Little Professors Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are highly enthusiastic learners, who very much enjoy coming to nursery. They are extremely happy and demonstrate high levels of emotional security, confidence and self-esteem. Children's interests and love for learning are at the heart of every decision that staff make. Children thoroughly enjoy exploring the ambitious curriculum in the carefully planned environment. This particularly supports those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

All children make excellent progress from their starting points. They make independent choices from highly motivating activities that capture their curiosity for learning. For example, children enjoy accessing the play dough station and make their own dough from raw ingredients. They are completely involved in their play and learning, and are constantly smiling and laughing together. For example, children eagerly join in as they look at and care for the nursery's pet snail. They smile and giggle with excitement and they relish the praise that they receive from staff. Children confidently talk about their learning using rich vocabulary. Children behave exceptionally well. They develop secure relationships with staff. Staff support children in developing independence through well-established daily routines. For example, children are encouraged to wipe their own nose, check in the mirror to see if they are clean, and then wash their hands.

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

• Staff are highly skilled and knowledgeable, and demonstrate a deep understanding of how children learn. They plan and implement an exemplary, sequenced curriculum based on children's interests. All children make outstanding progress in relation to their starting points, including children with SEND and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Staff are exceptionally skilled at developing children's communication and language skills. They use a range of strategies to support children's language, including talking clearly and giving children plenty of time to practise speaking. Children take it in turns to talk about the contents of their 'chitter chatter bag'. Children investigate the winter themed 'curious cube' and relate it to the snow outside. They say words such as 'icy' and 'slippy' to describe the weather. Children enthusiastically investigate and share ideas as they predict how long it will take for their mini snowmen to melt.
• Children thoroughly enjoy their learning and show a keenness to explore and discover. They are excited to listen and join in with stories. Children are invited into the college library for literacy sessions that are hosted by library staff, and mindfulness sessions, which are carried out in a separate early years room. Parents have access to a literacy app, provided by the nursery, which allows books to be read or spoken at home in any language. The app is also used within the nursery to support children who speak English as an additional language.
• Staff strive to provide children with rich experiences that ignite curiosity and discussion to help them to understand about the world and the people who live in it. For example, children visit a care home every week and take part in activities with the residents. Children have the opportunity to engage with college students while they help them to create items, such as canvas bags in the art department. Children are able to add their name onto the bag using hot press ink. Children also explore the life jackets and seat belts in a mock aeroplane in the travel and tourism department.
• Children actively enjoy taking part in forest school activities. They make a pretend fire, then move onto making a real fire and toasting marshmallows. Early years college students come into the nursery and support children with their activities. Children learn about renewable energy in their new eco-friendly sensory room outside that is solar and wind powered.
• Excellent partnership with parents is in place. Parents speak highly of the nursery and cannot praise the staff enough. They comment on how the children are fully supported and are always learning new things. Parents are provided with up-to-date information via an app, and a homework book offers activity ideas for parents to share with children at home.
• Self-evaluation is of the highest priority. Leaders have worked extremely well since the last inspection to provide an outstanding service for children and their families. For example, all staff have accessed a range of training opportunities to enhance their professional development and teaching skills. Various accreditations have been achieved, including sun safety, Millie's Mark, International Eco Schools Award, Food For Life, and a school gardening award.