Hurley Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children and parents receive a warm welcome from staff on arrival. Children engage well with their learning at this inclusive nursery. Staff provide a calm and nurturing environment, which enables children to feel safe and secure. Children who are new to the nursery receive warm reassurance from caring staff. They settle quickly and demonstrate their strong bonds with their key person. Staff know the children extremely well and are attentive to their needs. They provide lots of cuddles and give children praise. As a result, children are confident to explore and show a positive attitude to their learning.

Children display a very keen interest in their play. They also learn to make decisions about what they want to do. For example, children spend a long time exploring with different role-play resources in the home corner and use their imaginations effectively to bring their ideas to life. Children enjoy their time in the fun-filled outdoor environment. They navigate the obstacle course, use wheeled toys, jump, balance and kick and throw balls. Staff support children to develop good communication and language skills. Children borrow books from the library and take these home to share with their parents. Staff talk to children during all activities to enhance children's knowledge and communication skills.

Staff have a consistent approach to managing children's behaviour. This helps children to feel safe, secure and listened to. Children behave well. For example, they listen to instructions when it is time to tidy up. Staff help children to understand about taking turns and to share toys from an early age.

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

• Staff watch children closely to find out what they know and can do. They plan in-the-moment activities to help children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, build on their knowledge. Staff work closely with parents and liaise well with other professionals to get children the early help they need. Children make good progress in their development and are well prepared for the next stage of learning and their move on to school.
• Staff provide a stimulating learning environment for children of all ages. They provide quiet spaces for children to listen to stories or for specific teaching, such as small-group activities. However, occasionally, staff do not consistently use opportunities to promote children's concentration and engagement during all focused activities.
• Children happily explore and experiment using a good range of different materials, such as wood to develop carpentry skills. They enjoy planting seeds in the garden, and they regularly water them and watch them grow. Children then pick the fruit and vegetables and eat them with their meals at nursery. This enhances children's understanding about where food comes from and why it is important to care for the environment.
• Children and staff sit and eat together at mealtimes. Staff prepare healthy food on site each day, and children eat heartily. Staff model how to use cutlery and support children's lively conversations. They discuss healthy eating and why it is important to exercise. Children develop a positive attitude to food and behave courteously at the table. They learn about good dental hygiene and happily brush their teeth after meals.
• Children spend a long time at the sensory tray. They use their magnifying glasses to find pretend insects and bugs buried in the sand and water. Staff encourage children to count the number of insects they dig up and display them in coloured sequence.
• Staff place a strong emphasis on developing children's speech and language skills. They place a particular emphasis on expanding children's emotional vocabulary from a young age. Staff support children to express how they are feeling, either with words or using visual picture cards.
• Children go on regular outings in the local community. They learn about the people who help them, different cultures, backgrounds and family types. Staff use these trips to help children gain an excellent understanding of people, communities and the wider world.
• The manager ensures that staff maintain constant communication with parents and that staff share ideas to extend children's learning at home. Parents speak highly of managers and staff and of the support they provide to children and their families. They say that staff work well to make sure that children are settled and self-assured. Parents appreciate the extra lengths staff go to so they have a good knowledge of their children's individual care needs and family circumstances.
• Staff receive regular supervision to help to improve their teaching and strengthen their skills. Managers provide ongoing training and respect staff's well-being. Staff feel well supported by managers and are happy in their roles.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to plan group activities to support all children's concentration and engagement further.