Highwood Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happily and separate from their parents with ease. Staff help children to settle and place a strong focus on their happiness and well-being. They know the children well and respond to their needs and interests with enthusiasm. Staff spend time talking to parents to find out how the children are. As a result, children feel safe and secure.

Staff plan a broad curriculum based on children's developmental needs and interests. They use information from settling-in visits and observations as a baseline. This helps staff plan an effective programme for the children. Staff provide many opportunities for children to develop their fine motor skills. For example, younger children enjoy squeezing pipettes during water play. Older children enjoy sensory experiences linked to their favourite story, 'The Gruffalo'. They use tweezers and spoons to pick up and explore the 'scrambled snake' and 'roast fox'. Staff use activities as an opportunity to introduce new language to the children. For example, they include the words 'solid' and 'liquid' as children explore the different types of glue. This helps to develop children's communication skills and extend their vocabulary.

Staff use praise and encouragement to support learning. There are clear expectations, and children understand the rules and boundaries. As a result, behaviour is good. Staff intervene sensitively during any minor altercations. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress from their starting points.

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

• Leadership and management are good. Staff value the relationship they have with the college. They proudly share that they were recently awarded 'team of the year'. Staff report their well-being is good and managers support them in their roles. They discuss children's individual needs and their own professional development during supervision sessions. There is a commitment to gain additional skills. For example, staff have recently undertaken training to learn more about children's schemas. They use this knowledge to further develop their provision. Training helps to ensure staff are familiar with the latest information and updates in early years.
• Skilled staff use expression extremely well to engage children in familiar books. They read stories to the children enthusiastically, providing lots of encouragement. For example, children join in excitedly as staff take them on a 'bear hunt'. This helps to develop children's communication skills and understanding of literacy.
• Staff provide children with some opportunities to be creative. For example, children access a range of resources. However, art activities tend to be adult-directed with a focus on similar-looking end products. Children do not have opportunities to express themselves and use their own imagination, skills and creativity during these activities.
• Staff help children to understand the importance of leading healthy lives. They undertake the 'daily mile' to encourage children's physical development and access to the outdoors. Staff teach children to wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet. This helps children to understand the importance of good hygiene and healthy lifestyles.
• Staff provide many opportunities to promote children's confidence and independence. Children demonstrate positive attitudes to learning and persevere in their play. For example, children work together to build ramps for their vehicles and to construct towers with the large bricks.
• Partnerships with other providers are good. Staff work effectively with other agencies and local schools. This helps to ensure children receive the best support that is tailored to meet their needs at the right time. Consequently, children receive early help to support their progress, and transitions to other settings are effective.
• Partnerships with parents are good. Staff find out about children's interests and development during settling-in sessions. They share ongoing information about children's development with parents using an online platform. Parents are complimentary of nursery staff. They comment on the progress their children have made. Parents value the ideas and activities to help support their children's learning at home. This joined-up approach helps to enable children's continued growth.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to consistently provide children with opportunities to freely express their own creative ideas.