Little Discoveries : Nunney

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are at the heart of this child-centred setting. Staff consider everything from the child's perspective and keep children informed about daily plans. Staff nurture inclusion through creating a highly welcoming atmosphere. They have a detailed understanding of each child's unique needs and circumstances. This fosters meaningful connections between children and staff, resulting in children's elevated emotional well-being and self-esteem. Children demonstrate exceptional teamwork and cooperation. They exhibit exemplary behaviour, characterised by respect and kindness towards each other. An example is at tidy-up time when children work together to assist each other in covering a sand tray and collecting their friends' water bottles, before lining up to go indoors.

The manager and her staff deliver a meticulously planned and inspiring curriculum. Their continuous reflection, expertise, and dedication, ensures teaching maintains high standards. Staff expertly tailor their interactions, activities, and the environment to align with children's individual interests and next steps. Staff find inventive methods to engage, excite, and motivate children to learn. For instance, children explore colours and shapes by investigating kaleidoscopes and creating art projects using unconventional materials like painted broken lasagna sheets. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), progress effectively through carefully designed and targeted steps, equipping them exceptionally well for future learning.

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

• The manager and staff deliver numerous initiatives that enhance children's learning. For example, children eagerly engage in interactive focused group sessions designed to improve their language and communication. Young children confidently demonstrate the sign language they have learned to accompany their developing speech.
• Staff engage with children sensitively, fostering curiosity and self-expression in children. For example, they sit with children as they explore toy insects with magnifying glasses, sharing their fascination. Children share they are 'making the bugs bigger!' Staff are mindful when to join in with children's experiences. When appropriate, they use thought-provoking questions to challenge and extend children's learning. This nurturing approach from staff encourages children to express new thoughts and ideas confidently.
• The manager and staff highly value partnerships with parents, local schools, and other professionals, for their crucial role in facilitating children's development. Staff collaborate closely with them, especially for children with SEND, enriching learning experiences and seeking support and funding when needed.
• Children have ample opportunities to develop their independence, which they take immense pride in sharing with new adults. Children sign in through identifying their names and hanging them onto a registration tree. They take responsibility for their own belongings using the provided drawers and pegs. Children serve their own food at lunch time, then scrape their plates before washing their faces using a flannel and mirror. This contributes significantly to children's self-care skills. Staff celebrate children's efforts and achievements with certificates to encourage their motivation and progress.
• The manager prioritises staff training and well-being, recognising it's direct influence on children's experiences. Her relentless commitment to continuous improvement fosters an environment where staff maximise their skills and knowledge. Staff benefit from regular team meetings and setting evaluations. These aid the identification of training needs and areas for enhancement to ensure the highest quality care and education for all children.
• Children are well-prepared to become fluent readers through regularly exploring of fact, fiction and rhyming books, independently and in groups. Staff offer children a choice of books for 'book of the week' that they focus on throughout the week. Children demonstrate the vocabulary they are learning as they consistently use big words in their play. While playing in the sand, they narrate their play, announcing they have 'captured a venomous snake!'
• The manager and staff take every opportunity to enrich children's understanding and experiences. They utilise local community facilities, for instance taking the setting's recycling to the community bins. Staff teach the children the importance about environmental responsibility and road safety.