Little Potters Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children eagerly arrive and wave goodbye to their parents and carers. There is a buzz of excitement in the nursery as children anticipate what activities await them. Children clearly enjoy their time at nursery. This enthusiastic attitude is a great foundation for curious and eager learning. Children of all ages get involved and have fun. Staff work hard to provide children with a nurturing environment. They offer plenty of praise and affection. For example, younger children sit close to adults and benefit from cuddles, whenever needed. Older children seek out adults to join their games. Children are emotionally reassured by positive relationships shared with kind and gentle staff. Staff make the most of spontaneous opportunities to extend children's learning. For instance, after a flurry of snow, children learn about textures and temperatures.

Staff are good role models for children. They routinely offer children increasing levels of challenge during play. For example, children are encouraged to build towers from toy bricks. They solve problems as they carefully balance bricks on an unsteady base. They develop precise hand-eye coordination as they build. Staff challenge children to add one more. Children show a can-do attitude as they successfully build a tower taller than themselves. They talk about the size and shape of the structure, extending their conceptual mathematical knowledge in practical ways. Quality teaching, coupled with a challenging curriculum, helps all children to make good progress.

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

• The nursery is led by an extremely knowledgeable, experienced and ambitious senior leadership team. They know what the setting does well and strive to make improvements, wherever possible. Staff benefit from frequent training to help to foster their confidence. Strong leadership and continual self-reflection impacts positively on the overall quality of care and learning provided at the nursery.
• Staff pride themselves on offering children a broad programme of play. They proactively research new activity ideas online and invest time and effort creating a stimulating environment. Children benefit from an ambitious curriculum, delivered by skilled and dedicated staff.
• Older children are self-assured and enjoy managing tasks for themselves. They serve themselves food at lunchtime, pour drinks and feed themselves with ease. Staff step back to allow children time and space to complete everyday tasks for themselves. Children are confidently independent.
• Babies' physical skills are particularly well supported through well-planned, age-appropriate play. Babies learn to stand, balance, climb and walk unaided from a very early age. Staff remain close by, encouraging babies as they safely negotiate each stage of their physical progress. Older children's physical skills are equally well supported. This means that all children flourish in their physical development.
• Children's behaviour is good. They understand and follow simple nursery rules. Staff provide children with advance warning of changes in routines. For instance, a visual board illustrating 'now' and 'next' activities helps children to know what is coming next. Children understand right from wrong, and know what is expected of them. They consistently behave very well.
• Children's good health is promoted. They wash hands routinely throughout the day, such as after playing outside and before eating. Children brush their teeth and learn the importance of good oral hygiene. They enjoy fresh air and exercise every day, which contributes to their good physical health.
• Staff build positive relationships with parents. They provide advice and support for parents on various topics, such as toilet training and weaning. Parents compliment the quality of service they receive. They comment that staff working at the nursery go above and beyond for all children and make sure everyone is safe and comfortable in the loving environment. Strong partnerships with parents benefit children as they enjoy seamless care and learning between home and nursery.
• Overall, staff support children's emerging language skills well. They provide an ongoing narrative during their play and introduce new words during activities, to help to extend their vocabulary. However, on occasion, staff ask closed questions. This, at times, prevents children from practising speaking or fully engaging in two-way discussion to the highest possible level.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop further staff's teaching skills to extend children's already good language skills to an even higher level.