Monkton Nursery School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children show that they are extremely happy and safe in the nursery. Staff form secure and trusting relationships with the children. Staff get to know the children well and offer close emotional support. There are good transition procedures in place to support children as they start at the nursery and move on to their next room. This promotes children's well-being as they settle at the nursery and become familiar with each room.

Staff and managers think carefully about what children need to learn, to help prepare them for school. Managers ensure that there are effective transition arrangements in place with local schools. They prioritise independence, language skills and social development. By the time children reach the pre-school room, they demonstrate high levels of independence. For example, children pour their own drinks, and use tools, such as cutlery, with increasing skill.

Behaviour is a strength at the nursery. Staff set clear expectations for children's behaviour. Staff praise children's positive behaviour, which helps them to have good attitudes to learning. For example, children are able to sit quietly, and listen intently to stories, or look at picture books from a very young age. Children are supported well to self-regulate their emotions. Staff encourage children to talk about their feelings, using stories and 'colour monsters' to represent emotions.

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

• Leaders are passionate about the nursery and the offer they provide to the children and parents. They have designed an ambitious curriculum to ensure children gain the essential skills for future learning, including a focus on communication and language and reading. This means that children develop a love of books from a young age and are provided with a well-rounded approach to their learning.
• Children listen intently to familiar stories, such as 'The Three Little Pigs'. Staff engage them in purposeful activities following the story's theme. Children enjoy working with each other to build houses from bricks, sticks and straw. Staff skillfully draw less confident children into the activity. Staff understand the importance of promoting children's early reading and self-esteem.
• Overall, experienced staff are very knowledgeable and understand how to effectively support children's next steps in learning. However, very occasionally, less experienced staff do not consistently provide appropriate activities to support children's next steps in learning. This means that for some children, their learning does not always build on what they already know and can do.
• Staff who work with babies have a good knowledge of the early years and how to support the youngest children in the nursery. They help them to build their muscle strength as they encourage them to stand at table-top activities to develop their physical skills. This prepares them well in taking their first steps.
• Older children's physical development is well supported. Children develop their large muscles as they run and ride on wheeled toys. Children demonstrate excellent hand-to-eye coordination as they balance, throw and catch bean bags. Younger children develop their small-muscle skills when making marks with pens and chalk. This supports children's emerging early writing skills.
• Staff are dedicated and enthusiastic about their work, creating a range of engaging activities and experiences that are thoughtfully planned to meet the needs of individual children. Children learn about the importance of recycling and make use of cardboard to create dinosaurs and fire stations. Children strengthen their finger muscles as they tape card together and hold paintbrushes to mix colours and paint.
• Staff promote children's independence effectively. They support children to manage their own self-care needs as they go to the toilet independently, wash their hands, and put on their coats to prepare for outdoor play. Parents describe the excellent support and detailed communication they receive from the nursery.
• Staff develop children's mathematical skills well. Older children learn mathematical language as they play. Children talk about size, weight and measure as they explore the weighing scales. Children focus on this activity and show a high level of curiosity.
• Children benefit from a wealth of enrichment experiences throughout the year which extend their learning, including visits from the farm, petting zoo, music bus and other visitors. Staff use visits to the local shop to teach children about road safety and using money. This stimulates purposeful conversation and promotes their independence.
• Children learn to respect and celebrate each other's differences. They develop an understanding of other cultures through celebrations, dance, music and art. They learn about many festivals including Diwali, Chinese New Year, and Christmas. This prepares children well for life in modern Britain.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• improve training and coaching for less experienced staff, to support them to implement the curriculum and plan learning experiences which are linked closely to children's abilities and help them consistently build on their learning.