Letterbox Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this exceptionally friendly and inclusive nursery. The provider, manager and staff have an exceedingly strong and caring ethos that puts children at the centre of everything they do. Children and their families are warmly welcomed at the door by their key person. Staff say 'hello' to children in their home language. They are highly attentive to children's individual needs and get to know children, and their families, very well. Children show that they feel extremely happy, settled and secure in the nursery. They demonstrate their confidence, resilience and independence as they persevere with challenging tasks. For example, children show great determination to do up the zips on their coats, and they are very proud when they eventually succeed.

Children enjoy a wealth of innovative and inspiring learning experiences. They go for walks on the beach and have great fun at the swimming pool. Children choose books from the library bus and join their friends on a coach trip to see a pantomime. They discover the awe and wonder of the world as they watch in amazement as the ducklings hatch out of their eggs. Children have superb opportunities to meet other people in the community, such as people who help them. Staff arrange visits from local fire and police officers. Children learn about their roles and the number to call for help. They have great fun trying on the police officer's hat and sitting in the police car, turning on the lights and siren. Children eagerly join in all activities. Staff ensure that all children have a highly enjoyable nursery experience and the best possible start to their early education.

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

• The provider, manager and staff are exceptionally dedicated and enthusiastic. Staff recognise the different experiences that children bring with them when they start attending the nursery. They skilfully develop children's knowledge and skills from their different starting points. Staff superbly enhance the opportunities available to children, particularly the most disadvantaged.
• Staff use their knowledge of children's abilities and interests to plan an exceptionally well sequenced and stimulating curriculum. They meticulously track children's progress, which enables them to identify and address any gaps in their learning. Staff provide extra support and opportunities for children to practise their newly acquired skills.
• Children learn an outstanding range of skills that will help to prepare them for their next stages in learning and their move to school. They learn about letters and sounds in an enjoyable way and practise writing their name. Staff's high-quality interactions build on children's speech and language, helping them to become very effective communicators. Children listen attentively and spontaneously join in with songs and rhymes. They use their developing mathematical skills during activities, such as measuring the ingredients when making play dough.
• The support for all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, is highly effective. The manager, who is also the special educational needs and disabilities coordinator, is extremely conscientious in seeking appropriate early interventions. Staff work closely with other professionals to help all children to achieve their full potential. The manager closely monitors children in receipt of additional funding. She carefully considers how funding can benefit children in the most effective way. For example, children who do not have gardens thoroughly enjoy playing with the ride-on toys in the nursery garden.
• Children's behaviour is exceptional. They learn to manage their feelings and treat each other with kindness and respect. Children share their ideas and quickly resolve conflicts as they play cooperatively together. For example, as they create structures with the bricks, one child wants to make a 'scary village' and another wants to make a 'zoo'. They compromise by making a 'scary zoo'.
• Staff value the important role that parents play in supporting children's development and involve them fully in their children's learning. They provide delightful activity bags that provide parents with ideas on how to support their children's learning at home. Parents are extremely complimentary about the staff and the exceptional progress their children make.
• The manager highly values the staff team and demonstrates excellent leadership skills. Her regular supervision and monitoring of staff practice help to ensure consistently outstanding practice across the nursery. Staff are encouraged to enhance their already excellent teaching skills continually. They attend a wealth of training events, including how to help children be ready for their move on to school. Staff say that the manager is 'fantastic' and very supportive and that they thoroughly enjoy working at the nursery.
• The provider and the manager demonstrate a passion and commitment to providing children with the very best early years experiences. They are extremely reflective and use feedback from children, parents and staff to make improvements. The manager is very proud of the strong staff team she has developed. She strives to offer the highest possible standards for all children attending the nursery.