Merry Go Round @ Green Croft

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive at the welcoming nursery happy and eager to begin their play. They are warmly greeted by the kind and caring staff, who offer gentle support and reassurance to help them separate confidently from their parents or carers.

All children make good progress in their learning and development. Staff provide a broad and engaging curriculum, inspired by children's interests and next steps in learning. The youngest children's emerging speech is supported effectively through consistent, high-quality interactions. Staff introduce single words and associative sounds during play, such as the sounds farm animals make. Throughout the day, staff encourage children to join in with songs and rhymes, helping to build vocabulary and support early communication. Staff read children stories, using expressive voices to capture their attention, promote listening skills and develop a love of books. Children behave well and respond positively to staff's calm and consistent approach. They use good manners, are kind to one another, take turns and understand staff's behavioural expectations. Pre-school children independently put on safety goggles before engaging in woodwork activities, displaying a growing awareness of how to keep themselves safe. Staff use these moments to reinforce risk awareness and encourage children to think critically about their own safety and personal responsibility.

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

• The leadership and management of the nursery is strong. Leaders demonstrate a clear commitment to providing high-quality care and education for all children. Their strong, child-centred approach ensures that children's well-being, development and learning are consistently prioritised. Leaders know the children and families well and use this knowledge to shape an inclusive and ambitious curriculum that responds to children's individual needs. They promote a positive and reflective staff culture. Continuous improvement is encouraged, and staff's professional development is supported. This ensures quality practice across the nursery and contributes to the good progress children make.
• The key-person system is effective. Children form secure, trusting relationships with familiar adults who understand their individual needs and preferences. Strong partnerships with other professionals and parents support a consistent and collaborative approach to children's care and learning. Key persons regularly share information with families about children's achievements and development and work closely with them to support key milestones, such as potty training.
• Parents speak highly of the leadership team and the caring, attentive staff. They value the strong communication and comment on how staff go above and beyond to support their children's well-being, development and learning.
• The nursery promotes healthy eating as part of its commitment to children's health and well-being. A clear policy is shared with parents during induction. Staff encourage children to eat savoury items before sweet items to support balanced choices. Despite this, some lunch boxes contain high-sugar items, which impacts on children's behaviour and concentration in the afternoon. While staff promote healthy eating sensitively, their influence is limited by what is provided from home. Leaders are committed to working in partnership with parents to raise awareness and ensure a consistent and complementary approach to support children's healthy lifestyles.
• Staff demonstrate a generally good understanding of the curriculum intent, including its aims and learning goals. However, this understanding is not yet fully embedded across the whole team, meaning that some staff are less confident in consistently applying the curriculum principles to their day-to-day practice and planning. This occasionally leads to minor inconsistencies in children's learning experiences.
• Staff ensure children have daily opportunities for fresh air and physical activity. The youngest children develop hand-eye coordination. They carefully fill and empty different sized containers with water and sand. Older children build core strength as they dig in the mud with spades and sweep up dirt with small brooms. These activities also help to strengthen their arms and shoulders, supporting the physical skills needed for early writing.
• Young children sleep peacefully in comfortable surroundings. Staff complete safe sleep training to assist them in their role. They follow these principles to ensure that children are kept safe and well. Hygiene practice is good. Staff gently attend to children's personal care, ensuring their privacy and well-being. They are good role models and remind children to wash their hands at regular intervals throughout the day.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen the already good partnerships with parents to promote consistency in healthy eating approaches and reduce the effects of sugar on children's behaviour and focus
• support all staff to fully understand and consistently implement curriculum intentions to ensure children benefit from high-quality learning experiences that further enhance their progress and development.