Fennies Oxted

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Warm and trusting relationships are evident between adults and children. Children talk confidently to adults and engage them in their play. For instance, children engaged the inspector in play, inviting her to choose food from the takeaway menu.

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, (SEND), receive good support. Parents are signposted to the support of external professionals, such as speech therapists. This helps to support the progress of children with SEND.

Children's demonstrate good levels of independence. For example, they choose toys and activities from the wide range of available resources. From a very early age, children learn to use cutlery to independently feed themselves. Children learn to use simple tools efficiently and independently. For instance, they show great concentration as they carefully use scissors to cut leaves for their 'herb gardens'.

The manager meets regularly with her staff to discuss their practice, safeguarding knowledge and training needs. Staff have access to a wide range of training. This helps to further build on their skills and knowledge to support children's progress.

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

• Overall, staff identify starting points, plan appropriate activities and assess and monitor progress to plan further activities to develop learning. Leaders have high expectations and, overall, children make good progress. Some, but not all, staff are unclear about what they want children to learn during the planned activity.
• Most, but not all, members of staff skilfully question children to help to support children's thinking skills. At times, staff do not allow children time to process their thoughts and respond to questions.
• Children's sensory development is supported well. For instance, in the baby room, young children can walk on tiles which change colour. They delight in the feel of the purple foam and the soapy water. Older children enjoy the feel of play dough as they press pasta shapes into it.
• Children make links in their learning and recall previous learning. For example, when planting sunflower seeds, they remember that plants need soil, water and light to grow and can name the common parts of a plant, such as stem, petals and leaves.
• Children's speech and language is well supported. Staff speak clearly and repeat words and phrases back to children to support their emerging pronunciation skills. The youngest children delight in using the musical instruments to accompany their singing to well known songs and rhymes. Older children giggle as they dance to songs, such as 'Jelly on a plate'.
• Children of all ages enjoy books. As they move through the nursery, they learn that print moves from left to right and listen to stories with increasing levels of concentration. Staff help children to recognise diversity. For instance, children observe a character in a book with a disability and staff point out we are not all the same.
• Staff encourage children to make friends. For instance, prior to the pandemic, nursery staff took the children to the library to meet with other local children. Staff led 'rhyme time' sessions to help to support early reading skills.
• There are good partnerships with parents. Parents are pleased with how well their children settle into the nursery. They actively contribute to the online learning platform. Parents say they help to establish children's starting points and are kept informed about their child's next steps in learning. Due to COVID- 19, (coronavirus) restrictions, parents are not currently admitted into the nursery, but staff provide a wealth of resources to support home learning.
• Children develop their mark-making and early writing skills as they progress through the nursery. Young children learn to use brushes to spread paint while others enjoy creating dinosaur footprints outside. Older children use cotton buds to create sunflower pictures.
• Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. Children enjoy learning. They behave well, share, take turns and follow established routines. For example, after washing their hands, toddlers go to sit at the table for lunch. Older children drink from their water bottles and know to return it to its place.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to consistently plan and organise activities which provide clear learning intent
• strengthen staff use of questioning and allow children time to process their thoughts to help to support children's critical thinking skills.