Marsh Bears Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and confident. They settle well into the welcoming nursery with the support of the friendly staff team. On the rare occasions when children struggle to leave their parents as they arrive, staff quickly engage them in an enjoyable activity, and this helps them to calm down and focus.

Staff help children to develop a love of stories. They read to children during group times, and children listen well. Children enjoy acting out stories with the staff enthusiastically. For instance, they all join in with the actions for a familiar story. Children learn that their opinions and choices are important. For example, staff offer children choices during song time. Staff respond enthusiastically to children's decisions about which song to sing before encouraging all children to join in with the chosen song.

Children form bonds with the staff who work with them. They enjoy interacting with staff as they share activities together. Children become independent in managing their own needs. For instance, they confidently wash their hands for themselves before they eat. Children clear away their own plates at the end of snack time and follow the instructions staff give them without hesitation.

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

• Staff prioritise children's emotional development and well-being. Children benefit from opportunities to relax during their time at the nursery. Staff consider the environment, dimming the lights to help children recognise that it is time to relax. They provide children with comfy pillows and encourage them to lie down and rest in their calm surroundings. This helps children to learn how to regulate their feelings and emotions.
• Children learn about other cultures and backgrounds. Staff know the children well and learn key vocabulary in the children's home languages to help them communicate their needs. Staff plan relevant activities to help build on children's prior knowledge and experiences. As a result, children develop a strong understanding of the wider community to which they belong.
• Staff actively engage children in conversation and discuss what children are doing as they play. They check children's learning and understanding frequently. However, occasionally, some staff mispronounce words and do not correct children's understanding of what they are learning. This does not best help strengthen children's communication and language skills.
• Communication with parents is effective, and parents are happy with the service the nursery provides. They speak positively about the information shared with them regarding their children's learning. They appreciate the guidance that staff give to help them manage their children's behaviour at home. Staff gather a range of information from parents before children start, which helps them plan activities to motivate children.
• Children enjoy accessing the safely enclosed outdoor space and using the range of ride-on toys. They play games, such as hide and seek, with staff. However, activities currently on offer outdoors do not yet promote children's high levels of engagement, interest and curiosity as readily as they do indoors.
• Staff feel well supported in their roles. Opportunities for them to develop their practice and professional knowledge are strong. Managers meet with staff regularly to discuss their well-being and children's progress. The owner is actively involved in the running of the nursery and has a strong oversight of what happens at the nursery.
• Children behave well and know what staff expect from them. Staff remind children of the rules to follow when they need to. For instance, staff remind children to use 'kind hands' towards their friends. Staff act as positive role models for children and work well together as a team.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to consistently build on children's understanding of English and present them with the correct information to help them communicate clearly and effectively
• provide children with opportunities to become even more deeply engaged in their learning outdoors.