In The Woods

Inclusion: Strong standard

Leaders have established a strong culture of inclusion across the setting. Staff identify children's individual needs at the earliest opportunity through robust observation, assessment and ongoing review. Staff attend a wide range of training. This enables them to identify and implement the precise strategy to use to reflect the unique needs of each child. They act promptly when approaches may need further adaptations and adjustments to reduce barriers to children's learning and well-being.

Leaders work closely with parents, external professionals and other relevant agencies to secure appropriate interventions and shape children's support plans. Staff regularly review these to evaluate the impact of strategies and adapt provision swiftly where needed. As a result, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make steady progress from their starting points.

Leaders use funding strategically to enhance experiences and provide additional resources and targeted support for disadvantaged children. This contributes to narrowing gaps in children's learning and promoting their confidence and engagement. They maintain highly effective oversight of the progress of all children who attend the setting. This ensures that timely support is in place and that children receive the stability and nurture they need to thrive.

Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard

Leaders and staff have an accurate understanding of the curriculum. It is flexibly designed to meet the needs of all children, including those who speak English as an additional language and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Regular reflections and reviews of the provision enable staff to make informed improvements to strengthen outcomes for all children.

The planning and implementation for children with SEND and those who may face other barriers to learning are precisely coordinated and effective. However, in other respects, teaching is sometimes inconsistent. Some staff lack the confidence to adapt their interactions to build on children's interest in activities to extend their learning. For example, during some group activities, staff do not recognise opportunities that arise to extend children's thinking beyond what they already know, to enable them to excel further in their learning.

Staff place an emphasis on developing children's language and mathematical skills. They model vocabulary during story sessions and encourage children to repeat familiar phrases. They teach mathematical concepts through counting songs and activities, such as measuring jumps, which also promote their physical development. Staff place a sharp focus on supporting children's personal, social and emotional development. They help children to build emotional resilience so that they feel safe, secure and confident in their learning.

Achievement: Expected standard

All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, develop a range of skills and knowledge from their starting points. Gaps in children's progress close rapidly and, as a result, they make sustained progress in all areas of learning.

Children develop their communication and language well through daily, positive interactions, such as at mealtimes. For example, children talk about the food they eat and what they enjoy about it. They develop a range of skills that help to to prepare them for the next stage of their learning, including moving on to school. Staff build children's confidence to try new things, such as participating in group activities or learning to sit at the table and use the cutlery correctly at mealtimes.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Expected standard

Leaders and staff establish a positive environment with clear expectations for behaviour. Staff communicate these expectations effectively and support children to understand routines. Children respond positively and demonstrate respectful attitudes towards adults and their peers. Staff provide age-appropriate guidance and consider children's stages of development when reinforcing expectations. As a result, children manage transitions well and engage purposefully in their learning.

Staff build warm, supportive relationships with children. They use consistent praise to reinforce positive behaviour and celebrate achievements across the setting. For example, children proudly share awards with all staff and peers, and they acknowledge their success, which strengthens children's confidence and self-esteem.

Staff actively support children to collaborate and develop friendships. Children work together to create stories using props. They negotiate roles and listen to each other's ideas. Staff encourage cooperation and model respectful communication, helping children to learn to get along with others. Leaders monitor attendance carefully and address concerns promptly with families to promote good attendance.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Staff very successfully promote children's welfare and emotional wellbeing. They form secure, nurturing relationships with their key children and respond promptly to their individual needs. Staff have a comprehensive understanding of how children's lived experiences influence their emotional development and learning. They prioritise building trusting and secure relationships so that children feel safe and settled before extending to other areas of learning. Staff understand that each child is unique. They skilfully adapt their interactions and the use of resources to support each child to make progress, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face other barriers to their learning.

Leaders and staff have a thorough knowledge of all the children who attend the setting. They implement clear, well-structured routines that support children's independence and engagement. Staff follow these routines consistently, ensuring that they meet all children's individual needs and promote a calm, purposeful environment. As a result, children develop secure, long lasting and healthy habits. For example, they learn about oral health and how to make healthy food choices. Staff consistently reinforce messages regarding healthy choices through daily play experiences and mealtime discussions, helping children to build essential knowledge that supports their wider development.

Leadership and governance: Expected standard

Leaders provide a clear vision for the nursery and demonstrate ambition for all children. They understand the setting's strengths and act promptly when they identify areas for improvement. Since the last inspection, leaders have focused on developing staff's knowledge and understanding around the training they receive. This has supported them to further develop opportunities with children's communication and language skills. For example, they recognise that the arrangements to support children who face barriers to their learning are a strength in the provision. Leaders do not always identify where further support is needed to ensure that teaching is consistently high quality across the setting.

Leaders make decisions that place all children's best interests at the centre of their work. They ensure that support plans are in place quickly when children face barriers to their learning or wellbeing. Staff report that supervision meetings are supportive and help them to reflect on their practice. They say that they are well supported in their role. Leaders use professional development to tailor training for staff according to the individual needs of the children they care for. For example, staff enthusiastically talk about how attending baby development training has further enabled them to better understand babies' varying needs. This contributes to a stable and motivated team.

Parents speak positively about the setting. They describe how their children thrive, and say they value the thoughtful, individualised support that staff provide. Staff share ideas to support children's learning at home. This partnership helps to ensure that children receive the best possible care and make secure progress.