Merry Kidz Day Nursery

Inclusion: Strong standard

Leaders and practitioners have clear processes to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They assess children's needs effectively, identifying barriers to learning, and create individual plans. Practitioners successfully implement plans that support children's learning and development. For example, they consistently use objects of reference to help children to make choices, picture lanyards and visual routine boards to support children's understanding of what is happening next. Practitioners create inclusive spaces to support children's sensory needs, such as calming areas with a variety of sensory materials and equipment. Leaders and practitioners work effectively with parents and hold regular Team Around the Child meetings. They work with other agencies to ensure that there is appropriate support for children. Leaders and practitioners review individual plans on a termly basis to ensure that they continue to meet children's specific needs. They review the impact of the plans and how well children are making progress, adapting strategies where needed.

Leaders reduce barriers to learning by using the early years pupil premium effectively. They use this to buy specific resources or to cover the cost for meals at the setting. Leaders support children who are disadvantaged through the many initiatives that they access for the setting. These include being part of the pilot scheme for a programme to support children's fundamental movement skills. This training is impacting positively on children's physical development, increasing their confidence in their own abilities. Furthermore, practitioners have gained deeper understanding of how to support the physical development of younger children.

Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard

Leaders have created a curriculum that specifically meets the needs of children and the community. They use the abbreviation 'ABC', standing for 'Active, Belong and Confidence', as the basis of their curriculum. Leaders and practitioners have clearly embedded this curriculum through the day-to-day activities and experiences for children. Pre-school children happily plant seeds for their garden, and toddlers play in small groups, developing their social skills.

Leaders and practitioners design a curriculum that is clearly sequenced using 'golden goals'. These are tailored goals to meet the specific ages and stages of development of all children. Leaders and practitioners ensure that the activities build on what children know and can do. For example, they play alongside toddlers making 'tea' for a 'tiger', modelling new vocabulary. This helps children to widen their language skills.

Practitioners respond to children swiftly and use rich language through stories and activities. Children engage with joy and excitement. For example, practitioners use tone, intonation and facial expressions to bring stories to life, creating enthusiasm and excitement for learning. Practitioners consistently follow children's interests to skilfully extend their emerging language and thinking. They introduce rich vocabulary, such as 'juicy' and 'crunchy', during play and adapt activities as children's focus moves. For example, children explore fruit in the role-play area and then transfer this to the water play. Staff maintain a clear focus on supporting language. Practitioners adapt their practice based on the needs of the children. For example, they support children who speak English as an additional language by using visual cards and key words. Practitioners that speak the same language support learning and communication with parents and/or carers, where possible.

Achievement: Strong standard

All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who are disadvantaged, achieve extremely well. Practitioners quickly identify gaps and provide targeted support. Children gain a firm foundation in the prime areas of learning supported by the setting's 'golden goals'. Children are showing increasing independence and confidence, forming secure relationships and managing their feelings effectively. Children develop their physical skills, showing increasing coordination and control of their bodies through active play opportunities.

Children are consistently engaging in purposeful learning. They are strengthening their language and communication skills. Children demonstrate confidence as they share their knowledge of animals and enjoy discussing the differences between a hen and a chicken. Children show high levels of motivation and engagement when learning about spring through planting seeds. They sustain focus and show pride in their achievements. Children form secure early mathematical skills as they confidently create patterns with loose parts. They develop resilience and strengthen their smaller physical skills when using tongs to pick up stones. All children are well prepared for their next stage of learning, including school.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Strong standard

Leaders have embedded a culture that is respectful and promotes positive behaviour. Practitioners have implemented effective routines and strengthened the environment. This includes the use of calm areas to support children to begin to self-regulate and understand their emotions. Leaders have reviewed the key-person system to ensure that there are clear processes in place when a key person changes. They know the children in their care extremely well, including their current learning needs, next steps and how they are going to support each child's learning. Children settle well upon starting, and leaders work closely with families to encourage regular attendance.

Practitioners skilfully adapt their practice to enable all children, including those with special education needs and/or disabilities and those that are disadvantaged, to engage in joyful play experiences. They help all children to play together harmoniously. Practitioners are excellent role models for children. They teach children about respect and how to care for others. Children develop extremely positive attitudes to learning. For example, they eagerly share the eggs for making dinner and take turns using the spray bottles to water the seeds.

Key persons have developed nurturing relationships with the children in their care. Practitioners give explicit praise to children, recognising their efforts, thoughts and contributions. For example, when children take part in circle time, practitioners praise them for sharing their ideas. This builds children's confidence and self-esteem.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Leaders have a comprehensive understanding of the community and the children attending the setting. Leaders and practitioners place a high emphasis on children's emotional wellbeing and sense of belonging in the setting. Leaders train practitioners around the expectations of the key persons. This ensures that practitioners have a secure understanding of their role. Practitioners form secure attachments with children, which supports them to settle quickly in the setting. For example, when children arrive, they happily greet practitioners, hanging their bags and coats before joining their friends to play.

Leaders ensure that children have healthy meals and snacks. Practitioners are vigilant and actively supervise when children are eating and going to sleep. Practitioners support children to understand how to keep themselves safe, including babies. For example, babies respond positively as practitioners encourage them to finish what they are eating before they reach for more fruit. Practitioners encourage children to be independent through daily care routines, such as toddlers wiping their own noses and encouraging babies to wash their hands before snack. Leaders and practitioners support initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles, including oral care, and have received awards from the council for their engagement.

Leaders and practitioners have created an inclusive and respectful setting where diversity is celebrated and children and parents and/or carers are valued. Leaders provide opportunities for children and practitioners to share their culture through cultural days and resources.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

The leadership and governance team has a clear and ambitious vision for the setting and for making a difference in the local community. Leaders have made significant changes to how they empower their team and have refined systems and processes since the last inspection. Leaders have reviewed and implemented changes to support the effectiveness of the key-person system, including training for practitioners and in handover processes for parents. Leaders have also strengthened the practice around documenting medical needs and administering medication to children.

Leaders and practitioners are passionate and committed to the setting, children and community. They ensure that children, particularly those with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and children who are disadvantaged, receive high-quality education to give them the best start in life.

Leaders have created a culture of continuous improvement and learning in the setting. This is having a positive impact on practitioners' confidence and morale. Leaders ensure that professional learning is tailored to meet the needs of individual practitioners. They take part in a variety of professional learning initiatives that support children's movement, understanding of equality, language and social skills. Practitioners use this learning to adapt their practice and implement new activities to support children's learning in these areas. Leaders support and follow up professional learning effectively to ensure consistency of practice. This includes video recording practice and regular support from the local authority adviser.

Leaders work effectively with parents and/or carers, encouraging them to be an active part of the setting. They provide opportunities for parents to read stories to children and borrow library books and learning packs so that learning can continue at home. Leaders have developed learning programmes to support parents and the community, such as 'Merry Kidz Together'. This provides parents with support and opportunities to connect on a social media platform to share their learning and knowledge of SEND with a wider community. Leaders have developed successful relationships with external agencies to support children with SEND. This ensures that children with SEND have tailored and effective support plans in place alongside expert guidance for practitioners.