak and answer questions in large-group activities. This helps children build upon and expand their communication skills.
• Parents say they feel included in their child's learning and know exactly what stage of development their child is at. They receive both formal and informal progress reports. Parents value the support they receive from staff for their own well-being. This leads to a consistent approach towards the children's development and learning.
• Overall, the leadership team provides clear direction and demonstrates a deep understanding of the challenges faced by the local community. Leaders' strong focus on building partnerships with external services ensures that children and families receive the additional support they need to thrive. Leaders and staff are highly committed to the well-being of both children and their families, creating a culture of care and support that goes beyond the nursery setting.
• Managers have implemented new systems to help empower staff and give them clearer direction. They are working towards a mentoring programme to support each other. However, staff knowledge of some of their roles and responsibilities is not routinely checked. This results in minor inconsistencies in staff's understanding.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen the monitoring and supervision of staff so that all staff are clear and confident in their roles and responsibilities.