Marmalade Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are excited to start their day at the welcoming nursery. They greet the tortoises as they arrive and are welcomed by the friendly staff. Children show that they feel safe as they rush to hug staff. Staff have high expectations of children. Overall, children behave well and interact positively with staff and their peers. When children display less acceptable behaviour, leaders quickly implement strategies to manage this and to ensure that it does not have a negative effect on other children's learning and well-being.

There is a true focus on developing children's appreciation of the world around them. Children are excited to learn. They learn about life cycles as they care for caterpillars and see how they change into butterflies. Children go on interesting outings which support their learning. They visit a cenotaph and learn about Remembrance Day. Children enjoy a visit from local police and learn about people who help us. They find out about different cultures and celebrations, such as Diwali, from their friends. This helps them to understand how they are unique.

Children benefit from the well-planned outdoor areas which they use daily and in all weathers. Babies listen with fascination to the noise made by the rain from underneath their shelter. Older children hone their counting skills, completing number puzzles with staff in the cosy, purpose-built pod in their garden area.

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

• Leaders' genuine passion for how children learn, shines. They plan a broad and interesting curriculum which means that children are constantly engaged in exciting learning experiences. Leaders know what they want children to learn next based on what children already know and can do. Children are well prepared for the next stage of their learning.
• Children's interests, discussions and individual learning styles are the basis for how staff organise the environment and the activities that they offer. For example, young children show an interest in flowers in the garden. This leads to an activity where children pour and mix, using real flowers to make 'tulip tea'. However, the strong focus on supporting children's individual learning styles sometimes overshadows the curriculum intent. The learning intentions are not always clearly understood by all staff, particularly those working with younger children. This means that children do not always fully achieve the aims of each activity.
• Leaders ensure that staff spend the maximum amount of time possible interacting with children. Staff know children very well and can therefore identify any emerging gaps in their learning and development. These are acted on swiftly, which means that children get the appropriate support for their individual needs. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and children in receipt of additional funding are well supported. Funding is spent to benefit individual children. For example, staff attend sign language training to support children with hearing difficulties. Children make good progress from their different starting points.
• Staff encourage a love of books as they read stories to children throughout the day. Children are excited to share their knowledge. For example, children tell staff that the great white shark that they see in their book is a 'megalodon'. Children beam with pride as staff praise their excellent knowledge. Staff use this opportunity to develop children's language skills even further by encouraging them to think of other words for 'big', such as 'gigantic' and 'enormous'.
• Staff promote children's developing independence well. Young children put on their own wellington boots before they go outside to play. Older children pour their own drinks and carry their cups carefully. Staff are highly respectful of children. For example, they ask children's permission before wiping their nose. Staff and children discuss the healthy food that children eat for lunch. Older children understand that a healthy diet gives them energy.
• Parents comment on how well staff support their children and families, particularly throughout the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Staff teach parents to make their own play dough in live online sessions so that they can continue to support their children's learning at home. The 'family club' offers additional support to parents around various topics. Parents of children with SEND are especially pleased with the support offered to them. Leaders help parents to liaise with other agencies. This ensures that children continue to receive a high standard of care once they have moved on from nursery.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff working with younger children to fully understand what leaders intend children to learn from each activity, to raise the quality of education to an even higher level.