Little Peoples Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this vibrant, nurturing nursery. The incredible attention that staff pay to every detail means that all children settle quickly and can truly explore and play safely. They rapidly become highly inquisitive learners, who eagerly seek out information and satisfy their curiosity. For example, children experiment with tools as they dig a trench. They pour water into this, noting how it flows downhill. They note the changing consistency of the mud and experiment further as they put this through a colander. Children gain highly valuable skills as they concentrate, persevere and excitedly share their findings.

Children mirror staff's excellent example and show a mature understanding of behaviour and a respect for others. For instance, when children stand up to sing, others listen attentively and gently celebrate their achievements. Excellent planning supports children in developing a highly practical understanding of safety. For example, staff introduce tools at appropriate times, carefully explaining their use. Children quickly learn to select the correct tools for the task and use these safely. Children participate in numerous opportunities that support them in being active and help them to develop their physical skills. For instance, they climb and balance as they negotiate obstacle courses they have made. They develop control and strength in their hand muscles as they carefully stretch rubber bands around pumpkins.

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

• All children make exceptional progress. Staff build an excellent picture of children's development and understand what they need to learn next. They offer children play opportunities that precisely correspond with their interests and support them in taking the next steps. The diligent monitoring of children's progress means that any weaker areas are speedily addressed and no child falls behind in their learning. Additional funding is used highly effectively to further promote children's development.
• All staff have extremely high expectations and are uncompromising in their aim to offer every child the best care. Staff are highly valued and their well-being is exceptionally well promoted. They receive frequent supervision and well-considered support to develop their practice further.
• Excellent staff interaction and their innovative planning play a major part in the highly successful promotion of children's language and communication skills. For example, children delight in the constantly changing 'curiosity box', filled with captivating items to spark discussion and establish new vocabulary. For instance, children celebrate 'earth day' as they examine model sea creatures swimming in a tank of water and litter. They look at associated books and learn about recycling.
• Staff confidently enable children to determine their own play, skilfully supporting this. For example, children are fascinated by the frost. They collect frosted leaves and explore why the frost has melted by the time they return to the nursery. They create their own frosty illustrations, referring to books and photographs they have taken.
• Inspirational activities spark numerous discussions and further activities, many of which support children in gaining a detailed knowledge of the world. For instance, children walk to the top of a hill and exclaim 'Look, we can see the whole world here!' On their return to the nursery, they examine books about our planet. They learn about their local area and feel part of this as they help tend a community garden, exchanging produce with other gardeners.
• Children independently access numerous resources, frequently using these to further express their thoughts and ideas. For instance, children use coloured gems and stones to recreate the fireworks they have seen. They exclaim with wonder and proudly explain their creations, going on to experiment with further resources.
• Staff manage times of transition exceptionally well. For example, on their return from walks, children spend time talking about what they have seen and looking at related books, helping to consolidate their learning and preparing them for playing again in a larger group.
• Parents speak exceptionally highly of staff and note the excellent progress their children make. Staff offer individual guidance to support parents in extending their children's learning at home. Staff work exceptionally well with other providers caring for the children. This helps to ensure excellent continuity of care and a consistent approach to promoting children's development to the highest level.