Nene Valley Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children learn the skills they need to succeed in life at this warm and welcoming nursery. Their independence skills are nourished from a very early age. Babies help to tidy away their bibs after snack and children serve themselves lunch. They quickly become very confident in their self-care. Staff are always on hand to guide and encourage them. Children positively follow the rules and routines of the nursery and their behaviour is good. Older children are beginning to show an awareness of other children's feelings and successfully resolve their own conflicts.

Staff enthusiastically greet children and their families at the door and children happily enter the nursery. Staff ensure parents receive detailed information about their child's care and learning when they are collected. Children demonstrate close bonds with the kind and caring staff. Young children seek them out for cuddles and reassurance. Staff respond well to their needs, quickly recognising individual signs, such as tiredness, and spend time gently soothing them. Babies like to sit close to staff when listening to a story. Older children are confident to ask for help when needed. They talk openly to staff about their home life and happily include them in their play. Staff provide children with a range of different play activities. They enjoy exploring paint, using cars to make tracks and acting out familiar stories in the garden.

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

• Managers and staff plan a curriculum for children that is carefully sequenced to help them acquire the knowledge and skills needed before they start school. They assess what children are learning and establish what they need to learn next. Children's progress is consistently shared with parents.
• Staff understand the importance of promoting clear communication and language with children. They enthusiastically read stories, holding the book so all children can see. Staff use their finger to move along the words, helping children to understand that words have meaning. There are opportunities for children to see and hear their home language in the nursery through resources such as books and bilingual staff.
• Staff demonstrate that they know the children in their care well and understand their individual personalities. They consider children's learning needs and interests when they plan activities. However, on occasions, staff working with the older children do not adapt their teaching skills effectively to ensure that the most-able children's learning is extended. They provide less opportunities for children to make their own choices and really engage in explorative play.
• The nursery's special educational needs coordinator is very experienced in her role and knowledgeable about the children who attend that require additional support. She and each child's key person work very closely with families and other agencies involved in the children's care to ensure they receive timely interventions and targeted support to meet their development needs.
• Staff promote good hygiene throughout the nursery and understand their roles and responsibilities regarding this. They wear aprons and gloves to prepare foods. Staff are good role models. Children see them washing their hands and cleaning tables. They encourage children to take care of their own self-care needs. Children play in a clean and safe environment.
• Children are provided with a variety of healthy home-cooked meals prepared fresh on the premises by the nursery cook. Children eat well and choose how much they want to eat, often having second helpings. Staff are aware of children's allergies and dietary requirements when serving food and ensure these are always adhered to.
• Staff demonstrate good working relationships with parents. They show a deep understanding of children's individual backgrounds and work closely with parents to support them. Incentives are in place to ensure parents are involved in their children's learning, such as a book-lending scheme. Parents feel that their children are happy in the nursery and enjoy attending.
• Managers have a good oversight of the nursery because they spend good-quality time with staff and children, monitoring practice and being a positive role model. They meet regularly with staff to provide support and check on their well-being. Training is regularly offered to improve knowledge and skills. Staff feel comfortable to approach managers with any worries and concerns, and know they will be listened to.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• find more ways to offer challenge for the most-able children to consistently extend their learning
• provide the older children with more opportunities to explore and make their own play choices.