Millennium Minis Lakeside

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children happily come into nursery. The leaders are aware of the importance of a child-centred transition. Therefore, staff support children extremely well when they start at the nursery. They provide children with an enabling learning environment in which they can thrive.

Staff take time to build positive relationships with the children. This helps build a clear sense of belonging and community throughout the nursery. Parents recognise what a special place this is. They comment on the caring environment and the support that their children experience.

Children become confident learners who are eager to explore and learn. Staff provide enticing activities that promote children's physical development. For example, younger children enjoy washing and moving sea animals during water play. This stimulates their senses and develops their hand-eye coordination and hand muscles. Outside, staff support children to build resilience, strength and coordination. Children learn to climb and balance in the local park. They benefit from a curriculum that follows their interests and helps them build on their existing skills.

Children have daily opportunities to explore their local area. They learn about the different people but also about the different parts of the community. This helps children to develop a sense of belonging and the role they play. Staff encourage them to be considerate and polite. Children learn to be respectful to one another.

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

• Leaders are ambitious and have an extremely good knowledge about the families they serve in the community. There is a clear and convincing desire to provide opportunities for children to broaden their horizons. The nursery places a particular focus on developing a passion for literacy, for example, by implementing a book exchange and creating a library for children who speak English as an additional language. In addition, the nursery identifies many ways for children to experience different cultures and religions throughout their time at the nursery.
• Parents are very happy with the nursery and comment on the daily outings their children experience. Staff promote positive working relationships with parents, who comment that they are well informed about targets set for their children. They receive information that helps them continue their children's learning at home.
• Leaders and staff are aware that children's emotional well-being is closely linked to their learning outcomes. Key persons work closely with parents to identify children's early interests and skills. They create plans to support them moving forward. A new planning approach provides staff with opportunities to share their observations of children and to plan exciting activities for them moving forward. Staff differentiate activities for children, based on their individual learning needs, and offer varying degrees of support. This supports children to make steady progress.
• Assessment is used well. This helps them to identify gaps in learning and plan suitable next steps for children. The needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are also carefully considered, and their support is effective. Children with SEND are fully included, and they play alongside their peers. Staff work closely with parents and outside professionals to ensure children receive the support they need.
• Staff promote children's independence and healthy lifestyles. This supports children's overall well-being and builds their self-esteem and confidence. For example, staff teach the children to get ready for outside, reminding them that they need to get their jackets. All children receive balanced and nutritious meals and are encouraged to feed themselves using age-appropriate cutlery. Children learn how to keep themselves healthy as staff support young children with their personal hygiene, such as washing hands before meals.
• Leaders are passionate about delivering a unique nursery that has a positive impact on children and families alike. There are strong systems in place to check and monitor the suitability of staff, who speak positively about the support that they receive for their well-being. Staff take part in mandatory and some extended training opportunities. However, the learning from training is not yet embedded consistently across all areas of the nursery. Therefore, on occasion, not all staff utilise every opportunity to deepen children's knowledge and understanding while they play.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• continue to provide professional development to ensure greater consistency in practice and fully support children's learning to an even higher level.