Lilypads Day Nursery & Pre-School Ltd

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children excitedly wave goodbye to their parents as they are greeted by the incredibly nurturing staff, who know the children and parents very well. Babies and children are extremely sociable as they welcome visitors with a huge smile and initiate a friendly hug. Outdoor play is prioritised. Children love playing outside and exploring the natural environment. Children play games, test their physical limits, express themselves and build their self-confidence. For example, children show determination as they negotiate a winding balance beam. They develop their physical skills as they pull themselves up on to a big tyre. Children shout gleefully 'I did it' while taking a challenging leap off the tyre and reaching up to the sky.

Staff expertly support children's speech and language development. They introduce new vocabulary to children in a meaningful way, and their communication skills develop exceedingly well. Children sing their favourite nursery rhymes spontaneously and retell stories to their peers. Staff promote in-depth discussions that are age-appropriate and extend children's knowledge of the subject being taught. Staff respond to young children's first words exceptionally well. They respond to babies' babbles and gestures as they learn to communicate. All children make significant progress in their speech and language development.

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

• The way that staff champion children's individuality is exemplary. Children openly express their thoughts and talk about what is important to them. For example, children put their dolls to sleep in the cots before politely asking staff to keep their voices down while the 'babies' sleep. Children are delighted as staff lower their voices and praise their parenting skills. As a result, children have positive learning experiences which are shaping and reinforcing appropriate morals and character development.
• Teaching is of an exceedingly high standard. All children make significant progress in all seven areas of learning. In addition, an ambitious curriculum is securely embedded throughout staff practice. Staff provide stimulating and extraordinarily inviting activities, which are based on children's interests. High levels of consideration are placed on the accessibility and inclusivity of self-selected resources. As a result, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities are proactive in leading their own learning and becoming independent in making positive choices.
• Staff model meticulous hygiene routines. Babies and children are becoming increasingly independent in their personal needs. Children use 'a magic trick' to put their coats on themselves. They push their arms through the sleeves and flip the coats over their heads. This fun method practised by children builds their self-esteem and motivation to become increasingly independent in managing their self-care needs. Children self-serve their food at mealtimes. Children practise using tongs and spoons and learn the meaning of words, such as 'scoop' and 'squeeze', introduced by encouraging staff.
• Healthy lifestyles are highly valued in this provision. Children help plant seeds in the nursery allotment before collecting their yield and exploring it through touch and role play. Children watch their harvest being cooked by the on-site chef and enjoy eating it. This sequenced teaching helps children remember long-term what they have been taught, and to integrate new knowledge into larger concepts.
• Children develop a love of mathematics through play. Children explore different-sized bears by counting them, making patterns, and striving to arrange them by height.
• Staff have high expectations of the children. Children are extremely well mannered and show consistently kind behaviours to their peers and strong attachments to staff. Children applaud their peers when they have achieved something. This goodwill is motivated by the meaningful praise and encouragement given to children by the empowering staff.
• The management team are awe inspiring and passionate about delivering high quality care and education to all children. Staff report tremendously high levels of well-being, and this positive culture is felt through the way the staff interact and communicate together. Parent partnership is of paramount importance. Parents compliment this inclusive provision on superb communication and the remarkable and significant progress their children are making.