Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Tunbridge Wells

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children throughout the nursery spend most of their day smiling and laughing. All children form very good bonds with staff and settle well. They develop confidence to explore their environment, helping them to become independent learners.

Children very enthusiastically join in activities. Older children enjoy challenges such as working out how to compare written numbers to the weights on scales during cooking activities. They use the learning they have gained over time to speak confidently about ingredients and cooking processes. Younger children make good use of the space and resources provided to develop their mobility. They learn through exploration and discovery, for example as they play with sand and water.

Children learn about the wider world through a range of experiences, including petting lambs and guinea pigs that visit the nursery. They also take part in activities that focus on the experiences of others, such as traditional Spanish life.

There is a strong focus on supporting children's social skills and they behave very well. Children share toys as they play and develop patience to wait for their turn when necessary.

All children progress well in their learning and development. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well. Staff work effectively with other relevant professionals to provide coordinated teaching and care to meet children's individual needs.

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. The senior leadership team recognises and celebrates the skills and commitment of the manager and staff team. Staff morale is high, creating a very positive atmosphere. This is supported further by the arrangements in place to monitor and support staff well-being.
• Staff work closely with parents to gain an understanding of each child's individual interests, abilities and any specific care or learning needs. Parents provide very positive feedback about the service they receive. They feel that communication is good and that their children are progressing well.
• The environment is well maintained and inviting. There is a current focus on increasing the range of natural resources to encourage children to explore and discover. These resources very successfully capture children's interests and extend their learning and enjoyment.
• Staff promote children's language well. Those working with the babies use clear vocabulary and animated facial expressions to encourage children's first words.
• Toddlers confidently begin to put words together and use their developing language to express themselves. Older children take part in lively conversations and have the communication skills they need to progress well in their education.
• There are experiences available throughout the nursery to support all areas of learning. Children benefit from lots of active play indoors and outside. They develop good coordination as they use tools and enjoy regular yoga and dance sessions. Children choose to spend a lot of time looking at books and making marks to develop their writing skills. Staff teach children a range of techniques which they use to create individual artwork.
• Staff working with the youngest children create a very warm, caring atmosphere. They spend much of their time on the floor interacting directly with children, supporting their learning and development. Children's care needs are understood and met well overall. However, although nappy changing arrangements are hygienic, changing units are located within group rooms and are clearly visible. This does not support children to develop an early awareness of their personal privacy.
• Although teaching is strong, activities are not consistently planned as effectively as possible, particularly for the older children. Some activities are so popular that it is difficult for staff to include all children well. This means that they are not able to focus fully on ensuring that each child receives the appropriate level of challenge. Staff give good consideration to the resources that they need and prepare these well. However, they do not always set up activities in areas that allow children to concentrate, as noise levels from other, equally exciting, activities are sometimes high.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• improve the arrangements for nappy changing to provide greater privacy for children
• support staff to more fully consider practical issues, including group sizes and noise levels, to enhance the effectiveness of activities.