Greenacres Thameside

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff are calm and relaxed, which is one of the notable strengths of this nursery. They create a welcoming environment that supports children's emotional well-being effectively. Staff teach children how to move around safely in the nursery to help keep them safe. All children display positive attitudes and behaviour. They play nicely with each other and take turns. Children are socially confident. They wave and greet visitors with a warm 'hello'. This shows that children are happy and feel secure.

Staff's curriculum places a strong emphasis on developing children's communication and language skills. Staff use various methods to encourage children to communicate, including sign language. This is highly effective for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Staff set high expectations for all children and work closely with other professionals, such as occupational therapists, to address any gaps in children's learning. The positive impact of staff's work is evident in children, such as in their physical development. Staff plan a wide range of outings to give children a first-time experience they might not otherwise have elsewhere. For example, a trip to a garden centre enabled children to explore how to buy fish for the nursery's aquarium.

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

• The management team has established a positive and impressive reputation in its community. The team, along with staff, works tirelessly to provide high-quality care and education for all children. This particularly benefits children with SEND and those who speak English as an additional language.
• Staff praise the constant support and accessibility of the management team, which helps maintain experienced and committed staff at the nursery. This, in turn, provides children with stability and consistency. Staff also appreciate the ongoing professional development opportunities that enhance their knowledge and skills. For instance, after receiving training, they have learned how to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere during mealtimes for children. This has led to improvements in children's social and independence skills.
• Parents and family members speak highly of staff's work. They describe staff as 'attentive' and 'caring', which contributes to their children's enjoyment of attending the nursery. Parents appreciate the support their children receive to ensure they make significant progress in their development. For example, disadvantaged and vulnerable children who had limited language skills are now capable of communicating verbally with others. Over time, these children have also honed their personal skills, which is evident during interactions with their peers.
• Staff use their observations and assessments of children's learning to plan a clear and rich curriculum. However, sometimes, they do not fully consider children's abilities and learning needs, particularly during group times. This means some children do not benefit as much from the learning experiences as others.
• Children, even the young ones, are developing their counting skills rapidly. They use numbers, such as when playing with toy bricks or cars, to demonstrate their increasing understanding of quantity.
• Outdoors, children use the equipment purposefully to practise their strength and balancing skills. They learn the names of herb plants, such as basil and parsley, which they enjoy planting and watering in the garden. Children develop a good knowledge of the natural world around them.
• Staff are dedicated to setting a positive example for all children. They provide guidance and support to help children understand and manage their feelings and emotions better. This helps children to behave well.
• Staff encourage children to wash their hands regularly to prevent the spread of infectious illnesses. They also ensure that children receive healthy snacks and meals. However, while staff have conversations with children about food, they miss opportunities to enhance children's understanding of healthy eating and the importance of good oral hygiene.
• The management team consists of determined and thoughtful professionals with a clear vision for the nursery. Since their registration, they have re-evaluated the use of play areas to enhance children's experiences, indoors and outdoors. This has increased children's motivation to explore the well-resourced environments.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• plan the curriculum even more effectively to ensure all children receive the right level of challenge
• build on opportunities for children to develop their understanding of healthy eating and good oral hygiene.