Little Rascals

Inclusion: Strong standard

Leaders and staff know children very well and prioritise their inclusion in all aspects of the nursery. Staff meet the individual needs of all children through highly effective partnerships with parents. Leaders have created a nurturing and inclusive environment that celebrates each child's unique qualities. Inclusive practice is embedded across the nursery, and leaders and staff work effectively in reducing barriers to learning. Children with emerging needs are recognised quickly by staff, who know them best, and parental views and aspirations of children are highly valued and included in all decision-making.

Children's progress is very closely monitored by staff and other professionals. They work together to develop appropriate and effective strategies to meet each child's unique needs. Staff focus highly on children needing support with their wellbeing, and having the right strategies and reassurance consistently in place. This helps to remove barriers to learning and enables all children to make excellent progress and reach their full potential.

Leaders and staff have access to training to further extend their knowledge and expertise to best support children with gaps in their learning and development. They ensure additional funding, including for disadvantaged children, is focused on what individual children need. For example, visual aids and sensory resources have been purchased to support children's language skills, confidence and emotional wellbeing.

Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard

Leaders and staff work hard to provide all children, including children who face barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing, with a well-sequenced and high-quality curriculum. Staff know children well and have high expectations for all children. They robustly monitor children's progress, successfully using assessment to understand what children know, can do and need to learn next. Staff actively join in the children's play and use their skilful teaching to build on children's prior knowledge and interests.

High priority is given to children's emotional wellbeing and physical development. Staff use the outdoor environment extremely well to help support children to develop their coordination, agility, core strength and fine motor skills. Children balance on tyres, build assault courses and experience nature. Staff support older children to explore frog spawn and learn about the life cycle of frogs.

Staff use mathematical language throughout daily routines and activities. They encourage children to fill, empty and pour water Children learn to predict whether objects will float or sink. During a building activity, staff teach children to understand and use words to compare and order size with confidence. Babies demonstrate confidence in their early communication skills. Babies respond with gestures and sound to the staff's calm, familiar voices. Older children explore books and engage in story time with interest and anticipation.

Achievement: Strong standard

Children are extremely confident in their communication and language, personal, social and emotional development. These aspects of the curriculum are prioritised for all children. As a result, children consistently make excellent progress from their starting points. Children demonstrate that they are confident learners, who are very well prepared for transitions across the nursery, including moving on to school. Children independently explore the enabling environment, freely choosing activities that interest and engage them. Children are settled and engaged in their learning.

All children are very confident communicators. Babies are starting to build on their early communication and language skills, they actively engage in singing and action songs that are familiar to them. Toddlers are starting to speak in simple sentences and older children use a wide and rich vocabulary throughout their day to express themselves. Children consistently ask questions and use vocabulary previously modelled by staff in a variety of new contexts. All children explore books with interest, they are excited and purposefully engaged in picture books and factual books, which introduce new vocabulary and ideas that motivate them to discover more.

Children and babies are highly independent, they consistently develop independence in their physical skills. Babies cruise around furniture and are beginning to take their first steps. Older children confidently use a range of tools and resources, which excite them and help them to be active learners.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Strong standard

All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face barriers to learning are encouraged to follow routines. Staff build strong relationships with children and families and implement clear and consistent routines. Leaders have embedded a harmonious and respectful culture, celebrating children as individuals. Staff are highly effective in supporting and teaching children to manage their own feelings. This helps children to develop secure emotional relationships. Children thrive in a highly respectful, calm and purposeful learning environment. Expectations are clear and adults consistently model kindness, patience and empathy. Staff know each child incredibly well and create a nurturing environment, where emotional needs are understood and respected. From the moment they arrive, children are visibly excited to begin their day. All children, including those who face barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing, become immersed in their play and show high levels of engagement.

During mealtimes, babies are supported to feed themselves independently and through skilled guidance and encouragement from staff. Older children delight in helping staff to set tables and serve food, they encourage their friends to try new food and help younger children to pour water into their cups. Leaders prioritise punctuality and regular attendance, reinforcing with families how consistent routines support children's progress, wellbeing and belonging.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Leaders and staff prioritise children's welfare and wellbeing in this inclusive nursery. All children, including those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face barriers to their learning thrive. The nursery is safe, calm and welcoming, helping children to settle quickly and develop a positive sense of security and belonging. All practitioners support children to regulate their emotions in a way that suits them best. This supports children's emotional health so that they thrive. Secure relationships ensure children feel emotionally safe and confident to explore.

Physical development and wellbeing are prioritised. A wide range of movement experiences, including active movement sessions that promote strength, balance and enjoyment, alongside daily outdoor play, build children's resilience and confidence. Children are supported to recognise and manage their emotions, developing strategies that help them regulate and express how they feel. Parents value the personalised induction and settling-in process and feel well informed about their child's care.

Healthy habits are thoroughly embedded throughout the day. Children enjoy a well-planned, inclusive menu provided by the nursery cooks. Staff encourage children to try new foods and talk to children about the importance of making balanced food choices. Health and hygiene is consistently promoted and embedded throughout nursery. Children rest and sleep according to their personalised routine, supervised and supported by their key person.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

Leaders ensure that a culture of high expectations and professionalism is embedded across the setting. They know the context of the setting and the characteristics of the children well. All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face barriers to learning, are supported to make secure progress from their starting points. Parent partnerships are well established and communication is highly effective. Leaders establish effective partnerships with outside agencies and other professionals. The support they receive ensures that families feel confident and reassured, and children's progress is maximised.

Leaders support staff to carry out their roles extremely well. They identify their strengths and areas for development precisely and support them to access appropriate training and qualifications that strengthen their teaching skills. Leaders embed a culture of continuous improvement in which everyone is continuously learning. Staff comment on how leaders support their wellbeing and manage their workload. All staff feel very well supported in their roles and responsibilities. They are ambitious for all children to achieve the very best outcomes.