Kiddies' Cabin Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children make exceptional progress in all areas of learning at this nursery. They are supported by dedicated staff who have the highest expectations. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They remain calm and focused throughout the day. Children demonstrate their confidence and independence in abundance when engaged in learning. Children are highly inquisitive and show extremely positive attitudes to learning. For example, babies test out toy rings and stack them correctly from the largest to the smallest. Toddlers pretend to be builders and find the best way to make a structure. Pre-school children organise a group picnic and ensure that each friend has the same amount of pretend food. All children show high levels of perseverance and beam with pride when praised for their successful efforts.

Children of all ages freely explore the indoor and outdoor stimulating learning environments, which provide them with outstanding experiences. They happily play alone and collaboratively with friends. Children show compassion towards each other and willingness to support their peers. For example, in the garden, they create interesting and imaginative movements to demonstrate various insects' unique characteristics. They say that dragonflies 'bounce' and show their friends, who are unsure, how to jump and pretend to fly.

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

• Leaders demonstrate a clear vision and drive to provide the highest quality of education and care. Leaders have ambitious aspirations for children and staff. They observe the quality of teaching and provide purposeful feedback to staff. The managers and team leaders regularly meet with staff to discuss their personalised, ongoing professional-development needs. Staff develop the quality of their practice with impressive outcomes for children. For example, staff are trained by a speech and language therapist to provide effective interventions for children with speech delay.
• Staff's quality of interactions with children across the nursery is outstanding. They know children exceptionally well through their accurate ongoing assessments, observations and discussions with parents. Staff use this detailed knowledge to adapt their approaches to challenge and extend children's learning at all times. They create numerous opportunities to help develop children's language skills, such as when children demonstrate the effective use of questions to find out more information.
• Children show a great love for books. They actively participate in learning about story features. For instance, pre-school children delight in acting out the story 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves' led by an external dance teacher. They move creatively to different tunes that represent suspense and joy. This helps children to grasp the emotional journey related to events in the story.
• Children's self-care skills are developed by staff from the outset. For instance, babies fetch their own water bottles when thirsty and toddlers persevere to master the skill of using a fork to feed themselves. Older children serve their own food at lunchtime and empty their leftovers into the bin. Staff share these strategies with parents, who use them at home to help prepare children well for the next stage in their education.
• Leaders recognise the importance of teaching children about adopting healthy lifestyles. Children are energetic outdoors. They run, ride tricycles and jump in hoops with great control and coordination. Children are provided with their own toothpaste and toothbrushes to practise good oral hygiene daily. However, staff do not fully encourage children to follow the most accurate guidance on oral health to ensure they benefit from accurate brushing techniques.
• Children enjoy nutritious and well-balanced meals. Meal times are sociable routines where children have opportunities to chat to their friends and staff. However, staff do not give consistent messages to children to support them to understand how healthy eating choices contributes to their overall health and fitness.
• Parents are delighted with the progress their children make, particularly in their confidence, speech and social skills. They appreciate their trusted relationships with the 'approachable and knowledgeable' staff and leaders. Parents feel well-informed about their child's learning and development. They say that their children are well-prepared for school. Parents praise help from the nursery to support their children at home.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• extend ways to help children understand the importance of good oral hygiene routines
• improve children's understanding of healthy choices of food and drink and the effect these have on their bodies.