Learning Curves Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

All children progress well at this nursery. Staff provide an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum that is bespoke to the needs of the children who attend. Staff have a secure understanding of what children need to learn and in what order. Children demonstrate that they are happy as they eagerly enter, excited to see what is set out for them. Staff provide interesting and challenging activities that capture children's interests. For example, children are excited to take part in a science experiment. They observe change in how water turns to ice when left outside in the freezing temperatures. Children demonstrate a positive attitude to learning.

Children take part in events to support their local community. For example, children and staff collected and delivered items to a local food bank. Staff talked to children about this to help them broaden their understanding of the wider world. Leaders make effective use of early years pupil premium funding to enhance children's education and experiences. The nursery provides experiences such as caring for real life duck eggs and watching them grow into ducklings. Children learn about where animals come from and how to care for them.

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

• Leaders have a clear intent for their curriculum. Children are encouraged to be independent learners who benefit from a well-resourced environment. Staff implement the curriculum well. For example, staff focus on developing children's fine motor skills before introducing them to scissors. This helps children to become confident learners.
• Developing children's communication and language skills is at the heart of the curriculum. Staff skilfully introduce new words, such as 'crunchy' and 'frost', during play. Children display a love of reading as they sit listening with excitement to stories staff read to them. They show care for their books, placing them back carefully after they have finished with them. Children are confident communicators.
• Children behave well and display kindness to one another. For example, when there are not enough seats at the snack table, children offer their seat to their peers. On occasions where children struggle to share, staff remind them of their 'golden rules,' such as using 'kind hands'. This helps to guide children's behaviour in a constructive way.
• On the whole, staff promote independence as part of their broader curriculum. For example, children cut and peel their own fruit at snack time. However, on occasion, some staff do things for children they can do themselves. This limits opportunities for these children to develop their independence skills further.
• Parent partnership is a real strength of this nursery. Parents are thoroughly involved from the beginning. Staff provide workshops to help and support parents with a variety of topics, such as how to promote children's physical development. Staff share regular updates through the nursery app, including children's next steps. Consequently, parents feel confident extending their children's learning outside of the nursery.
• The longstanding staff describe themselves as one big family. They report high levels of support from leaders. Staff appreciate the flexibility leaders offer as this allows them to have a good work life balance. As a result, staff morale is high.
• Leaders have provided an abundance of training for their staff team. Staff have opportunities to share their training interests in their regular supervision sessions. In addition, leaders recommend training from their observations of staff practice. As a result, the quality of education is good.
• Staff provide opportunities for children to access many different experiences in their local area. For example, they have visited the cinema and spent some time with local care residents creating crafts. Children develop a sense of their community and pride in helping others.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to help children build their independence skills and sense of responsibility.