Millswood Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are very settled and show high levels of emotional security in this nurturing nursery. Staff know children extremely well, forming genuine and caring relationships with them. Babies are secure in their daily routines. Staff kindly ask them if they would like to wash their hands before encouraging them to put their hands in the water. The babies smile broadly as staff encourage their exploration of the soapy bubbles and praise them enthusiastically.

The managers and staff have developed a broad and creative curriculum that enables all children to flourish. Everyone involved in the nursery is passionate about helping children to be independent learners. Staff have high expectations and are patient and calm as they explain to children how to put on outdoor clothing, for example. Children persevere until they succeed, gaining an enormous amount of self-belief and confidence.

There is an emphasis on creative exploration, both inside and outdoors, that supports children's deep engagement and enjoyment of learning. Children enthusiastically follow their own ideas and enjoy trying things out. Staff expertly pose questions, for example, as older children work out how to position water pipes to make the water flow faster. Children regularly choose to come back to experiment further and deepen their curiosity and understanding.

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

• Throughout the nursery, children's communication and language skills are exceptional. Staff skilfully interact with children, taking time to listen and respond. When babies sit together to enjoy a snack, staff encourage a social atmosphere with back-and-forth gestures and babbling, saying children's names and smiling at each other. Staff model a broad range of vocabulary throughout the nursery. Older children talk about the ginger, cinnamon and cloves they have added to their play dough to make gingerbread men.
• Children develop a love of books from a young age and anticipate sharing a book with staff with great excitement. Staff regularly read to babies, sitting them in their lap and using the baby's finger to point to specific pictures as they read the story. Babies are fascinated to follow the story and focus well until the story is finished, smiling broadly throughout. Toddlers eagerly lift flaps in a book, naming the animal underneath and repeating familiar phrases. Older children sit and listen intently as staff read to them, absorbed in the story and talking about the pages. Staff welcome children's comments, helping them to think about what is happening and what might happen next.
• Parents speak extremely highly of the nursery, saying that staff are warm and nurturing and their children are happy and doing well. Parents are very positive about the health benefits of playing outdoors and say children love the freshly prepared, nutritious meals. The managers and staff provide highly effective support to ensure parents are fully involved in children's care and development.
• There is a strong sense of community within the nursery where everyone works together to help each other. Children know where everything goes at tidy away time and take pride in taking care of their nursery. They rush to help staff to sweep the floor and call out, 'It's all nice and clean,' when they have finished.
• Staff say they thoroughly enjoy working at the nursery and feel highly valued members of a dedicated team. They are very enthusiastic about developing their considerable skills further. For example, recent training on mathematical development has had an extremely positive impact on children's learning. Staff count with babies at every opportunity, and older children estimate, count and work out how to add one more as they play. All children explore capacity as they eagerly experiment in the nature kitchen, pouring, scooping and comparing quantities.
• The inspirational managers and staff continually reflect and thoughtfully adapt the nursery to provide extremely high-quality learning experiences for children. They work in excellent partnership with parents and other professionals when children need extra support. Partnerships with local schools are well-established, and children move on to their future education with self-assurance.