Edg Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happy. They settle quickly ready to start their day. Staff warmly welcome children and their parents, which helps to give them a sense of belonging. Children easily separate from their parents and older children are enthusiastic to see their friends. Staff create a nurturing environment that focuses on children's interests, and what they know and can do. Staff design an ambitious educational programme for children's learning. They thoughtfully plan resources and activities which children will enjoy and that support their learning. For example, staff take small groups of children into the art studio, where they explore with a range of materials, such as music and clay. Younger children are excited as they explore the keys of the piano and carefully try to cut the shape of a leaf from clay. They are mesmerised as they observe the effect of the beat of music with water.

Staff engage well with children and sensitively demonstrate when they need to support children's understanding. They praise children for their efforts and achievements. Children behave well. Staff carefully support children to resolve their disagreements around sharing. Children enjoy being outdoors. Babies go on trips into the community, while older children relish their time in the spacious garden. Staff introduce different words to younger children as they play with clay and play dough, such as 'roll' and 'flat'. Staff support children effectively to be confident talkers. Older children competently make connections between their thoughts and experiences.

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

• Staff plan exciting learning opportunities that are linked to children's interests to encourage active learning. They provide educational programmes which support children to make good progress and prepare them for their move on to their next stage of learning, including school.
• Staff promote children's language development extremely well. Children across the nursery enjoy meaningful back-and-forth interactions and conversations with staff. They use a range of techniques to support babies' communication. For example, staff provide lots of eye contact, singing, reading and add words to their actions and repetitions.
• Children develop their reading and writing skills. They easily access books, which they enjoy. Children engage well as they listen to stories read to them. For example, staff encourage children in the pre-school room to join in with repetitive words. Children have many opportunities to draw and make marks in a range of ways, such as with paint and in the sand. Older children learn to write their name.
• Children follow simple rules and boundaries. They know the routine well and are very confident. Staff listen to what children say and value their thoughts and opinions. In turn, children show respect and follow staff's instructions and directions well. Children learn about what makes themselves and others unique. They are tolerant and polite. Children have a good sense of achievement.
• Staff monitor children's learning well. They work in partnership with parents and external professionals when needed to ensure that children receive good-quality support. Staff work in unison to adapt activities and ensure that all children are included. However, at times, staff do not fully support quieter children who have recently joined the nursery to form friendships with their peers and further develop their social skills.
• Children are very independent. Older children competently put on their coats and wash their hands after coming in from outside and before eating. Staff support younger children and babies to carry out tasks, such as washing their hands after engaging in messy play, nappy changing, using the bathroom and before mealtimes. However, not all staff are consistent when reinforcing the processes that help to promote children's good health and well-being, such as when carrying out activities involving tasting food.
• The manager has established a strong staff team with a shared vision of delivering quality care, learning and support for children and their families. The manager and staff are committed and passionate about their work and strive for continual improvement. Staff report that they feel fully supported by managers. They receive one-to-one support, which enhances their professional development. Children succeed in their learning.
• Staff work in strong partnerships with parents. Parents state that they feel involved in their children's learning and care. They feed back that they are very happy with the nursery and that it feels like a home from home for their children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• implement further support for children who are newer in the setting to help them to build relationships with their peers and extend their social skills
• place a greater emphasis on consistently maintaining children's good health and well-being.