First Steps

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive smiling and quickly separate from their parents. Leaders and staff create a very warm and nurturing environment, where children are at the heart of everything they do and thrive. They are prompted to make their own choices of activities and resources to explore, indoors or in the large, stimulating garden. For example, when children express a particular interest in superheroes, staff provide dressing-up costumes and encourage them to engage in pretend play. As children play a role in this game and giggle with excitement, the nurturing staff ensure they take turns and share resources well. This helps supports children's imaginative skills and strengthens their social interactions.

Staff are very supportive and intuitive about children's needs. They have high expectations of children who are confident to follow the nursery's routines and boundaries exceptionally well. Children behave well and display good manners. For example, at snack time, young children are supported to make their own choices of fruits, while older children are encouraged to pour their own drinks. Staff and leaders continuously offer praise and recognition for children's efforts. As a result, children become positive and independent learners who show they feel valued during their time at the nursery.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to consistently adapt their interactions to extend children's learning further.