Great Ormond Street Hospital Staff Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this nurturing environment. They form strong bonds with staff and from these secure attachments, children feel safe and confident to explore and discover. Children behave very well. They demonstrate good manners and understand what is expected of them. Children learn to respect one another and recognise their individuality and diversity. They play harmoniously and develop strong friendships.

Staff have high expectations for children. Children who need extra help are very well supported. For instance, staff develop and implement personalised and targeted plans for them, with parents and outside professionals. Children make good progress and are well prepared for the next stage in their education. This includes children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language.

Nursery routines and resources are carefully planned, to support children at different stages in their development. Children show positive attitudes to their play and learning. Babies quickly learn how to enjoy books. They are highly curious and absorbed, as they turn pages and lift flaps to discover pictures. Older children listen intently to stories read by adults. They remember what they have heard and retell favourite stories using their own words, as they look at books by themselves.

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

• Staff have worked hard to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. For example, to minimise the virus spreading, parents do not currently enter the building. However, leaders and staff have found other ways, such as emails and conversations outdoors, to share information about children with parents. Some children have been unable to attend nursery during the pandemic. Staff have maintained contact with their families, to support children's learning and check on their well-being.
• Children show pleasure in being independent and learning to care for themselves. They learn to use cutlery, pour their own drinking water and drink from an open cup. Children like being healthy and active. Older children know they must wash their hands regularly to clean off any germs. They speak about going outside for exercise and fresh air. Children enjoy nutritious food at mealtimes and discuss their favourite fruits and vegetables.
• Leaders and staff have a clear intent of what they want children to learn. They plan the curriculum well to ensure that children progress through the different stages in learning and are well prepared to move on to school. Staff say that they want children to be curious and enthusiastic learners. They help children to understand the world around them and teach them how to keep themselves safe.
• Leaders value everyone's contribution to the nursery and are continually looking at ways to improve. They have recently reviewed the daily routines for each room, to help children get the most out of their time at nursery. Staff say they feel valued and supported by leaders and there is a strong team spirit. They are professionally qualified and attend ongoing training, to enhance their management skills and help them keep children safe. However, staff are not always as well supported to reflect on and develop the ways that they teach children.
• Staff know their individual children well and talk about them with great affection and interest. In general, staff support children's learning effectively. As children play, staff introduce different words and encourage them to try out new things. They listen to their ideas and support their interests. However, staff do not always meet children's individual learning needs as effectively during group times. For instance, some staff-led activities are too simple, or children have to wait too long for their turn. Therefore, children lose interest or find it hard to concentrate.
• Children are excited to learn. They confidently talk to adults and make choices about what they want to do. Babies persevere as they learn how to climb onto and over baby-gym equipment. Toddlers joyfully explore sounds and movements at music time and older children thoughtfully create interesting pieces of art.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen further the systems for staff supervision and professional development, to support staff in planning group activities which meet all children's needs.