Gershwin Park Day Nursery School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children delight in spending time at this exceptional nursery. They flourish and make rapid progress in their development. They arrive excited and eager to learn. Children have established strong bonds with their key persons and leave their parents with ease. The whole nursery is centred around the children and is exceptionally calm and welcoming. The early years educators are passionate about their role and are caring and attentive. Children quickly become absorbed in their play. Superb supervision is in place to support children as they decide where they want to play. They can flow freely from indoors to outdoors and become engrossed in the wealth of learning opportunities provided. For example, children immerse themselves in the growing garden. They take great pride and tell visitors to the setting about the vegetables and plants they grow and explain how they must take care of them. They squeal with delight when they find bugs and worms in the earth. Skilful staff respond to their excitement and offer magnifiers to help their search. Children's thinking is challenged as the early years educators engage them in meaningful conversation about the environment.

A wealth of opportunities are available for the children to learn about their emotions through sharply focused well-planned activities. They learn to regulate their feelings and use small mats to sit comfortably if they feel they want their own space or some quiet time. They are taught the language they need to express themselves, and focused activities, such as yoga and mindfulness sessions, help children's emotional and social development. All children understand the high expectations of the nursery and their behaviour is excellent.

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

• The exceptionally well-planned curriculum supports children's enthusiasm to learn. The curriculum is securely embedded in practice both indoors and within the outdoor classroom. Strategies are embedded in practice to ensure inclusion. This means all children, including children who require additional support and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieve the best possible outcomes and are superbly prepared for their future learning.
• Babies flourish in the home-from-home, calm environment. Their individual routine and care needs are superbly supported by the nurturing and caring staff. Babies move around with ease and have immense fun enjoying the sensory experience of water play. They splash and catch fish using small nets. Babies are confident and have close bonds with their key persons. They crawl into cosy spaces and enjoy the quality toys provided. They are offered lots of encouragement and praise for their efforts.
• Children are confident speakers. They are inquisitive and ask lots of questions. All children, including those who are bilingual or who speak English as an additional language, make excellent progress. The early years educators are skilful in engaging children in conversation and provide a running commentary during activities. They understand the importance of asking open-ended questions and allow children ample time to think and respond. They are very good role models and speak to the children with respect and kindness. Children are provided with a language-rich environment. Careful consideration is given to ensure that play areas are designed to encourage and prompt conversation.
• Parents say they are impressed with the kindness, compassion and support their children receive. They comment that their children thrive and make excellent progress, are confident and thoroughly enjoy their time at nursery. They comment that their children receive outstanding care. Parents say that their children have developed their confidence since attending nursery and that the early years educators demonstrate they genuinely care. They say that they can leave their children, feeling reassured that they are safe.
• The early years educators are led by a truly inspirational management team. The management staff's commitment, dedication and professionalism to provide children with outstanding care and teaching opportunities is infectious. The team members work exceptionally well together. Their continuous professional development and their well-being is thoroughly considered. All early years educators, including apprentices, speak with enthusiasm of their ambition and passion for their role. They comment that their contribution is valued and they thoroughly enjoy their time at work.
• The excellent practice at the nursery is worthy of sharing. The nursery has established positive links with outside agencies, schools and other early years settings involved in the care of the children to ensure a consistent collaborative approach. Superb opportunities, resources and support are in place for parents to continue their children's learning at home. For example, an extensive range of activity bags, lending library and training links.