Holly House Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Leaders have worked tirelessly to create a very warm and welcoming environment. Children continuously demonstrate that they feel happy, safe and secure. They have developed strong attachments with staff who are patient and nurturing in their approach. Children behave well. They play collaboratively together and show kindness and concerns for others. Staff offer children praise and warmly celebrate children's efforts. For example, as babies explore paint, staff sensitively encourage them to feel the texture and begin to make marks. Toddlers explore shapes as they make a face on their pumpkins with circles and squares. Pre-school children are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas, and staff listen intently. This practice helps to raise children's levels of confidence and self-esteem, and as such, children have a very strong sense of belonging and a positive attitude to learning.

Staff have high expectations and plan a curriculum that reflects children's individual interests. They work closely with parents to gather detailed information about children's interests, existing skills and abilities. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are not able to go into the nursery currently. However, staff have worked hard to ensure that parents are kept up to date regarding their child's learning and development. They have successfully maintained communication and have used many different strategies to ensure that partnerships with parents continue to be a real strength.

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

• Staff provide a wide range of stimulating activities and resources. Children thoroughly enjoy investigating and exploring. For instance, young children bake biscuits as part of their Halloween activities. They develop good listening and attention skills and follow instructions well. Older children learn about the skeletal system and are able to identify key features, such as their spine, ribs and skull. However, not all staff fully understand the importance of sequential learning and building coherently on children's existing knowledge and skills. For example, sometimes, activities are too challenging for children or their next steps in learning are not always appropriate.
• Staff focus intently on supporting children's communication and language development. They skilfully differentiate their approach, for example, by using simple instructions or asking open-ended questions. Staff working with babies and toddlers ensure they use repetition to aid their understanding and to build on their growing vocabularies. Pre-school staff successfully use descriptive language as they narrate children's play. Furthermore, they check children's understanding and offer explanations. For example, when children hear the word 'strict' in a story, staff ask them what they think it means. As a result, children are becoming successful and confident communicators and are developing skills needed for their future learning.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive high levels of support. Knowledgeable staff work seamlessly with a wealth of professionals, such as speech therapists, specialist teachers and health partners. This ensures that children receive the timely support that they need. As a result, children are making good progress from their starting points.
• Children have good opportunities to develop key skills for life, such as independence. They enjoy the responsibility of looking after their environment as they help to tidy up resources. Children successfully manage their own personal care routines. For example, all children understand the importance of regular handwashing, especially before mealtimes. Children enjoy being physically active. They engage in energetic outdoor play, regardless of the weather. The outdoor space provides many opportunities for children to develop their gross motor skills, coordination and balance.
• The providers are knowledgeable and passionate practitioners who lead a team of enthusiastic and dedicated staff. They carry out a range of activities that support staff to develop their teaching and ongoing professional development. Supervision meetings are effective and provide staff with opportunities to discuss and reflect upon their practice. Leaders complete thorough observations and reviews of each room as part of their drive for continuous improvement. Staff comment positively on the supportive and friendly leadership team. Collectively they share good practice ideas and carry out professional research that contributes to positive outcomes for children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to strengthen their understanding of how to build successfully on children's existing skills and abilities and precisely identify next steps in learning.