Margaret McMillan Nursery School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this welcoming and nurturing nursery. Parents especially value the affectionate relationships their children form with all staff, particularly their key persons. Staff are very attentive and give regular cuddles, reassurance and praise. As a result, children develop high levels of emotional security and confidence. For example, older children confidently find the resources they need for successfully completing activities. They help each other, become able learners and show pride in their many achievements.

Staff prioritise children's social development. They have high expectations for children to be kind to each other and behave well. Staff regularly model excellent manners, for example, and even the younger children say 'excuse me' without being prompted. Children are eager to take responsibility and relish having a special job to do. Their independence grows as they move confidently through the nursery.

The manager and staff organise the curriculum effectively to sequence children's learning and development. They build on what children can already do to support their ongoing progress. For example, babies become engrossed in sensory activities and enjoy scooping and pouring coloured rice. They strengthen the small muscles in their hands and develop the skills they need for using a spoon to independently feed themselves, for example.

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

• The manager and staff work together as a committed team and regularly evaluate the service they provide for families. This helps them to make positive changes and improvements. For example, a review of the outdoor area led staff to provide new opportunities for children to develop their imaginative play and extend their physical skills.
• Strong partnerships with parents provide children with continuity in their care and support home learning. Staff follow children's home routines and preferences from the start. There is then a continuous two-way flow of information that reassures parents and keeps staff informed of what children enjoy at home. For example, staff and parents use similar approaches to celebrating children's progress and successes.
• Staff are experienced in childcare and know their key children well. They monitor children's development diligently and promptly notice when children need extra support. The manager and the special educational needs coordinator work effectively to ensure that children receive the help they need. For example, following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a focus on improving children's speech and language development. The use of additional funding to provide staff training and resources was very effective. As a result, children are confident communicators and speak clearly and fluently.
• Children make good progress in their mathematical development. For example, older children recognise and use numbers competently and begin to recognise three-dimensional shapes. Younger children thoroughly enjoy finding out about capacity through inspiring activities that encourage them to explore. Staff expertly model mathematical language as children experiment in the water tray. Staff skilfully add interesting resources that spark children's imaginations so that they remain absorbed and lead their own learning.
• The manager and staff are very proactive in supporting children to become ready for their future learning. They share information about children's achievements with local primary school staff, for example. Staff introduce book bags so that children get used to the routines and expectations of school life.
• Children benefit greatly from rich experiences that promote their understanding of the wider world. For example, children enjoy exploring a world map and use blocks to construct landmarks such as Stonehenge. People from the local community regularly visit the nursery, such as police officers and dentists. Children become familiar with how different people help them in their daily lives.
• The manager provides good support for the dedicated team of staff, and they feel valued and encouraged in their work. For example, the manager ensures that staff attend training to develop their expertise with the particular children they care for. Throughout the nursery, staff demonstrate their impressive teaching skills, and some teaching is of an outstanding quality. However, this is not fully consistent in all areas of the nursery to enable children to make progress at the highest level.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• focus staff development even more precisely to ensure that all teaching is of the highest quality, for example by sharing outstanding practice throughout the nursery.