Lilliput Nursery School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive at the nursery happy and ready to start the day. They have adapted well to the changes made due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On arrival to nursery, children are happy to separate from their parents and are greeted by warm and welcoming staff. Children show they feel safe and secure when in nursery. Staff pride themselves on providing a homely environment where children feel relaxed and able to learn. Children quickly settle into the daily routines of the nursery. They make independent choices on the direction of their play from the selection of enjoyable and interesting toys provided. All children make good progress in their learning. They are motivated and eager to take part in a range of interesting and varied activities which capture their imagination.

Children benefit from lots of opportunities to develop their physical skills. They have access to a purpose-built outdoor play area, providing them with a range of enriching opportunities to support their physical development. Children take charge of their own risk assessments before playing in the garden; this allows them to understand risks and hazards. Children benefit from activities to support their emotional well-being. They talk about their feelings, which helps them to manage their emotions. For example, children use the 'worry monster' during self-registration as an opportunity to highlight their feelings. This allows the staff to talk to them about their emotions.

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

• The manager and staff are committed to their roles and responsibilities. They have high expectations for all children and develop a curriculum based on children's interests and what they need to learn next. For instance, they use children's interest in bubbles to encourage them to explore how they are formed. Children delight as staff try and envelop them in a giant bubble using a hula hoop.
• Staff know the children very well. They know what their key children can do and need to do to learn next. This includes support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. All children make good progress in relation to their individual starting points.
• Children practise new words they have heard in role play. For example, they talk about the 'spikey' and 'smooth' textures, as well as 'squeezing' the dough. Toddlers link up to five words together. For example, they say 'this dough is very sticky'. They show excellent early language skills.
• In the main, children have opportunities where they demonstrate good levels of independence. For example, the children are able to put on their own coat and wellies when going into the garden. However, this is not consistently embedded. At other times, staff carry out tasks for children who are capable themselves. For example, during snack and mealtimes, staff serve the children instead of giving them the opportunity to do this themselves.
• All children behave well, understand expectations and engage in activities with interest. Babies are eager to take part and concentrate. For example, they enjoy joining in when singing 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat'. Babies sing along tunefully and demonstrate that they are extremely contented in their nurturing environment.
• The nursery chef prepares healthy and nutritious home-cooked meals and snacks. Children are encouraged to try new foods. This helps them to learn about and understand the importance of a healthy diet.
• Staff support children to manage their feelings and emotions. The introduction of new well-being activities helps to promote a sense of calm across the nursery. Children thoroughly enjoy taking part in the activities, such as peer massage. This helps to support the increased self-control, confidence and ability to form exceptional relationships with others.
• The manager demonstrates her investment in the staff through meaningful supervisions. They make staff well-being a priority and organise events, such as well-being walks, to promote team building and a positive mind. Staff practice is highly valued and recognised through the team 'shout out' board. This enables the staff to have increased positive energy and enthusiasm across the team.
• Partnership with parents is a strength of the nursery. Parents speak highly of the nursery staff and talk about the support they have received, particularly during the pandemic. Parents are happy with how the staff communicate with them. They enjoy receiving notifications via the new parent app, about what the children have been doing during the day.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• offer children continued opportunities to further develop their independence, allowing them to carry out more tasks for themselves.