Elm Cottage Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are making exceptional progress in this outstanding nursery. They are highly engaged and have an abundance of confidence. Children are extremely happy and settled and have developed very strong, secure bonds with staff. Their behaviour is exemplary. Staff consistently encourage children to make independent choices about their care and learning. Children show consideration to their friends and are extremely respectful and kind.

Each and every aspect of the nursery has been carefully considered to support the coherent curriculum. Children take part in stimulating activities that ignite their curiosity and motivation to learn. Young children show great fascination as they explore different textures. An array of different aromas fill the air, purposefully placed for children to smell. Children demonstrate patience when attempting to operate equipment. They effortlessly rise to the challenge and show great perseverance as they learn to press the button on a light switch. Children further develop their physical skills as they carefully balance and walk in slippery paint and stomp and jump in dough. Older children operate electronic equipment with ease and explore with magnets what components and items they can attract. Children continually make connections and have opportunities to repeat and master skills across all the areas of learning.

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

• The leadership team is inspirational and has a clear and effective vision. This is paired with all staff being very competent and highly skilled. Staff are confident in their own teaching abilities and all have an amazing knowledge of how children learn and develop. Staff have an abundance of training opportunities to continually build on their fantastic knowledge and skills. They are extremely reflective and continually make changes and improvements to their practice. Staff have a fantastic drive and dedication to ensure that they offer the highest standard of care and learning experiences possible to children.
• Staff implement an incredibly ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum. They get to know all the children remarkably well and what skills they have already achieved. Staff take into consideration the children's age and stage of development and plan experiences that will follow their interests. Additionally, children take trips out on public transport and participate in extra-curricular activities, such as French and Spanish lessons. This helps provide children with a greater understanding of the world. Children are very well prepared for their future learning.
• Systems to assess children's learning and development are thorough, well embedded and are consistently carried out. Furthermore, meetings take place with other professionals and parents. Specific strategies are put in place and regularly reviewed. Additional funding is used to support children's individual needs well. As a result, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are making exceptional progress and any gaps that are identified are narrowing rapidly.
• Children have an abundance of opportunities to access a wide range of books and develop a love of reading from a young age. Children sit with staff as they read their favourite stories. They watch, listen and respond to questions asked. From this, they demonstrate a clear understanding of the purpose of books. Children mimic what they see staff do, babble as they read and use their fingers to follow the print. Older children are using an exceptional level of vocabulary and are confident communicators. They ask questions and are very inquisitive to learn more. Children's communication and language are promoted extremely well.
• Children thrive in social situations. During lunchtime, the noise of fantastic chatter and interesting conversations can be heard. Children set up tables, discuss how many chairs and plates are needed and pour and serve their own food. They wash their hands, wipe their own faces and independently dress themselves. Children demonstrate extreme levels of self-esteem and independence and know the importance of keeping themselves healthy.
• Partnerships with parents are extremely strong. There is an abundance of opportunities for parents to be involved and contribute to their child's development. For example, they attend regular parents' evenings and stay-and-play days. Parents' comments are extremely positive. For example, parents say that the managers and staff are 'absolutely fantastic' and 'wonderful'.