Family Tree Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are safe and secure in this nursery with a home-from-home, family feel. Staff create a stimulating environment which is centred around the children's interests. Children independently explore the areas, accessing favoured activities. For example, children play with the 'builder's kit'; they use the hammer to bang the nails. Children develop their small-muscle skills as they use their fingers to twist nuts and bolts together.

Children have strong bonds with all staff at the nursery. They enjoy cuddles with their key person when they need reassurance. Children enjoy playing with staff. They excitedly engage in highly animated interactions as they crawl through the tunnel and say 'boo'. Children giggle and are keen to repeat the play.

Children display good behaviour. They laugh together as they take turns putting shapes into the shape sorting dinosaur. Children have very good manners. They use these throughout their daily routine and when asking for more at mealtimes. Children learn to become independent. They serve their own lunch, wipe their own faces and get themselves ready for sleep times. Staff praise and encourage children, resulting in high levels of confidence.

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

• The manager and staff have reflected on weaknesses identified at the last inspection and have made positive changes. For example, the manager has worked with her team to upskill their knowledge of safeguarding. Staff are now much more confident and knowledgeable of how to identify any concerns and how to follow these up where required.
• Mealtimes are used as an opportunity for children to engage in conversation with their friends and share their experiences from home. For example, children discuss their holidays to the beach and what they did at the weekend. Children listen to each other and wait for their friends to finish before they speak.
• Staff are good role models for the children. They speak to children respectfully. During care-giving routines, staff ask the children if they can wipe their nose and change their nappy. As a result, children are very compliant and happy to engage with these routines.
• The manager and staff provide a curriculum tailored to the interests of each child and their individual needs. They monitor their curriculum closely to ensure all children make good progress and identify if they require additional support. This helps children make good progress in their learning.
• Staff plan activities based on the children's interest. Staff use the interests of the children to extend their learning. For example, the children intently engage with story time; they listen to a favourite book. Staff ask questions about what they can see and what might happen next. Though, on occasion, activities are not planned appropriately to include and meet the needs of the youngest children.
• Children are curious and highly engaging with play and learning. Several children play with the dolls and teddies; they enjoy changing the doll's nappy. Children talk together about what they need to do. They work together, sharing ideas. They say 'we need wipes' as they change the doll's nappy. Staff skilfully extend the play by asking children questions and revisiting what they know already. Children are confident and secure with their response.
• Skilled staff provide an environment that is rich with language. Staff provide a narrative for children during play. They use sign language to support younger children's communication. Children begin to use this to request 'more' or say they are 'finished'. Staff introduce mathematical language into daily routines. For example, when building with interlocking blocks, staff ask children if they can name colours and find the 'same' colours as their clothing. They use 'big' and 'little' to describe the spoons at mealtimes. As a result, children have good language and communication skills.
• Parents speak highly of the nursery. They report their children have made good progress since starting and that there is good communication from the staff. Parents are kept well informed with their child's learning and day at nursery and their children love attending.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• ensure staff consider how they can best meet the needs of the youngest children so they are ready for their next steps in learning.