Heaton Park Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive extremely excited and eager to play at this wonderfully nurturing and safe nursery. They form exceptionally strong bonds with staff, who welcome each child warmly with huge smiles and an abundance of affection. Children are cared for by kind and nurturing staff, who know them tremendously well as individuals. Children are incredibly content and confident, they thrive in this loving, child-centred environment. Children continuously demonstrate that they feel safe and secure.

Children are ready to learn and are extremely motivated and engaged. Every room throughout the nursery is a hive of activity. Staff construct a rich and highly ambitious curriculum that continuously builds on children's existing skills and abilities. They have wonderfully high expectations of what children can achieve and, as a result, all children excel from their starting points. This includes children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those that speak English as an additional language. Children of all ages make excellent links in their learning. For example, children have been exploring pumpkins as part of their understanding about harvest and Halloween. Pre-school children comment that their tangerine looks like a pumpkin and recall a recent 'tangerine challenge'. Children proudly share with the inspector that they are now able to peel a tangerine independently as a result of the 'challenge' set by the encouraging staff.

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They play harmoniously together, instinctively sharing resources and taking turns with little reminders required from staff. Older children understand rules and describe how they must have 'kind hands' and 'kind words'. Young children understand routine and eagerly help to tidy away resources. A culture of respect is clearly embedded throughout the nursery.

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

• Children develop an exceptional understanding of the world around them and the community in which they live. They participate in fundraising activities where they learn about those less fortunate than themselves. Children positively explore similarities and differences among people, understanding the importance of respect, tolerance and kindness. Children care for the environment as they engage in litter picking activities and learn about the importance of recycling. Celebrations reflect children's individual culture and heritage.
• Staff inspire children to learn, effortlessly creating awe and wonder, which results in children being highly absorbed in the activities available. Staff pay meticulous attention to children's individual interests. For example, following a child's keenness to explore fire engines, staff teach children how to keep themselves safe and what to do in the event of a fire. Consequently, children develop critical life skills as they learn to call 999 in an emergency situation.
• Inspired consideration is given to ensuring that each child has a voice and that their opinion is considered and highly valued. Throughout the nursery day, children are continually encouraged to make choices. For example, young children vote to have a song bag or a story. Older children vote for representatives to form a special 'children's council'. This outstanding practice helps to ensure that children are able to contribute their ideas and suggestions and highlights their strong sense of belonging and self-worth.
• The manager is passionate and highly knowledgeable. She leads an enthusiastic and dedicated staff team, who are highly driven in ensuring that every child has the very best possible start in life. Staff truly benefit from a robust cycle of support, coaching and purposeful training. 'Reflection flowers' are completed to assess the impact of training and ensure that any emerging gaps are swiftly addressed. Stringent observations of practice and critical reflection is embedded in practice. This ensures a relentless drive for continuous improvement. Furthermore, staff's well-being is given the utmost priority. This means that children are cared for by extremely happy staff, who feel highly valued and appreciated.
• Partnerships with parents and other professionals are tremendous. Staff are superbly sensitive to families' individual needs and have created a wealth of resources to support parents. They pride themselves on the robust relationships that they have established and this contributes significantly to the continuity in children's care and education. Parents' comments are overwhelmingly positive. They share with pride the progress that their children have made since attending and describe their experience as 'amazing' and 'outstanding'.