Little Friends Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children and babies are very happy, safe, and content at this setting. Children form extremely close bonds with staff who provide them with excellent care as they sensitively anticipate and attend to their needs with warmth and understanding. All the children show a can-do attitude. Babies and toddlers delight as they join in with the music teacher, singing songs, babbling, waving coloured scarves, and shaking instruments to the beat alongside the older children. Children show great enthusiasm and excitement outside in the wide-open garden space. They flourish in this language-rich environment; they show confidence and are highly motivated to play and learn about nature and animals. Children thoroughly enjoy the excellent range of high-quality resources, both inside and outside. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive immediate support from skilled and highly trained staff. Staff support children who speak English as an additional language exceptionally well and, as a result, children progress well. For example, children confidently talk to staff in both English and their home language.

Staff celebrate the unique qualities of each individual child. Children learn about their differences and caring for others and all children behave very well. They cooperate during play by sharing and taking turns. Staff have exceptionally high expectations for the children's learning and plan challenging activities based on the children's interests. Children are well prepared for their future learning, and they are exceptionally eager to learn.

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

• Partnerships with parents are outstanding. Parents are extremely happy with the high-quality service they receive. They say that staff are caring, flexible and supportive. Parents comment that the staff team are 'amazing'. They commend the staff for the excellent, diverse and language-rich environment their children experience. Parents know what their children are learning through the online home learning application.
• The highly qualified manager and experienced staff team go above and beyond what is required and are inspirational. Staff are warm, very kind and considerate. They know the children extremely well and develop deep bonds with them.
• The nursery provides extended settling-in sessions to help children to quickly feel secure and this promotes children's emotional well-being.
• Staff expertly plan an educational programme that is ambitious for all the children. Communication and language is at the heart of this nursery's curriculum. Staff enhance children's language skills by consistently introducing new vocabulary during play. For example, children confidently describe burying treasure and building a castle, using language to explain what they are doing, such as 'dig deeper, under, over, higher' and 'reward'. Staff recognise the importance of reading books, singing songs, and chanting rhymes in different languages to promote children's language skills to the highest level.
• The play opportunities are inspirational. The children learn about nature and their natural environment. The children feed the rabbits and older children learn how to be safe and take care when they collect eggs that the hens lay. These engaging tasks are extremely well matched to the children's abilities.
• Children benefit greatly from time spent outdoors. They develop high levels of curiosity, imagination, and concentration. For example, toddlers explore the consistency of foam as they use their fingers to make marks and the older children listen to sounds in words and write the letters they represent. Staff know when to sit back and observe, and when to engage children in detailed conversations. This supports children to become excellent communicators.
• Children learn about healthy lifestyles. They learn about healthy foods and willingly eat different foods at mealtimes. Older children are independent and confident when taking care of their personal needs and staff show respect to children during nappy changing routines.
• Staff understand the importance of providing physical activities for babies' and young children's brain development. The children are delighted to run in the garden as they develop their coordination skills. Older children climb and skilfully negotiate equipment and babies cruise, crawl, and toddle confidently.
• Staff work closely with parents and other professionals. They rigorously focus on what the children need to learn next. Interventions and targets are excellent for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. As a result, all children make rapid progress.
• The manager provides the staff with extensive training, coaching and continuous professional development opportunities that enhance their skills and knowledge. She monitors and works closely with the staff to ensure outstanding teaching is maintained.