Fingertips Woodland Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this highly welcoming and nurturing nursery. Learning opportunities outdoors are particularly rich and children benefit from an exciting and stimulating range of outdoor experiences. Staff plan carefully for children's learning needs but also give children a big voice in what they want to do and when. Children become deeply involved in things that interest them. For example, they decide to extend their play with water. They choose to add soap and predict how many pumps of soap will make how many bubbles. They find out that three pumps of soap make 'too many bubbles', and conclude that they can use the soapy water to clean the mud kitchen. This turns into a highly cooperative group activity as they invite other children into their imaginative game.

Children immerse themselves in stories. Staff present stories through games and lively activities. For example, staff and children act out 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff'. Children eagerly anticipate their turn to be the troll and play the character with enthusiasm. They carry the stories with them throughout the day, for example, as they later build a bridge and a cave for the troll. Staff help children to extend and test out their own ideas. Children study the pictures in the book and then fetch string and blocks to make the bridge resemble the picture. Children know more and remember more over time as they are given the freedom to explore their unique ideas to their full conclusion.

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

• Leaders build an ambitious curriculum that responds to the needs of all children who attend. Staff and leaders have thorough knowledge of what each child can already do, what they need to learn next and why this is important. The staff team works together, so that any staff member can support any child's development. Leaders have an extremely clear and ambitious vision for the future practice of the setting. They enable all staff to share their feelings and views to be known in the nursery. Staff report that they feel fully supported and that they love working at the nursery. This has a positive impact on the children, as they are cared for by staff who enjoy their work and throw themselves into the things the children choose to do.
• Children's behaviour is exemplary. They learn from the great respect that staff show to children and each other. Children are very clear about the rules and boundaries of the pre-school and staff give them time to watch and consider before they take part in something. This helps children to consider and manage risks. For example, they take care to climb a tree, with staff nearby should they need them. Children know where the footholds are to climb safely. Children's opportunities to take managed risks are underpinned by thorough risk assessments. Staff take great steps to make sure all areas remain safe. Children show great care for other living creatures. They hold snails protectively as they show them to visitors. They whisper when they speak, so that they do not frighten the snails.
• Staff focus especially closely on children's communication and language skills. Children rapidly develop their language as staff help them to hear and use new words throughout the day. They work closely with any outside professionals involved in children's care and this helps to give children consistent messages and support. This, coupled with staff's exacting assessment of children's needs, means that they identify and tackle any gaps in children's development as soon as possible. All children, including those who may need extra support, make rapid progress and are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage in their learning. This includes those who will shortly move to school.
• Partnerships with parents are highly valued and thoroughly promoted. All parents report that they have the highest regard for the nursery where their children thrive. Children are allowed to develop and play at their own pace and staff have respect for their views and interests. Children show extremely high levels of independence and staff encourage them to try things for themselves wherever possible. For example, children change their clothes from outdoor play, lead their own play and eagerly join in tidying up the spaces that they use. Children are extremely confident and know that their own ideas and feelings are valued. They are exceptionally well settled and benefit from extremely secure relationships with staff and each other.