Hopscotch Nursery

Inclusion: Strong standard

Children consistently experience inclusive practice. Leaders and staff are committed to providing a welcoming and inviting environment for all children, including children who face barriers to their learning. Staff are highly skilled in their interactions and have a detailed knowledge of child development. This results in children's individual needs being swiftly identified. Detailed assessments are shared with parents and external agencies to ensure that children receive the appropriate support. This has a positive impact on children's outcomes and supports them to reach their full potential.

Targeted interventions take place throughout the nursery. Personalised routines help children to build their confidence, helping them to work and play alongside other children and begin to understand what is expected of them. Staff are highly effective in providing support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders ensure that staff receive the necessary training and knowledge to successfully fulfil their roles.

Leaders work hard to include families in children's learning. High priority is given to ensure that there is an inclusive and consistent approach that helps to ensure continuity of care between staff at the nursery, families and any external agencies.

Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard

One of the unique strengths of the nursery is the teaching of skills and attributes that cannot be measured in academic terms. There is a strong focus on children gathering the skills that are needed for beyond school and for future life. Children are taught the skills to enable them to play collaboratively, be resilient and have the ability to persevere. The curriculum is well sequenced and ambitious. Children make sustained progress in their mathematical, literacy and communication skills. Staff expertly and intentionally weave these academic aspects into everyday routines and play. Babies are learning to count on their fingers, and older children are encouraged to share and 'read' books to their friends. Children thrive in the outdoor play experiences and opportunities to develop their physical skills. They are taught about the natural world and current topics, such as how and why we must look after the planet. Children demonstrate a remarkable maturity in their approach to tasks. They persevere and do not easily give up when challenges occur. They work in teams with other children and listen intently when adults speak to them.

Children who face barriers to their learning are able to fully participate and thrive. They enjoy friendships with other children and being able to contribute their own ideas. Staff's quality teaching and the time they invest in each child strongly support children's confidence, independence and social communication.

Achievement: Strong standard

Children make significant and sustained progress as a result of attending the nursery. This includes children who face barriers to their learning and children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. All children make excellent progress from their starting points. Children, including the very youngest, thrive in the language-rich environment. They engage in meaningful conversation with staff and their friends. Babies repeat back words to staff, who provide them with ample time to respond. They are carefully guided to develop their future walking skills, and staff encourage and create space for babies to practise. Babies squeal with delight when praised for doing something for the first time, such as using a spoon or taking a few steps. Older children's successes are consistently celebrated by staff and other children. They clap and cheer and shout 'you can do it!' when their friends successfully navigate obstacles during outdoor play. Children are extremely confident in their own abilities and are ready for the next learning stage, such as moving on to school.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Strong standard

Leaders and staff consistently model high expectations for all children. The firm routines support children's understanding of what is happening next. This supports children's emotional wellbeing and transitions. Children thrive on the praise and encouragement that they receive from staff. This contributes significantly to their positive behaviour, confidence and self-esteem. Staff are kind and gentle and are excellent role models. They purposely create a calm and respectful environment. The warm and trusting relationships help children to care both for the environment and for each other. Children are thoughtful and kind. They are beginning to regulate their feelings and manage conflicts. Staff praise them for kindness shown towards each other.

Children are very focused on their learning. They arrive at the nursery full of anticipation and expectation. Staff know children well and adapt activities and experiences to meet children's age and stage of development. Children who face barriers to their learning are provided with a targeted and enhanced package of support that contributes to their sustained progress across all areas of learning.

Leaders work effectively with families to ensure that children attend regularly and on time. This helps parents to understand that their children benefit from their time at the nursery.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Leaders and staff have a highly effective approach that supports children to successfully develop skills for the future. Staff swiftly identify and provide extra support for those children who face barriers to their learning, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff consistently prioritise children's wellbeing. They ensure that children's dignity and privacy is considered during intimate care routines. Staff demonstrate a clear passion for working with younger children, and this contributes to children's high sense of belonging and wellbeing. Ongoing interactions between staff and children are purposeful and excellent.

Children are learning how to think about their own safety, such as when on trips in the community. They understand basic road safety and know that they must keep within the boundaries when playing in the woodland. This helps children to fully benefit from all play and learning experiences and thoroughly enjoy participating in activities safely. Additional one-to-one support is provided for children with SEND so that they are fully included and benefit from all experiences.

Children have access to daily exercise, including soft-play opportunities. They enjoy a nutritious diet that helps them to understand the importance of healthy foods. Staff are extremely vigilant to ensure children's safety at all times, particularly during mealtimes and when children are sleeping.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

Leaders are totally dedicated to their staff team. They value the contribution that staff make to the success of the nursery. Leaders ensure that they thoughtfully consider staff's wellbeing and workloads, which helps to provide the best possible outcomes for children. Staff feed back that the nursery is a wonderful place to work, and they appreciate that leaders are invested in them and their future careers. Staff are actively supported to progress through the company and engage in further training to increase their knowledge. They are motivated to explore further areas for professional development.

Leaders are extremely reflective and have a robust knowledge of how to identify their strengths and any areas that they may need to develop further. They understand how to support staff to provide quality and purposeful teaching for all children. Leaders monitor staff practice, which allows them to identify further training to equip staff with the knowledge to meet children's unique needs, including the needs of children who face barriers to their learning.

Leaders provide parents with flexibility to suit their needs and/or circumstances. They ensure that children and families are at the heart of all decisions. Leaders regularly meet with parents to establish a package of support. Families are invited into the setting, and leaders make sure that families are included in social events, such as a beach clean-up, information evenings and social events. This approach helps parents to meet and forge friendships with other parents. Leaders ensure that the nursery is very supportive for parents in the local community. They are committed to providing experiences that children may not have previously benefited from. Children take trips on buses to visit museums, visit the shops to buy fruits for snacks and contribute to community events.