Meadow Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

All children are settled, confident and very happy in the friendly and inviting nursery. Staff fully understand how to implement the curriculum to support children to develop their knowledge and learn new skills. This includes teaching children to independently carry out their own tasks, such as pouring their drinks at snack time. Children are eager to join in with the motivating activities that staff carefully plan for them. For example, staff help children to learn about different ways to transport water, such as using pipettes during water play. Children enjoy exploring art. For instance, they investigate different ways to make marks, such as using toy animals to create patterns.

Staff are positive role models and all children know what is expected of them. Children are polite and behave well. They are kind and understanding towards each other's differing needs and abilities. All children learn about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. They discuss healthy food choices at snack time. They squeeze oranges to make fresh juice to drink and talk about the benefits of vitamin C. Children develop good physical skills. For example, they confidently learn about the different ways they can move their bodies during yoga activities. Staff teach them how to use challenging equipment safely, such as climbing walls.

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

• The manager and staff establish very secure and trusting relationships with all children. They get to know their individual personalities and what makes them unique. Staff fully understand all children's interests, needs and abilities. This helps children to feel valued and have a good sense of belonging.
• Staff support all children to make good progress and children have a positive attitude towards their learning. This includes children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff liaise closely with other agencies, such as speech and language therapists. They observe children together and implement helpful strategies that support children, such as visual prompts.
• Overall, children are engaged in their learning experiences. However, staff do not always organise large-group activities to ensure that all children can focus. For example, story time is a little chaotic and some children become distracting to those who wish to concentrate and listen to the story. Therefore, at times, some children do not get the most out of their large-group learning experiences.
• Overall, staff support children to communicate with confidence. They demonstrate this as they provide meaningful running commentary for children as they play. However, at times, staff ask good questions and do not give children time to think and respond. Staff answer themselves or rapidly move on to the next question. Therefore, children do not have consistent opportunities to build on their good communication skills even further.
• All staff, including the manager, establish positive partnerships with parents, who speak very highly of them. Staff keep parents well involved and informed in their children's learning and achievements. They share helpful ideas and resources with parents to help them to support their children's learning at home. This includes books and puppets. Staff support families very well. For example, they share information and offer advice, such as how to promote children's mental health and well-being.
• The manager closely monitors the good quality of education and care that staff provide. She routinely observes staff teaching children and provides them with constructive and helpful feedback. Staff evaluate their practice daily and discuss how well they have engaged children. They use their findings to support their future practice.
• All staff attend regular training. They have learned about how to manage any unwanted behaviour. This includes specific aspects of children's development, such as helping them to self-regulate their emotions. This has supported staff to know how to manage behaviour in a safe and appropriate way.
• Staff help children to develop a good understanding of other people and traditions from around the world. For example, children learn about different festivals, such as Diwali.
• The manager and staff use additional funding well to support the children's individual needs. They have purchased resources to build on children's interests and develop their skills. This includes physical play equipment, such as steps to encourage children to climb safely.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• review the organisation of large-group activities to ensure that all children remain fully engaged
• ensure that staff give children enough time to think and then respond to questions to build on their developing communication skills even further.