N Family Club Wandsworth

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive at this nursery. Their emotional well-being, welfare and personal development are at the very heart of staff's practice. Children build very close trusting bonds with staff, who treat them with respect and kindness. Staff provide children with reassurance and cuddles. Children comfortably sit on staff's laps and show they feel at home. Staff sensitively seek children's permission before providing personal care. They listen to children and prioritise promoting children's ability to communicate how they feel. Consequently, children express themselves with great confidence and feel at ease to positively assert their preferences.

Leaders have devised a rich curriculum. Children have wonderful opportunities to learn about the natural world. This includes growing and planting and caring for the planet by recycling waste. Across the nursery, staff ensure that children have access to a range of meaningful learning opportunities. Staff promote children's positive attitudes to their learning remarkably well. They invest time creating opportunities they know children will enjoy. Babies quickly gather and remain transfixed in sensory activities, such as mixing cornflour, water play and blowing bubbles. Staff make expert use of these opportunities to develop babies' good coordination and hand muscle strength. Staff introduce activities for children and model play for babies with high levels of enthusiasm. As a result, children are determined, motivated and deeply engaged wherever they play.

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

• Children make rapid progress in their language development. Staff equally equip babies in the earliest stages of speaking and children with alternative means of communication, including the use of pictures and signing. Babies quickly move on from copying words to using intentional speech. Older children competently recall events and answer 'how' and 'why' questions.
• Children gain an exceptional understanding about what makes their bodies healthy. For example, they plant seeds and grow tomatoes in the 'magical' garden. Staff sit with children to support them chopping and slicing fruits for their healthy fruit salads. Staff teach children about oral hygiene and the importance of brushing their teeth. Older children know the difference between healthy and unhealthy foods.
• Books and stories are an integral part of life at the nursery. Staff share regular stories with children and promote books using activities around the 'story of the month'. Children develop a love of books and choose to sit and look at them. They listen with undivided attention whenever staff read to them. Additionally, parents can access book bags for to extend their children's learning at home.
• Staff communicate their high expectations for children's behaviour. Children understand the difference between right and wrong. They use gentle reminders followed by clear explanations that reinforce children's understanding of desirable conduct. Therefore, children treat and speak to each other respectfully. Children say thank you and please without prompting. Older children enjoy collaborative arts and crafts activities, which they are keen to show staff.
• Children proudly assume positions of responsibility, such as helping with outdoor safety checks and performing headcounts alongside staff. They unite amicably to develop their imaginary play ideas.
• Children build strong bodies, such as through the daily exercise and challenging outdoor opportunities staff provide. They develop agility as they travel along and climb over various outdoor equipment.
• The excellent parent partnerships mean that parents are fully involved in their children's learning. Leaders follow robust methods to ensure that children manage smooth transitions to school. Parents speak highly of the exceptional care given to their children and the extensive communication they receive. They are delighted with the rich learning environment provided and staff's nurturing attitudes.
• Staff report high levels of support for well-being issues. Many staff hold key roles within the nursery and report strong levels of support from the manager. As a result, all staff are highly motivated and their morale is excellent.
• Leaders are inspirational. They incisively support and coach staff through observations, feedback and training. The leadership team has very high expectations for children and staff. It strategically deploys senior staff to embed best practice. This has successfully raised teaching across the team to a very high standard.
• Since the previous inspection, leaders have reflected on where further improvements can be made. This has included establishing additional links with local organisations to enhance children's understanding of the wider community. As a result, children benefit from a range of superb opportunities to broaden their experiences.