Mead Open Farm Day Nursery and Activity Day Camp

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and settled and enjoy attending this lively, supportive nursery. The implementation of a practical key-person system and sensitive settling-in procedures help children to settle quickly and build strong bonds with staff. Staff have high expectations of children and act as good role models, demonstrating a positive, enthusiastic attitude. Children reflect this and are confident in their play. For example, young children use their good language skills as they exclaim 'look, like rain' when they sprinkle coloured lentils. They eagerly note how the lentils fall faster than coloured paper discs. Children persist when faced with challenges. For instance, older children work out how to make a train track slope and persevere as they try to make the track turn a corner.

Staff are sensitive and show respect for each child. For example, they ask children's permission before wiping children's noses or going outside. Children reflect this sensitive, caring approach and are kind and considerate towards one another. Ongoing explanations and well-implemented daily procedures support children in developing a good knowledge of safety. For instance, when visiting the farm, children show a mature approach as they listen carefully to staff and know that they need to stay with their group.

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

• Staff report that they enjoy working at the nursery and feel valued and supported. This is highlighted in their good teamworking. Staff receive regular supervision, helping to develop their practice and supporting their well-being. They continuously evaluate their work and are involved in implementing changes.
• All staff understand the nursery's curriculum and the intention of activities. They assess children well and know what they need to learn next. They offer children a wide variety of activities that reflect their interests and support them in making good progress. Secure monitoring of children's development supports staff in addressing any weaker areas and in using additional funding effectively to further promote children's progress.
• With sensitive support from staff, children of all ages show a genuine enjoyment of books. They have firm favourites and the frequent reading of these reinforces children's enjoyment and supports them in learning new vocabulary. For example, young children are excited as they find the bear's cave, competently describing this as 'under' the bridge.
• Children participate in well-planned daily routines. For instance, they enjoy grooming ponies and help weigh small bags of animal feed for the farm. Opportunities such as these support children in understanding the needs of other people and animals on the farm and initiate their interest in the wider world.
• Staff efficiently exchange information within the nursery and work well with external professionals. This ensures that children's needs are known and all can work together to promote their development. This particularly supports children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, and they make good progress.
• Staff promote children's language and communication skills well. For instance, babies smile and babble as they stretch out their arms to be carried. Staff sing and chatter to babies as they change their nappies. Mealtimes are social occasions, where staff and children eagerly discuss recent events.
• Staff interact well with children and usually present larger group activities in an appealing manner, helping to interest and engage children. However, this is not consistent and children do not always gain the maximum benefit from some activities.
• Parents speak highly of the nursery. They praise staff, stating how supportive they are and noting how their children progress and 'go from strength to strength'. Staff communicate well with parents so that they know what their children have been doing. However, staff do not offer as much support as possible to aid parents in building on children's learning at home.
• Children enjoy many opportunities that support their development and aid them in understanding healthy lifestyles. For example, they note their raised heart rates after exercise. They develop their smaller hand muscles as they carefully select craft resources and use tools, such as scissors and scoops.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to be consistent in the presentation of group activities so that, for example, children can engage in these with minimal distraction and gain the maximum benefit from these opportunities
• enhance the support offered to parents in building on children's learning at home.