Lime Tree Day Nursery - Dussindale Park

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive at the nursery and are warmly welcomed by caring staff. They find their coat peg and help to hang up their belongings. Children are keen to start their day and quickly become captivated in activities of their choosing. They become fascinated with mixing soil and water to make 'mud'. They smear it onto toy animals and tell staff, 'It feels sticky like a banana.' Younger children snuggle on cushions and spend time browsing through books. They find their favourite toy dinosaurs and make roaring noises as part of their play. Children spend time pressing play dough into cake cases. They show control when using moulding and cutting tools, telling staff, 'These are chocolate cookies.'

Staff create an atmosphere of 'awe and wonder'. They gradually reveal insects displayed in boxes and explain how they are set in 'resin'. Children show obvious excitement and eagerness to see inside each box. They learn how to use magnifying glasses to make closer observations. Staff give clear instructions of how to gently slide open each box. They extend children's vocabulary as they introduce insect names and features. Staff encourage children to express their opinions, asking them which insect they like the best. This helps children to feel valued.

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

• Staff plan a varied and stimulating curriculum for children. They make observations of children's progress to ensure gaps in learning are identified promptly. As a result, children make good progress. Staff are reflective and evaluate the activities they plan for children. This helps to identify where further improvements can be made to support future learning.
• Children have close relationships with staff. They give them hugs and snuggle on their laps. Children share their successes with staff. They put on their coats and tell staff, 'I can do my own zip.' Staff are respectful with younger children, asking their permission when changing nappies. Staff act on transition information they receive from parents to help new children settle in quickly.
• Children enjoy time playing outside. They initiate their own chasing games and demonstrate impressive climbing skills as they scramble up and down tyres and beams. Children show determination in using outdoor taps. They fill containers with water and pour it down guttering. Staff ensure that there are spaces where children can relax. Children snuggle in dens and sing songs.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well. Referrals are made quickly and staff ratios are kept high to enable further support. Staff use sign language and visual timetables to help children to learn new words and to understand what comes next.
• Children know the routines and expectations of the nursery. They stand still when they hear staff bang 'gongs' and take part in tidying away toys. Staff are positive role models. They teach children 'please' and 'thank you' songs and praise children for sitting at tables during mealtimes.
• Partnerships with parents are strong. Some parents travel out of their way to ensure their children attend the nursery. Parents say that the nursery provides 'the best start' and that their children love attending. They appreciate the detailed daily handovers they receive and the updates through online platforms.
• Staff benefit from a strong ethos of ambition and reflection. They take responsibility for their own training needs and undertake peer observations to improve their practice. Staff say the nursery is the 'best place' to work and they comment that they feel valued and listened to. The manager monitors staff's workload and boosts their well-being through initiatives such as 'employee of the half term'.
• The manager provides strong leadership. She is passionate about providing high-quality care and learning for children. Robust systems are used to supervise staff and ensure new staff are well prepared for their roles. The manager has recently undertaken considerable training and research to drive further improvement.
• Staff interact well with most children. They get down to their level and show an interest in what they are doing. However, this is not always consistent. Children who are less confident do not always benefit from the same prolonged interactions with staff.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to engage with quieter children more frequently to enable them to get the most out of learning experiences.